rthumberland； made Lord High Admiral 1635。＇ times； which he hath taken many good notes out of； for justifying the Duke of York and us in many things； wherein perhaps precedent will be necessary to produce。 Thence to White Hall； where the Duke of York expected me； and in his closet Wren and I。 He did tell me how the King hath been acquainted with the Treasurers' discourse at the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury the other day； and is dissatisfied with our running him in debt； which I removed。 And he did carry me to the King； and I did satisfy him also： but his satisfaction is nothing worth； it being easily got and easily removed。 But I do purpose to put it in writing； that shall make the Treasurers ashamed。 But the Duke of York is horrid angry against them； and he hath cause； for they do work all they can to bring dishonour upon his management； as do plainly appear in all they do。 Having done with the Duke of York； who do repose all in me； I with Mr。 Wren to his chamber to talk； where he observed； that these people are all of them a broken sort of people that have not much to lose； and therefore will venture all to make their fortunes better： that Sir Thomas Osborne is a beggar； having 11 or 1200l。 a…year； but owes above 10；000l。 The Duke of Buckingham's condition is shortly this： that he hath about 19；600l。 a…year； of which he pays away about 7000l。 a…year in interest； about 2000l。 in fee…farm rents to the King； about 6000l。 in wages and pensions； and the rest to live upon and pay taxes for the whole。 Wren says； that for the Duke of York to stir in this matter； as his quality might justify； would but make all things worse； and that therefore he must bend and suger all till time works it out： that he fears they will sacrifice the Church； and that the King will take any thing （and so he holds up his head a little longer）； and then break in pieces。 But Sir W。 Coventry did to… day mightily magnify my late Lord Treasurer for a wise and solid； though infirm man： and among other things； that when he hath said it was impossible in nature to find this or that sum of money； and my Lord Chancellor hath made sport of it； and told the King that when my Lord hath said it was impossible； yet he hath made shift to find it； and that was by Sir G。 Carteret's getting credit； my Lord did once in his hearing say thus； which he magnifies as a great sayingthat impossible would be found impossible at last； meaning that the King would run himself out beyond all his credit and funds； and then we should too late find it impossible； which is； he says； now come to pass。
15th。 To the plaisterer's； and there saw the figure of my face taken from the mould； and it is most admirably like； and I will have another made before I take it away。 At the 'Change I did at my bookseller's shop accidentally fall into talk with Sir Samuel Tuke ＇Sir Samuel Tuke； of Cressing Temple； Essex； Bart。 was a Colonel in Charles the First's army； and cosen to Mr。 Evelyn。 He died at Somerset…house； January； 1673。＇ about trees and Mr。 Evelyn's garden； and I do find him； I think； a little conceited； but a man of very fine discourse as any I ever heard almost； which I was mighty glad of。 In Suffolk…street lives Moll Davies； and we did see her coach come for her to her door； a mighty pretty fine coach。 To White Hall； and there； by means of Mr。 Cooling； did get into the play； the only one we have seen this winter： it was 〃The Five Hours' Adventure：〃 but I sat so far I could not hear well； nor was there any pretty woman that I did see but my wife； who sat in my Lady Fox's pew with her。 The house very full； and late before done； so that it was past eleven before we got home。
17th。 The King dining yesterday at the Dutch Embassador's； after dinner they drank and were pretty merry； and among the rest of the King's company there was that worthy fellow my Lord of Rochester； and Tom Killigrew； whose mirth and raillery offended the former so much； that he did give Tom Killigrew a box on the ear in the King's presence； which do give much offence to the people here at Court to see how cheap the King makes himself； and the more； for that the King hath not only passed by the thing and pardoned it to Rochester already； but this very morning the King did publicly walk up and down； and Rochester I saw with him as free as ever； to the King's everlasting shame to have so idle a rogue his companion。 How Tom Killigrew takes it； I do not hear。 I do also this day hear that my Lord Privy…Seale do accept to go Lieutenant into Ireland； but whether it be true or no； I cannot tell。 To Colonel Middleton's to the burial of his wife； where we were all invited； and much more company； and had each of us a ring。 At church there was my Lord Brouncker and Mrs。 Williams in our pew； the first time they were ever there； or that I knew that either of them would go to church。
