ong。
17th。 This morning； both Sir Williams； myself； and Captn。 Cock； and Captn。 Tinker of the Covertine； which we are going to look upon； （being intended with these ships fitting for the East Indys） down to Deptford； and thence； after being on ship…board； to Woolwich； and there eat something。 The Sir Williams being unwilling to eat flesh； Captn。 Cock and I had a breast of veale roasted。
18th。 Having agreed with Sir Wm。 Pen to meet him at the Opera； and finding by my walking in the streets； which were every where full of brick…bates and tyles flung down by the extraordinary winde the last night （such as hath not been in memory before； unless at the death of the late Protector；） that it was dangerous to go out of doors； and hearing how several persons had been killed to…day by the fall of things in the streets； and that the pageant in Fleet…streete is most of it blown down； and hath broke down part of several houses； among others Dick Brigden's； and that one Lady Sanderson； a person of quality in Covent…Garden； was killed by the fall of the house； in her bed； last night； I sent my boy to forbid him to go forth； But he bringing me word that he is gone； I went thither and saw 〃The Law against Lovers；〃 ＇A tragi…comedy by Sir William Davenant； taken from 〃Measure for Measure；〃 and 〃Much Ado about Nothing。〃＇ a good play and well performed； especially the little girl's （whom I never saw act before） dancing and singing； and were it not for her； the losse of Roxalana would spoil the house。
20th。 Letters from Tangier from my Lord； telling me how； upon a Great defete given to the Portuguese there by the Moors； he had put in 300 men into the towne； and so he is in possession； of which we are very glad； because now the Spaniards' designs of hindering our getting the place are frustrated。 I went with the letter inclosed to my Lord Chancellor to the House of Lords； and did give it him in the House。 Went by promise to Mr。 Savill's； and there sat the first time for my picture in little； which pleaseth me well。
22nd。 This evening I wrote letters to my father； among other things acquainted him with the unhappy accident which hath happened lately to my Lord of Dorset's two oldest sons； who； with two Belasses and one Squire Wentworth； were lately apprehended for killing and robbing of a tanner about Newington on Wednesday last； and are all now in Newgate。 I am much troubled for it； and for the grief and disgrace it brings to their familys and friends。 ＇The following account of this transaction is abridged from the MERCURIUS PUBLICUS of the day：〃Charles Lord Brockhurst； Edward Sackville； Esq。； his brother； Sir Henry Belasyse； K。B。； eldest son of Lord Belasyse； John Belasyse； brother to Lord Faulconberg； and Thomas Wentworth； Esq。； only son of Sir G。 Wentworth； whilst in pursuit of thieves near Waltham Cross； mortally wounded an innocent tanner named Hoppy； whom they had endeavoured to secure； suspecting him to have been one of the robbers； and as they took away the money found on his person； under the idea that it was stolen property they were soon after apprehended on the charges of robbery and murder； but the Grand Jury found a bill for manslaughter only。〃 By a subsequent allusion in the Diary to their trial； it seems probable that a verdict of acquittal was pronounced。＇
23rd。 This day by God's mercy I am 29 years of age； and in very good health； and like to live and get an estate； and if I have a heart to be contented； I think I may reckon myself as happy a man as any in the world； for which God be praised。 So to prayers and to bed。
25th。 Great talk of the effects of this late great wind； and I heard one say that he had five great trees standing together blown down； and； beginning to lop them； one of them； as soon as the lops were cut off； did； by the weight of the root； rise again and fasten。 We have letters from the forest of Deane； that above 1000 oakes and as many beeches are blown down in one walke there。 And letters from my father tell me of 20l。 hurt done to us at Brampton。 This day in the news…booke I find that my Lord Buckhurst ＇Charles Lord Buckhurst； eldest son of Richard； fifth Earl of Dorset； created Earl of Middlesex soon after his uncle's death； in 1675； and succeeded his father in 1677。 Ob。 1705…6。＇ and his fellows have printed their case as they did give it in upon examination to a Justice of Peace； wherein they make themselves a very good tale that they were in pursuit of thieves； and that they took this man for one of them； and so killed him； and that he himself confessed it was the first time of his robbing； and that he did pay dearly for it； for he was a dead man。 But I doubt things will be proved otherwise than they say。
