of the poor； who cannot buy fish。 And also the great preparation for the King's crowning is now much thought upon and talked of。
18th； It is much talked that the King is already married to the niece of the Prince de Ligne； and that he hath two sons already by her： which I am sorry to hear； but yet am gladder that it should be so； than that the Duke of York and his family should come to the crowne； he being a professed friend to the Catholiques。 Met with Sir G。 Carteret： who afterwards； with the Duke of York； my Lord Sandwich； and others； went into a private room to consult： and we were a little troubled that we were not called in with the rest。 But I do believe it was upon something very private。 We staid walking in the gallery； where we met with Mr。 Slingsby； who showed me the stamps of the King's new coyne； which is strange to see； how good they are in the stamp and bad in the money； for lack of skill to make them。 But he says Blondeau will shortly come over； and then we shall have it better； and the best in the world。 He tells me； he is sure that the King is not yet married； as it is said； nor that it is known who he will have。
22nd。 My wife to Sir W。 Batten's； and there sat a while； he having yesterday sent my wife half…a…dozen pair of gloves； and a pair of silk stockings and garters； for her Valentines。
23rd。 This my birthday； 28 years。 Mr。 Hartlett told me how my Lord Chancellor had lately got the Duke of York and Duchesse； and her woman； my Lord Ossory； ＇Thomas； Earl of Ossory； son of the Duke of Ormond。 Ob。 1680； aged 46。＇ and a Doctor； to make oath before most of the Judges of the kingdom； concerning all the circumstances of their marriage。 And in fine； it is confessed that they were not fully married till about a month or two before she was brought to bed； but that they were contracted long before； and time enough for the child to be legitimate。 But I do not hear that it was put to the Judges to determine whether it was so or no。 To the Play…house； and there saw 〃The Changeling；〃 ＇〃The Changeling；〃 a Tragedy； by Thomas Middleton。 The plot is taken from a story in 〃God's Revenge against Murder。〃＇ the first time it hath been acted these twenty years； and it takes exceedingly。 Besides； I see the gallants do begin to be tyred with the vanity and pride of the theatre actors； who are indeed grown very proud and rich。 I also met with the Comptroller； who told me how it was easy for us all； the principal officers； and proper for us； to labour to get into the next Parliament； and would have me to ask the Duke's letter； but I shall not endeavour it。 This Is now 28 years that I am born。 And blessed be God； in a state of full content； and a great hope to be a happy man in all respects； both to myself and friends。
27th。 I called for a dish of fish； which we had for dinner； this being the first day of Lent； and I do intend to try whether I can keep it or no。
28th。 Notwithstanding my resolution； yea for want of other victualls； I did eat flesh this Lent； but am resolved to eat as little as I can。 This month ends with two great secrets under dispute but yet known to very few： first； Who the King will marry； and What the meaning of this fleet is which we are now sheathing to set out for the southward。 Most think against Algier against the Turke； or to the East Indys against the Dutch who； we hear； are setting out a great fleet thither。
MARCH 1； 1660…61。 After dinner Mr。 Shepley and I in private talking about my Lord's intentions to go speedily into the country； but to what end we know not。 We fear he is to go to sea； with his fleet now preparing。 But we wish that he could get his 4000l。 per annum settled before he do go。 To White… fryars； and saw 〃The Bondman〃 acted； ＇By Massinger。＇ an excellent play and well done。 But above all that ever I saw； Beterton do the Bondman the best。
2nd。 After dinner I went to the theatre； where I found so few people （which is strange； and the reason I do not know） that I went out again； and so to Salsbury Court； where the house as full as could be； and it seems it was a new play； 〃The Queen's Maske；〃 ＇〃Love's Mistress； or The Queen's Masque；〃 by T Heywood。＇ wherein there are some good humours： among others； a good jeer to the old story of the Siege of Troy； making it to be a common country tale。 But above all it was strange to see so little a boy as that was to act Cupid； which is one of the greatest parts in it。
