ing extraordinary in it all； neither of language nor design； insomuch that the King I did not see laugh nor pleased from the beginning to the end； nor the company； insomuch that I have not been less pleased at a new play in my life； I think。
19th。 Pierce tells me that for certain Mr。 Vaughan is made Lord Chief Justice； which I am glad of。 He tells me too； that since my Lord of Ormond's coming over； the King begins to be mightily reclaimed； and sups every night with great pleasure with the Queene： and yet； it seems； he is mighty hot upon the Duchesse of Richmond； insomuch that； upon Sunday was se'nnight at night； after he had ordered his Guards and coach to be ready to carry him to the Park； he did on a sudden take a pair of oars or sculler； and all alone； or but one with him； go to Somerset House； and there； the garden…door not being open； himself clamber over the wall to make a visit to her； which is a horrid shame。
20th。 To the Council…chamber； where the Committee of the Navy sat； and here we discoursed several things； but； Lord！ like fools； so as it was a shame to see things of this importance managed by a Council that understand nothing of them。 And； among other things； one was about this building of a ship with Hemskirke's secret； to sail a third faster than any other ship； but he hath got Prince Rupert on his side； and by that means； I believe； will get his conditions made better than he would otherwise； or ought indeed。 To the Mulbery…garden； ＇On the site of which Buckingham…House was erected。＇ where I never was before； and find it a very silly place； worse than Spring…garden； and but little company； only a wilderness here that is somewhat pretty。
21st。 To the office； where meets me Sir Richard Ford； who among other things congratulates me； as one or two did yesterday； on my great purchase； and he advises me rather to forbear if it be not done； as a thing that the world will envy me in： and what is it but my cosen Tom Pepys's buying of Martin Abbey； ＇In 1668 the site of Murton； ALIAS Martin Priory； was conveyed by Ellis Crispe to Thomas Pepys； Esq。； of Hatcham Barns； Master of the Jewel… office to Charles II。 and James II。MANNING'S SURREY。＇ in Surry？ All the town is full of the talk of a meteor； or some fire； that did on Saturday last fly over the City at night； which do put me in mind that； being then walking in the dark an hour or more myself in the garden after I had done writing； I did see a light before me come from behind me； which made me turn back my head； and I did see a sudden fire or light running in the sky； as it were towards Cheapside…ward； And vanished very quick； which did make me bethink myself what holyday it was； and took it for some rocket； though it was much brighter： and the world do make much discourse of it； their apprehensione being mighty full of the rest of the City to be burned； and the Papists to cut our throats。
22nd。 I fitted myself for my journey to Brampton to…morrow； which I fear will not be pleasant because of the wet weather； it rained very hard all this day； but the less it troubles me； because the King and Duke of York and Court are at this day at Newmarket at a great horse…race； and proposed great pleasure for two or three days； but are in the same wet。
23rd。 To the Bull in Bishopsgate…street； and； there about six took coach； and so away to Bishop's Stafford； ＇Bishop Stortford； in Herts。＇ The ways are mighty full of water； so as hardly to be passed。 After dinner to Cambridge； about nine at night： and there I met my father's horses。
24th。 We set out by three o'clock to Brampton。 Here I saw my brother and sister Jackson。 After dinner my Lady Sandwich sending to see whether I was come； I presently took horse； and find her and her family at chapel： and； thither I went in to them； and sat out the sermon； where I heard Jervas Fulwood； now their chaplain； preach a very good and civantick kind of sermon； too good for an ordinary congregation。 After sermon I with my Lady； and my Lady Hinchingbroke； and Paulina； and Lord Hinchingbroke。
25th。 To Cambridge； the waters not being now so high as before。 Here lighting； I took my boy and two brothers； and walked to Magdalene College； and there into the butterys as a stranger； and there drank of their beer； which pleased me； as the best I ever drank； and hear by the Butler's man； who was son to Goody Mulliner over…against the College； that we used to buy stewed prunes of； concerning the College and persons in it； and find very few； only Mr。 Hollins ＇John Hollins of Medley； in Yorkshire； admitted a Pensioner of Magdalene College； March 1651。＇ and Pechell； I think； that were of my time。
