e more joyful in the Chancellor's family； at the birth of this Prince； than in wisdom they should； for fear it should give the King cause of jealousy。 Sir H。 Cholmly thinks there may possibly be some persons that would be glad to have the Queene removed to some monastery； or somewhere or other； to make room for a new wife； for they will all be unsafe under the Duke of York。 He says the King and Parliament will agree； that is； that the King will do any thing that they will have him。 I met with 〃a fourth Advice to the Painter upon the coming in of the Dutch to the River and end of the war；〃 ＇In the Collection of Poems on Affairs of State； there are four pieces called 〃DIRECTIONS TO A PAINTER；〃 the first of them 〃CONCERNING THE DUTCH WAR； 1667； BY SIR JOHN DENHAM。〃 The same book also contains 〃THE LAST INSTRUCTIONS TO A PAINTER ABOUT THE DUTCH WARS； BY ANDREW MARVEL； ESQ。；〃 which from its severity I suppose to be the work here alluded to。＇ that made my heart ake to read； it being too sharp and so true。 Here I also saw a printed account of the examinations taken touching the burning of the City of London； showing the plot of the Papists therein； which； it seems； hath been ordered to be burnt by the hands of the common hangman； in Westminster Palace。 My wife and Mercer and I away to the King's playhouse； to see 〃The Scornfull Lady；〃 but it being now three o'clock there was not one soul in the pit； whereupon； for shame we could not go in； but； against our wills； went all to see 〃Tu quoque〃 again； where there was pretty store of company。 Here we saw Madam Morland； ＇Sir Samuel Morland's first wife。＇ who is grown mighty fat； but is very comely。 Thence to the King's house； upon a wager of mine with my wife that there would be no acting there to…day there being no company： so I went in and found a pretty good company there； and saw their dance at the end of the play。
18th。 I walked in the Exchange； which is now made mighty pretty； by having windows and doors before all their shops； to keep out the cold。
20th。 By coach to the King's playhouse； and there saw； 〃The Mad Couple；〃 ＇Probably 〃A Mad Couple well Matched〃 a comedy by Richard Brome； printed in 1653。＇ my wife having been at the same play with Jane in the 18d。 seat。
21st。 The King； Duke of York； and the men of the Court have been these four or five days a…hunting at Bagshot。
22nd。 At noon comes Mr。 Sheres； whom I find a good； ingenious man； but do talk a little too much of his travels。 He left my Lord Sandwich well； but in pain to be at home for want of money； which comes very hardly。 I have indulged myself more in pleasure for these last two months than ever I did in my life before； since I came to be a person concerned in business； and I doubt； when I come to make up my accounts； I shall find it so by the expence。
23rd。 At my Lord Ashly's by invitation to dine there。 At table it is worth remembering that my Lord tells us that the House of Lords is the last appeal that a man can make upon a point of interpretation of the law； and that therein they are above the Judges； and that he did assert this in the Lords' House upon the late occasion of the quarrel between my Lord Bristoll and the Chancellor； when the former did accuse the latter of treason； and the Judges did bring it in not to be treason： my Lord Ashly did declare that the judgement of the Judges was nothing in the presence of their Lordships； but only as far as they were the properest men to bring precedents； but not to interpret the law to their Lordships； but only the inducements of their persuasions： and this the Lords did concur in。 Another pretty thing was my Lady Ashly's speaking of the bad Qualities of glass… coaches； among others； the flying open of the doors upon any great shake： but another was； that my Lady Peterborough being in her glass…coach with the glass up； and seeing a lady pass by in a coach whom she would salute； the glass was so clear that she thought it had been open； and so ran her head through the glass！ We were put into my Lord's room before he could come to us； and there had opportunity to look over his state of his accounts of the prizes； and there saw how bountiful the King hath been to several people： and hardly any man almost； commander of the Navy of any note； but hath had some reward or other out of them； and many sums to the Privy…purse； but not so many； I see； as I thought there had been： but we could not look quite through it； But several Bed…chambermen and people about the Court had good sums； and； among others； Sir John Minnes and Lord Brouncker have 200l。 