g of some fruit in the midst of the play； did drop down as dead； being choked； but with much ado Orange Mall did thrust her finger down his throat； and brought him to life again。
4th。 To Westminster； and there landing at the New Exchange stairs； I to Sir W。 Coventry： and there he read over to me the Prince's and Duke of Albemarle's Narratives； wherein they are very severe against him and our office。 But Sir W。 Coventry do contemn them； only that their persons and qualities are great； and so I do perceive he is afraid of them； though he will not confess it。 But he do say that； if he can get out of these briars； he will never trouble himself with Princes nor Dukes again。 He finds several things in their Narratives which are both inconsistent and foolish； as well as untrue。 Sir H。 Cholmly owns Sir W。 Coventry； in his opinion； to be one of the worthiest men in the nation； as I do really think he is。 He tells me he do think really that they will cut off my Lord Chancellor's head； the Chancellor at this day having as much pride as is possible to those few that venture their fortunes by coming to see him； and that the Duke of York is troubled much； knowing that those that fling down the Chancellor cannot stop there； but will do something to him； to prevent his having it in his power hereafter to avenge himself and father…in…law upon them。 And this Sir H。 Cholmly fears may be by divorcing the Queene and getting another； or declaring the Duke of Monmouth legitimate： which God forbid！ He tells me he do verily believe that there will come in an impeachment of High Treason against my Lord of Ormond； among other things； for ordering the quartering of soldiers in Ireland on free quarters； which； it seems； is High Treason in that country； and was one of the things that lost the Lord Strafford his head； and the law is not yet repealed； which； he says； was a mighty oversight of him not to have repealed （which he might with ease have done）； or have justified himself by an Act。
7th。 At noon resolved with Sir W。 Pen to go to see 〃The Tempest；〃 an old play of Shakespeare's； acted； I hear； the first day； And so my wife； and girl； and W。 Hewer by themselves； and Sir W。 Pen and I afterwards by ourselves： and forced to sit in the side balcony over against the musique…room at the Duke's House； close by my Lady Dorset ＇Frances； daughter of Lionel Earl of Middlesex； wife of Richard fifth Earl of Dorset。＇ and a great many great ones。 The house mighty full； the King and Court there： and the most innocent play that ever I saw； and a curious piece of musique in an echo of half sentences； the echo repeating the former half while the man goes on to the latter； which is mighty pretty。 The play has no great wit； but yet good above ordinary plays。
9th。 The House very busy； and like to be so all day； about my Lord Chancellor's impeachment； whether Treason or not。
10th。 To White Hall； to speak with Sir W。 Coventry； and there； beyond all we looked for do hear that the Duke of York hath got and is full of the small…pox。 And so we to his lodgings； and there find most of the family going to St。 James's； and the gallery…doors locked up； that nobody might pass to nor fro： and so a sad house； I am sorry to see。 I am sad to consider the effects of his death if he should miscarry； but Dr。 Frazier tells me that he is in as good condition as a man can be in his case。 They appeared last night： it seems he was let blood on Friday。
11th。 Sir G。 Carteret and I towards the Temple in coach together； and there he did tell me how the King do all he can in the world to overthrow my Lord Chancellor； and that notice is taken of every man about the King that is not seen to promote the ruine of the Chancellor； and that this being another great day in his business； he dares not but be there。 He tells me that as soon as Secretary Morrice brought the Great Seale from my Lord Chancellor； Bab。 May fell upon his knees and catched the King about the legs； and joyed him； and said that this was the first time that ever he could call him King of England； being freed from this great man： which was a most ridiculous saying。 And he told me that when first my Lord Gerard； a great while ago； came to the King； and told him that the Chancellor did say openly that the King was a lazy person and not fit to govern （which is now made one of the things in people's mouths against the Chancellor；） 〃Why；〃 says the King； 〃that is no news； for he hath told me so twenty times； and but the other day he told me so；〃 and made matter of mirth at it： but yet this light discourse is likely to prove bad to him。