4th。 My Lord went this morning on his journey to Hinchingbroke； Mr。 Parker with him； the chief business being to look over and determine how； and in what manner； his great work of building shall be done。 Before his going he did give me some jewells to keep for him； viz。 that that the King of Sweden did give him； with the King's own picture in it； most excellently done； and a brave George； all of diamonds。
8th。 All the morning at the office。 At noon Sir W。 Batten； Col。 Slingsby and I by coach to the Tower； to Sir John Robinson's； to dinner； where great good cheer。 High company； among others the Duchesse of Albemarle； ＇Ann Clarges； daughter of a blacksmith； and bred a milliner； mistress and afterwards wife of General Monk； over whom she possessed the greatest influence。＇ who is ever a plain homely dowdy。 After dinner； to drink all the afternoon。 Towards night the Duchesse and ladies went away。 Then we set to it again till it was very late。 And at last come in Sir William Wale； almost fuddled； and because I was set between him and another； only to keep them from talking and spoiling the company （as we did to others；） he fell out with the Lieutenant of the Tower； but with much ado we made him understand his error； and then all quiet。
9th。 To my Lord's； where we found him lately come from Hinchingbroke。 I staid and dined with him。 He took me aside； and asked me what the world spoke of the King's marriage。 Which I answering as one that knew nothing； he enquired no further of me。 But I do perceive by it that there is something in it that is ready to come out that the world knows not of yet。
11th。 After dinner I went to the theatre； and there saw 〃Love's Mistress〃 done by them； which I do not like in some things as well as their acting in Salsbury Court。
15th。 This day my wife and Pall went to see my Lady Kingston； her brother's lady。 ＇Balthazar St。 Michel is the only brother of Mrs。 Pepys； mentioned in the Diary。＇
18th。 This day an ambassador from Florence was brought into the towne in state。 Yesterday was said to be the day that the Princesse Henrietta was to marry the Duke d'Anjou in France。 This day I found in the newes…book that Roger Pepys is chosen at Cambridge for the towne； the first place that we hear of to have made their choice yet。
20th。 To White Hall to Mr。 Coventry； where I did some business with him； and so with Sir W。 Pen （who I found with Mr。 Coventry teaching of him the map to understand Jamaica）。 The great talk of the towne is the strange election that the City of London made yesterday for Parliament…men； viz。 Fowle； Love； Jones； and 。 。 。 ＇Sir W。 Thompson was the fourth member。＇ men that； so far from being episcopall； are thought to be Anabaptists； and chosen with a great deal of zeale； in spite of the other party that thought themselves so strong； calling out in the Hall； 〃No Bishops！ no Lord Bishops！〃 It do make people to fear it may come to worse； by being an example to the country to do the same。 And indeed the Bishops are so high； that very few do love them。
23rd。 To the Red Bull （where I had not been since plays come up again） up to the tireing room； where strange the confusion and disorder that there is among them in fitting themselves； especially here； where the clothes are very poore； and the actors but common fellows。 At last into the pitt； where I think there was not above ten more than myself； and not one hundred in the whole house。 And the play； which is called 〃All's lost by Lust；〃 ＇A Tragedy； by W。Rowley。＇ poorly done； and with so much disorder； among others； in the musique…room the boy that was to sing a song； not singing it right； his master fell about his eares and beat him so； that it put the whole house in an uprore。 Met my uncle Wight； and with him Lieut。…Col。 Baron； who told us how Crofton； the great Presbyterian minister that had preached so highly against Bishops； is clapped up this day in the Tower。 Which do please some； and displease others exceedingly。
APRIL 2； 1661。 To St。 James's Park； where I saw the Duke of York playing at Pelemele； the first time that ever I saw the sport。 Then to the Dolphin to Sir W。 Batten； and Pen； and other company； among others Mr。 Delabar； where strange how these men； who at other times are all wise men； do now； in their drink； betwitt and reproach one another with their former conditions； and their actions as in public concerns； till I was ashamed to see it。
3rd。 I hear that the Dutch have sent the King a great present of money； which we think will stop the match with Portugal； and judge this to be the reason that our so great haste in sending the two ships to the East Indys is also stayed。
7th。 To White Hall； and there I met with Dr。 Fuller of Twickenham； newly come from Ireland； and took him to my Lord's； where he