26th。 To the coach； where about six o'clock we set out； and got to Bishopsgate…street before eight o'clock； the waters being now most of them down； and we avoiding the bad way in the forest by a privy way； which brought us to Hodsden； and so to Tibald's that road； which was mighty pleasant。
27th。 Met Mr。 Sawyer； my old chamber…fellow； and he and I by water together to the Temple； he giving me an account of the base； rude usage which he and Sir G。 Carteret had lately before the Commissioners of Accounts； where he was as Counsel to Sir G。 Carteret； which I was sorry to hear； they behaving themselves like most insolent and ill…mannered men。 To see Sir W。 Pen； whom I find still very ill of the gout； sitting in his great chair； made on purpose for persons sick of that disease for their ease； and this very chair； he tells me； was made for my Lady Lambert。
29th。 Received some directions from the Duke of York and the Committee of the Navy about casting up the charge of the present summer's fleet； that so they may come within the bounds of the sum given by the Parliament。 But it is pretty to see how Prince Rupert and other mad silly people are for setting out but a little fleet； there being no occasion for it； and say it will be best to save the money for better uses。 But Sir G。 Carteret did declare that in wisdom it was better to do so； but that； in obedience to the Parliament； he was for setting out the fifty sail talked on； though it spent all the money； and to little purpose； and that this was better than to leave it to the Parliament to make bad constructions of their thrift； if any trouble should happen。 Thus wary the world is grown！ Thence back again presently home； and did business till noon。 And then to Sir G。 Carteret's to dinner with much good company； it being the King's birthday； and many healths drunk。 And here I did receive another letter from my Lord Sandwich； which troubles me to see how I have neglected him in not writing； or but once； all this time of his being abroad and I see he takes notice； but yet gently； of it。
30th。 Up； and put on a new summer black bombazin suit； and being come now to an agreement with my barber to keep my perriwig in good order at 20s。 a…year； I am like to go very spruce； more than I used to do。 To the King's playhouse； and there saw 〃Philaster；〃 ＇A tragedy； by Beaumont and Fletcher。＇ where it is pretty to see how I could remember almost all along； ever since I was a boy； Arethusa； the part which I was to have acted at Sir Robert Cooke's； and it was very pleasant to me； but more to think what a ridiculous thing it would have been for me to have acted a beautiful woman。 To Fox Hall； and there fell into the company of Harry Killigrew； a rogue newly come out of France； but still in disgrace at our Court； and young Newport and others； as very rogues as any in the town； who were ready to take hold of every woman that come by them。 And so to supper in an arbour： but Lord！ their mad talk did make my heart ake。 And here I first understood by their talk the meaning of the company that lately were called Ballers； Harris telling how it was by a meeting of some young blades； where he was among them； and my Lady Bennet and her ladies； and there dancing naked； and all the roguish things in the world。 But； Lord！ what loose company was this that I was in to…night； though full of wit； and worth a man's being in for once to know the nature of it； and their manner of talk and lives。
31st。 I hear that Mrs。 Davis is quite gone from the Duke of York's house； and Gosnell comes in her room； which I am glad of。 At the play at Court the other night Mrs。 Davis was there； and when she was to come to dance her jigg； the Queene would not stay to see it； which people do think was out of displeasure at her being the King's mistress； that she could not bear it。 My Lady Castlemaine is； it seems； now mightily out of request； the King coming little to her； and then she mighty melancholy and discontented。
JUNE 1； 1668。 Alone to Fox Hall； and walked and saw young Newport and two more rogues of the town seize on two ladies； who walked with them an hour with their masks on； （perhaps civil ladies；） and there I left them。
3rd。 To White Hall to the Council…chamber； where I did present the Duke of York with an account of the charge of the present fleet to his satisfaction； and this being done； did ask his leave for my going out of town five or six days； which he did give me； saying that my diligence in the King's business was such that I ought not to be denied when my own business called me any whit