12th。 Up； and to the office； where sat all the morning； and there hear that the Duke of York do yet do very well with his small…pox： pray God he may continue to do so！ This morning also； to my astonishment； I hear that yesterday my Lord Chancellor； to another of his Articles； that of betraying the King's councils to his enemies； is voted to have matter against him for an impeachment of High Treason； and that this day the impeachment is to be carried up to the House of Lords： which is very high； and I am troubled at it； for God knows what will follow； since they that do this must do more to secure themselves against any that will revenge this； if it ever come in their power！
13th。 To Westminster： where I find the House sitting； and in a mighty heat about Commissioner Pett； that they would have him impeached； though the Committee have yet brought in but part of their Report： and this heat of the House is much heightened by Sir Thomas Clifford telling them； that he was the man that did； out of his own purse； employ people at the out…ports to prevent the King of Scotts to escape after the battle of Worcester。 The house was in a great heat all this day about it； and at last it was carried； however； that it should be referred back to the Committee to make further enquiry。 By and by I met with Mr。 Wren； who tells me that the Duke of York is in as good condition as is possible for a man in his condition of the small… pox。 He； I perceive； is mightily concerned in the business of my Lord Chancellor； the impeachment against whom is gone up to the House of Lords； and great differences there are in the Lords' House about it； and the Lords are very high one against another。 This day Mr。 Chichly told me； with a seeming trouble； that the House have stopped his son Jack （Sir John） his going to France； that he may be a witness against my Lord Sandwich： which do trouble me； though he can； I think； say little。
15th。 A conference between the two Houses today； so I stayed： and it was only to tell the Commons that the Lords' cannot agree to the confining or sequestring of the Earle of Clarendon from the Parliament； forasmuch as they do not specify any particular crime which they lay upon him and call Treason。 This the House did receive； and so parted： at which； I hear the Commons are like to grow very high； and will insist upon their privileges； and the Lords will own theirs； though the Duke of Buckingham； Bristoll； and others have been very high in the House of Lords to have had him committed。 This is likely to breed ill blood。 The King hath （as Mr。 Moore says Sir Thomas Crewe told him） been heard to say that the quarrel is not between my Lord Chancellor and him； but his brother and him； which will make sad work among us if that be once promoted； as to be sure it will； Buckingham and Bristoll being now the only counsel the King follows； so as Arlington and Coventry are come to signify little。 He tells me they are likely to fall upon my Lord Sandwich； but for my part sometimes I am apt to think they cannot do him much harm； he telling me that there is no great fear of the business of Resumption。 This day Poundy the waterman was with me； to let me know that he was summoned to bear witness against me to Prince Rupert's people （who have a commission to look after the business of prize…goods）； about the business of the prize…goods I was concerned in： but I did desire him to speak all he knew； and not to spare me； nor did promise nor give him any thing； but sent him away with good words。
16th。 Met Mr。 Gregory； my old acquaintance； an understanding gentleman； and he and I walked an hour together； talking of the bad prospect of the times。 And the sum of what I learn from him is this： That the King is the most concerned in the world against the Chancellor and all people that do not appear against him； and therefore is angry with the Bishops； having said that he had one Bishop on his side （Crofts）； ＇Herbert Croft； Dean of Hereford； elected Bishop of that see 1661。＇ and but one： that Buckingham and Bristoll are now his only Cabinet Counsel； and that； before the Duke of York fell sick； Buckingham was admitted to the King of his Cabinet； and there stayed with him several hours； and the Duke of York shut out。 That it is plain that there is dislike between the King and Duke of York； and that it is to be feared that the House will go so far against the Chancellor； that they must do something to undo the Duke of York； or will not think themselves safe。 That this Lord Vaughan that is so great against the Chancellor； is one of the lewdest fellows of the age； worse than Sir Charles Sedley； and