19th。 This morning； among other things； talking with Sir W。 Coventry； I did propose to him my putting in to serve in Parliament； if there should； as the world begins to expect； be a new one chose。 He likes it mightily； both for the King's and service's sake； and the Duke of York's； and will propound it to the Duke of York： and I confess； if there be one； I would be glad to be in。
22nd。 In the evening to White Hall； and there did without much trouble get into the playhouse； finding a good place among the Ladies of Honour； and all of us sitting in the pit； and then by and by came the King and Queene； and they began 〃Bartholomew… fair。〃 But I like no play here so well as at the common playhouse； besides that； my eyes being very ill since last Sunday and this day se'nnight； I was in mighty pain to defend myself now from the light of the candles。 after the play done； we met with W。 Batelier and W。 Hewer and Talbot Pepys； ＇Of Impington； Ob。 1681； aet。 suae 35。＇ and they followed us in a hackney…coach： and we all stopped at Hercules' Pillars； and there I did give them the best supper I could； and pretty merry； and so home between eleven and twelve at night。
23rd。 To Westminster Abbey； and there did see all the tombs very finely； having one with us alone （there being other company this day to see the tombs； it being Shrove…Tuesday：） and here we did see； by particular favour； the body of Queen Katherine of Valois； and I had the upper part of her body in my hands； and I did kiss her mouth； reflecting upon it that I did kiss a queene； and that this was my birth…day； thirty…six years old； that I did kiss a queene。 But here this man； who seems to understand well； tells me that the saying is not true that she was never buried； for she was buried； only when Henry the Seventh built his chapel； she was taken up and laid in this wooden coffin； but I did there see that in it the body was buried in a leaden one； which remains under the body to this day。
25th。 To the Duke of York's house； and there before one； but the house infinite full； where by and by the King and Court come； it being a new play； or an old one new vamped by Shadwell； called 〃The Royall Shepherdesse；〃 ＇A tragi…comedy； altered by Thomas Shadwell from a comedy written by Mr。 Fountain； called 〃The Rewards of Virtue。〃＇ but the silliest for words and design； and every thing； that ever I saw in my whole life； there being nothing in the world pleasing in it； but a good martiall dance of pikemen； where Harris and another do handle their pikes in a dance to admiration； but never less satisfied with a play in my life。
26th。 To the King's playhouse； and saw 〃The Faithfull Shepherdesse。〃 But； Lord！ what an empty house； there not being； as I could tell the people； so many as to make up above 10l。 in the whole house！ But I plainly discern the musick is the better； by how much the house the emptier。
1668…9。 MARCH 1。 I do hear that my Lady Paulina Montagu did die yesterday！ at which I went to my Lord's lodgings； but he is shut up with sorrow； and so not to be spoken with： and therefore I returned； and to Westminster Hall； where I have not been； I think； in some months。 And here the Hall was very full； the King having by Commission to some Lords this day prorogued the Parliament till the 19th of October next； at which I am glad； hoping to have time to go over to France this year。 But I was most of all surprised this morning by my Lord Bellasses； who by appointment met me at Auditor Wood's at the Temple； and tells me of a duell designed between the Duke of Buckingham and my Lord Halifax； or Sir W。 Coventry； the challenge being carried by Harry Saville； but prevented by my Lord Arlington； and the King told of it： and this was all the discourse at Court this day。 But I meeting Sir W。 Coventry in the Duke of York's chamber； he would not own it to me； but told me he was a man of too much peace to meddle with fighting； and so it rested： but the talk is full in the town of the business。 Thence； having walked some turns with my cosen Pepys； and most people by their discourse believing that this Parliament will never sit more； I away。 I did bring home a piece of my face cast in plaister； for to make a visard upon for my eyes。
2nd。 My wife this day put on first her French gown； called a Sac； which becomes her very well。
3rd。 To White Hall； where W。 Hewer met me； and he and I