a…piece for looking to the East India prizes； while I did their work for them。 By and by my Lord came； and we did look over Yeabsly's business a little； and I find how prettily this cunning lord can be partial and dissemble it in this case； being privy to the bribe he is to receive。 With Sir H。 Cholmly to Westminster； who by the way told me how merry the King and Duke of York and Court were the other day； when they were abroad a… hunting。 They came to Sir G。 Carteret's house at Cranbourne； and there were entertained； and all made drunk； and being all drunk； Armerer did come to the King； and swore to him by God； 〃Sir；〃 says he； 〃you are not so kind to the Duke of York of late as you used to be。〃〃Not I？〃 says the King。 〃Why so？〃 〃Why；〃 says he； 〃if you are； let us drink his health。〃 〃Why let us；〃 says the King。 Then he fell on his knees and drank it； and having done； the King began to drink it。 〃Nay； Sir；〃 says Armerer； by God you must do it on your knees！〃 So he did； and then all the company： and having done it； all fell a…crying for joy； being all maudlin and kissing one another； the King the Duke of York； and the Duke of York the King； and in such a maudlin pickle as never people were： and so passed the day。 But Sir H。 Cholmly tells me； that the King hath this good luck： that the next day he hates to have any body mention what he had done the day before； nor will suffer any body to gain upon him that way； which is a good quality。 By and by comes Captain Cocke about business； who tells me that Mr。 Brouncker is lost for ever； notwithstanding that my Lord Brouncker hath advised with him （Cocke） how he might make a peace with the Duke of York and Chancellor； upon promise of serving him in the Parliament： but Cocke says that is base to offer； and will have no success there。 He says that Mr。 Wren hath refused a present of Tom Wilson's for his place of Store… keeper at Chatham； and is resolved never to take any thing： which is both wise in him； and good to the King's service。
25th。 With Sir H。 Cholmly （who came to me about his business） to White Hall： and thither came also my Lord Brouncker。 And we by and by called in； and our paper read； and much discourse thereon by Sir G。 Carteret； my Lord Anglesy； Sir W。 Coventry； and my Lord Ashly； and myself： but I could easily discern that they none of them understood the business； and the King at last ended it with saying lazily； 〃Why；〃 says he； 〃after all this discourse I now come to understand it； and that is； that there can nothing be done in this more than is possible；〃 （which was so silly as I never heard）： 〃and therefore；〃 says he； 〃I would have these gentlemen do as much as possible to hasten the Treasurer's accounts； and that is all。〃 And so we broke up： and I confess I went away ashamed； to see how slightly things are advised upon there。 Here I saw the Duke of Buckingham sit in Council again； where he was re…admitted； it seems； the last Council…day： and it is wonderful to see how this man is come again to his places； all of them； after the reproach and disgrace done him； so that things are done in a most foolish manner quite through。 The Duke of Buckingham did second Sir W。 Coventry in the advising the King that he would not concern himself in the evening or not evening any man's accounts； or any thing else； wherein he had not the same satisfaction that would satisfy the Parliament； saying； that nothing would displease the Parliament； more than to find him defending any thing that is not right nor justifiable to the utmost degree： but methought he spoke it but very poorly。 After this I walked up and down the Gallery till noon： and here I met with Bishop Fuller； who； to my great joy； is made （which I did not hear before） Bishop of Lincolne。 At noon I took coach； and to Sir G。 Carteret's in Lincoln's…inn…fields； to the house that is my Lord's； which my Lord lets him have： and this is the first day of dining there。 And there dined with him and his lady my Lord Privy…seale； ＇John Lord Roberts； afterwards Earl of Radnor； filled this office from 1661 to 1669。＇ who is indeed a very sober man： who； among other talk； did mightily wonder at the reason of the growth of the credit of bankers； （since it is so ordinary a thing for citizens to break out of knavery。） Upon this we had much discourse； and I observed therein； to the honour of this City； that I have not heard of one citizen of London broke in all this war； this plague； or this fire； and this coming up of the enemy among us； which he owned to be very considerable。 I to the King's playhouse； my eyes being so bad since last night's straining of them that I am hardly able to see；