MARCH 1； 1661…62。 To the Opera； and there saw 〃Romeo and Juliet；〃 the first time it was ever acted。 I am resolved to go no more to see the first time of acting； for they were all of them out more or less。
3rd。 I am told that this day the Parliament hath voted 2s。 per annum for every chimney in England； as a constant revenue for ever to the Crowne。
7th。 Early to White Hall to the chapel； where by Mr。 Blagrave's means I got into his pew； and heard Mr。 Creeton； the great Scotchman； and chaplain in ordinary to the King； preach before the King； and Duke and Duchesse； upon the words of Micah：〃Roule yourselves in dust。〃 He made a most learned sermon upon the words； but in his application； the most comical man that ever I heard in my life。 Just such a man as Hugh Peters； saying that it had been better for the poor Cavalier never to have come with the King into England again； for he that hath the impudence to deny obedience to the lawful magistrate； and to swear to the oath of allegiance； &c。； was better treated now…a…days in Newgate； than a poor Royalist that hath suffered all his life for the King； is at White Hall among his friends。
8th。 By coach with both Sir Williams to Westminster； this being a great day there in the House to pass the business for chimney… money； which was done。 In the Hall I met with Surgeon Pierce： and he told me how my Lady Monk hath disposed of all the places which Mr。 Edwd。 Montagu hoped to have had as he was Master of the Horse to the Queene； which I am afraid will undo him； because he depended much upon the profit of what he should make by these places。 He told me； also； many more scurvy stories of him and his brother Ralph； which troubles me to hear of persons of honour as they are。 Sir W。 Pen and I to the office； whither afterward come Sir G。 Carteret； and we sent for Sir Thos。 Allen； one of the Aldermen of the City； ＇Probably Sheriff of London； 1654。＇ about the business of one Colonel Appesly； whom we had taken counterfeiting of bills with all our hands and the officers of the yards； so well that I should never have mistrusted them。 We staid about this business at the office till ten at night； and at last did send him with a constable to the Counter； and did give warrants for the seizing of a complice of his； one Blenkinsopp。
12th。 This morning we had news from Mr。 Coventry； that Sir G。 Downing （like a perfidious rogue； though the action is good and of service to the King； yet he cannot with a good conscience do it） hath taken Okey； Corbet； and Barkestead at Delfe； in Holland； and sent them home in the Blackmore。 ＇According to Hume； Downing had once been chaplain to Okey's regiment。 John Okey； Miles Corbet； and John Barkstead； three of the regicides； executed April 19th following。＇ Sir W。 Pen； talking to me this afternoon of what a strange thing it is for Downing to do this； he told me of a speech he made to the Lords States of Holland； telling them to their faces that he observed that he was not received with the respect and observance now that he was when he came from the traitor and rebell Cromwell： by whom； I am sure； he hath got all he hath in the world；and they know it too。
14th。 Home to dinner。 In the afternoon come the German Dr。 Knuffler； to discourse with us about his engine to blow up ships。 We doubted not the matter of fact； it being tried in Cromwell's time； but the safety of carrying them in ships； but he do tell us； that when he comes to tell the King his secret； （for none but the Kings； successively； and their heirs must know it；） it will appear to be of no danger at all。 We concluded nothing： but shall discourse with the Duke of York to…morrow about it。
16th。 Walked to White Hall； and an houre or two in the Parke； which is now very pleasant。 Here the King and Duke come to see their fowle play。 The Duke took very civil notice of me。
17th。 Last night the Blackmore pinke brought the three prisoners Barkestead； Okey； and Corbet； to the Tower； being taken at Delfe in Holland； where； the Captain tells me； the Dutch were a good while before they could be persuaded to let them go； they being taken prisoners in their land。 But Sir G。 Downing would not be answered so： though all the world takes notice of him for a most ungrateful villaine for his pains。
21st。 To Westminster Hall； and there walked up and down and heard the great difference that hath been between my Lord Chancellor and my Lord of Bristol； about a proviso that my Lord Chancellor would have brought into the Bill for Conformity； that it s