xcuse。 And so he went away； leaving me a little troubled that I was thus driven on a sudden to do any thing herein： but Creed coming just now to see me； be approves of what I have done。 A great fire happened in Durham…yard last night； burning the house of one Lady Hungerford； who was to come to town to it this night； and so the house is burned； new furnished； by carelessness of the girl sent to take off a candle from a bunch of candles； which she did by burning it off and left the rest； as is supposed； on fire。 The King and Court were here； it seems；； and stopped the fire by blowing up of the next house。 The King and Court； went out of town to Newmarket this morning betimes； for a week。
28th。 Up； and was called upon by Sir H。 Cholmly to discourse about some accounts of his of Tangier： and then to other talk。 And I find by him that it is brought almost to effect； the late endeavours of the Duke of York and Duchesse； the Queene…Mother； and my Lord St。 Alban's together with some of the contrary faction； as my Lord Arlington； that for a sum of money we shall enter into a league with the King of France； wherein； he says； my Lord Chancellor is also concerned； and that he believes that in the doing hereof it is meant that he shall come in again； and that this sum of money will so help the King as that he will not need the Parliament； and that in that regard it will be forwarded by the Duke of Buckingham and his faction； who dread the Parliament。 But hereby must leave the Dutch； and that I doubt will undo us； and Sir H。 Cholmly says he finds W。 Coventry do think the like。 My Lady Castlemaine is instrumental in this matter； and； he says； never more great with the King than she is now。 But this is a thing that will make the Parliament and kingdom mad； and will turn to our ruine； for with this money the King shall wanton away his time in pleasures； and think nothing of the main till it be too late。 This morning Mr。 Sheres sent me in two volumes； Marian his History of Spaine in Spanish； an excellent book； and I am much obliged to him for it。
30th。 Up； and by coach to the coachmaker's； and there I do find a great many ladies sitting in the body of a coach that must be ended by to…morrow； （they were my Lady Marquess of Winchester； ＇Isabella； daughter of William Viscount Stafford； third wife to James fifth Marquis of Winchester。＇ Bellasses； ＇John Lord Bellassis was thrice married： first； to Jane； daughter of Sir Robert Boteler； of Woodhall； Knt。； secondly； to Ann； daughter of Sir Robert Crane； of Chilton； Suffolk； thirdly； to Lady Anne Powlet； daughter of John； fourth Marquis of Winchester。 The lady here mentioned was the second or third wife； probably the latter。＇ and other great ladies；） eating of bread and butter； and drinking ale。 I to my coach； which is silvered over； but no varnish yet laid on； so I put it in a way of doing； and my self about other business； and particularly to see Sir W。 Coventry； with whom I talked a good while to my great content： and so to other places； among others； to my tailor's； and then to the belt…maker's； where my belt cost me 55s。 of the colour of my new suit； and here understanding that the mistress of the house； an oldish woman in a hat； hath some water good for the eyes； she did dress me； making my eyes smart most horribly； and did give me a little glass of it； which I will use； and hope it will do me good。 So to the cutler's； and there did give Tom； who was with me all day； a sword cost me 12s。 and a belt of my owne ； and sent my own silver…hilt sword agilding against to…morrow。 This morning I did visit Mr。 Oldenburgh； and did see the instrument for perspective made by Dr。 Wren； of which I have one making by Browne； and the sight of this do please me mightily。 At noon my wife came to me at my tailor's； and I sent her home； and myself and Tom dined at Hercules Pillars； and so about our business again； and particularly to Lilly's； the varnisher； about my prints； whereof some of them are pasted upon the boards； and to my full content。 Thence to the frame…maker's； one Norris； in Long Acre； who showed me several forms of frames； which were pretty； in little bits of mouldings to choose patterns by。 This done； I to my coachmaker's； and there vexed to see nothing yet done to my coach； at three in the afternoon； but I set it in doing； and stood by till eight at night； and saw the painter varnish it； which is pretty to see how every doing it over do make it more and more yellow： and it dries as fast in the sun as it can be laid on almost； and most coaches are now…a…days done so； and it is very pretty when laid on well； and not too pale as some are； even to show the silver。 Here I did make the workmen drink； and saw my coach cleaned and oyled； and staying among poor people there in the ally； did hear them call their fat child Punch； which pleased me mightily； that word being become a word of common use for all that is thick and short。
