s Cotton； the other （which was performed at Court；） by Catherine Phillips； the fifth act being added by Sir John Denham。＇ this the third day of its acting： a silly tragedy； but Lacy hath made a farce of several dancesbetween each act one： but his words are but silly and invention not extraordinary as to the dances； only some Dutchmen come out of the mouth and tail of a Hamburgh sow。
20th。 Heard at the Council…board the City； by their single Counsel Symson； and the Company of Strangers Merchants； debate the business of water…baylage； a tax demanded upon all goods； by the City； imported and exported： which these merchants oppose； and demanding leave to try the justice of the City's demand by a Quo Warranto； which the City opposed； the Merchants did quite lay the City on their backs with great triumph； the City's cause being apparently too weak： but here I observed Mr。 Gold； the merchant； to speak very well and very sharply against the City。 This afternoon before the play I called with my wife at Dancre's； ＇Henry Dankers； born at the Hague； employed by Charles II。 to paint views of his sea…ports and palaces。 He followed his profession for some years in London。＇ the great landscape… painter； by Mr。 Povy's advice； and have bespoke him to come to take measure of my dining…room panels。
22nd。 At the 'Change I met with Mr。 Dancre； with whom I was on Wednesday； and he took measure of my panels in my dining…room； where； in the four； I intend to have the four houses of the King； White Hall； Hampton Court； Greenwich； and Windsor； Mightily pleased with the fellow that came to lay the cloth and fold the napkins； which I like so well as that I am resolved to give him 40s。 to teach my wife to do it。
23rd。 To the office till noon； when word brought me that my Lord Sandwich was come； so I presently rose； and there I found my Lords Sandwich； Peterborough； and Sir Charles Harbord； and presently after them comes my Lord Hichingbroke； Mr。 Sidney； and Sir William Godolphin。 And after greeting them and some time spent in talk； dinner was brought up； one dish after another； but a dish at a time； but all so good： but； above all things； the variety of wines and excellent of their kind I had for them； and all in so good order； that they were mightily pleased； and myself full of content at it： and indeed it was； of a dinner of about six or eight dishes； as noble as any man need to have； I think； at least； all was done in the noblest manner that ever I had any； and I have rarely seen in my life better any where else； even at the Court。 After dinner my Lords to cards； and the rest of us sitting about them and talking； and looking on my books and pictures； and my wife's drawings； which they commended mightily： and mighty merry all day long With exceeding great content； and so till seven at night； and so took their leaves； it being dark and foul weather。 Thus was this entertainment over； the best of its kind and the fullest of honour and content to me that ever I had in my life； and I shall not easily have so good again。
24th （Lord's day）。 An order brought me in bed； for the principal officers to attend the King at my Lord Keeper's this afternoon； it being resolved late the last night； and by the warrant I find my Lord Keeper did not then know the cause of it； the messenger being ordered； to call upon him to tell it him by the way； as he came to us。 I to White Hall； and here I met Will。 Batelier； newly come post from France； his boots all dirty。 He brought letters to the King； and I glad to see him； it having been reported that he was drowned for some days past。 By and by the King comes out； and so I took coach and followed his coaches to my Lord Keeper's at Essex…house； where I never was before； since I saw my old Lord Essex lie in state when he was dead。 A large； but ugly house。 Here all the officers of the Navy attended； and by and by were called in to the King and Cabinet； where my Lord； who was ill； did lie upon the bed； as my old Lord Treasurer or Chancellor heretofore used to do。 And the business was to know in what time all the King's ships might be repaired fit for service。 The Surveyor answered； in two years； and not sooner。 I did give them hopes that； with supplies of money suitable； we might have them all fit for sea some part of the summer after this。 Then they demanded in what time we could set out forty ships。 It was answered； as they might be chosen of the newest and most ready； we could with money get forty ready against May。 The King seemed mighty full that we should have money to do all that we desired； and satisfied that without it nothing could be done： and so without determining any thing we were dismissed； and I doubt all will end in some little fleet this year； and that of hired merchantmen； which would indeed be cheaper to the King and have many conveniences attending it； more than to fit out the King's own。 And this； I perceive； is designed； springing from Sir W。 Coventry's counsel； and the King and most of the Lords； I perceive； full of it； to get the King's fleet all at once in condition for service。 Thence with Mr。 Wren in his coach； for discourse' sake： and he told me how the business of the Parliament is wholly laid aside； it being over…ruled now that they shall not meet； but must be prorogued； upon this argument chiefly： that all the differences between the two Houses； and things on foot that were matters of difference and discontent； may be laid aside； and must begin again if ever the House shall have a mind to pursue them。
25th。 My wife showed me many excellent prints of Nantueil's and others； which W。 Batelier hath at my desire brought me out of France； of the King's and Colbert's and others； most excellent； to my great content。
26th。 To the office； and then to White Hall； leaving my wife at Unthanke's； and I to the Secretary's chamber； where I was by particular order this day summonsed to attend； as I find Sir D。 Gauden also was。 And here was the King and the Cabinet met； and being called in； among the rest I find my Lord Privy Seale； whom I never before knew to be in so much play as to be of the Cabinet。 The business is that the Algerines have broke the peace with us by taking out some Spaniards and goods out of an English ship which had the Duke of York's pass； of which advice came this day； and the King is resolved to stop Sir Thomas Allen's fleet from coming home till he hath amends made him for this affront； and therefore sent for us to advise about victuals to be sent to that fleet； and some more ships： wherein I answered them to what they demanded of me： which was but some few mean things； but I see that on all these occasions they seem to rely most upon me。
27th。 To the Duke of York's playhouse； and there saw 〃The Five Hours' Adventure；〃 which hath not been acted a good while before； but once； and is a most excellent play I must confess。
28th。 Going home to supper with my wife； and to get her to read to me； I did find that Mr。 Sheres hath beyond his promise not only got me a candlestick made me； after a form he remembers to have seen in Spain； for keeping the light from one's eyes； but hath got it done in silver very neat； and designs to give it me in thanks for my paying him his 100l。 in money for his service at Tangier； which was ordered him； but I do intend to force him to make me pay for it。 But I yet； without his direction； cannot tell how it is to be made use of。
29th。 To the Duke of York； where I did give a severe account of our proceedings； and what we found in the business of Sir W。 Jenings's demand of supernumeraries。 I thought it a good occasion to make an example of him； for he is a proud idle fellow； and it did meet with the Duke of York's acceptance and well…liking； and he did call him in after I had done； and did not only give him a soft rebuke； but condemns him to pay both their victuals and wages； or right himself of the purser。 This I was glad of； and so were all the rest of us； though I know I have made myself an immortal enemy by it。
31st （Lord's day）。 To church and there did hear the Doctor that is lately turned Divine； Dr。 Waterhouse。 He preaches in a devout manner； not elegant nor very persuasive； but seems to mean well； and that he would preach holily； and was mighty passionate against people that make a scoff of religion。
1668…69。 FEBRUARY 1。 Meeting Mr。 Povy； he and I away to Dancre's to speak something touching the pictures I am getting him to make for me； And thence he carried me to Mr。 Streeter's ＇Robert Streater appointed Serjeant Painter at the Restoration。 Ob。 1680。＇ the famous history…painter over the way； whom I have often heard of； but did never see him before； and there I found him and Dr。 Wren and several virtuosos looking upon the paintings which he is making for the new Theatre at Oxford： and indeed they look as if they would be very fine； and the rest think better than those of Rubens in the Banqueting house： at White Hall； but I do not so fully think so。 But they will certainly be very noble； and I am mightily pleased to have the fortune to see this man and his work； which is very famous。 And he a very civil little man； and lame； but lives very handsomely。 So thence to my Lord Bellasses； and met him within：