May 1； 1669。 Up betimes。 My wife extraordinary fine with her flowered tabby gown that she made two years ago； now laced exceeding pretty； and indeed was fine all over。 And mighty earnest to go； though the day was very lowering； and she would have me put on my fine suit； which I did。 And so anon we went alone through the town with our new liveries of serge； and the horses' manes and tails tied with red ribbons； and the standards thus gilt with varnish； and all clean； and green reines； that people did mightily look upon us； and the truth is； I did not see any coach more pretty； though more gay； than ours all the day； the day being unpleasing； though the Park full of coaches； but dusty； and windy； and cold； and now and then a little dribbling of rain； and what made it worse； there were so many hackney coaches as spoiled the sight of the gentlemen's； and so we had little pleasure。
2nd （Lord's day）。 Up； and by water to White Hall； and there visited my Lord Sandwich； who； after about two months' absence at Hinchingbroke； came to town last night。 I saw him； and he was very kind： and I am glad he is so； I having not wrote to him all the time； my eyes indeed not letting me。 Here with Sir Charles Harbord and my Lord Hinchingbroke and Sidney； and we looked upon the picture of Tangier； designed by Charles Harbord and drawn by Dancre； which my Lord Sandwich admires； as being the truest picture that ever he saw in his life： and it is indeed very pretty； and I will be at the cost of having one of them。 Thence with them to White Hall； and there walked out the sermon with one or other； and then saw the Duke of York； and he talked to me a little； and so away back by water home。
3rd。 Up； and coach to my Lord Brouncker's； where Sir G。 Carteret did meet Sir J。 Minnes and me； to discourse upon Mr。 Deering's business； who was directed in the time of the war to provide provisions at Hamburgh； by Sir G。 Carteret's direction； and now Sir G。 Carteret is afraid to own it； it being done without written order。 But by our meeting we do all begin to recollect enough to preserve Mr。 Deering； which I think； poor silly man！ I shall be glad of； it being too much he should suffer for endeavouring to serve us。 Thence to St。 James's； where the Duke of York was playing in the Pell Mell； and so he called me to him most part of the time that he played； which was an hour； and talked alone to me； and； among other things； tells me how the King will not yet be got to name any body in the room of Pen； but puts it off for three or four days： from whence he do collect that they are brewing something for the Navy； but what he knows not； but I perceive is vexed that things should go so； and he hath reason； for he told me that it is likely they will do in this as in other thingsresolve first； and consider it and the fitness of it afterwards。 Thence to White Hall； and met with Creed； and discoursed of matters； and I perceive by him that he makes no doubt but that all will turn to the old religion； for these people cannot hold things in their hands； nor prevent its coming to that； and by his discourse he fits himself for it； and would have my Lord Sandwich do so too； and me。 After a little talk with him； and particularly about the ruinous condition of Tangier； which I have a great mind to lay before the Duke of York； but dare not because of his great kindness to Lord Middleton； before it be too late； we parted； and I homeward； but called at Povy's； and there he stopped me to dinner； there being Mr。 Williamson； the Lieutenant of the Tower； Mr。 Child； and several others。 And after dinner Povy and I together to talk of Tangier； and he would have me move the Duke of York in it； for it concerns him particularly more than any； as being the head of us； and I do think to do it。
5th。 To St。 James's； and thence with the Duke of York to White Hall； where the Board waited on him all the morning； and so at noon with Sir Thomas Allen； and Sir Edward Scott ＇Sir Edward Scott； made LL。D； at Oxford 1677。＇ and Lord Carlingford； to the Spanish Embassador's； where I dined the first time。 The olio not so good as Shere's。 There was at the table himself and a Spanish Countess； a good； comely； and witty lady； three Fathers； and us。 Discourse good and pleasant。 And here was an Oxford scholar； in Doctor of Law