ed。 Then we saw 〃The Cardinall；〃 ＇A tragi…comedy by James Shirley。＇ a tragedy I had never seen before； nor is there any great matter in it。 The company that come in with me into the box； were all Frenchmen that could speak no English； but Lord！ what sport they made to ask a pretty lady that they got among them that understood both French and English to make her tell them what the actors said。
5th。 I to church； and this day the parson has got one to read with a surplice on。 I suppose himself will take it up hereafter； for a cunning fellow he is as any of his coate。
6th。 To White Hall with Mr。 Coventry； and so to my Lord Sandwich's lodgings； but my Lord not within； being at a ball this night with the King at my Lady Castlemaine's at next door。
8th。 To my Lord Sandwich's； and among other things to my extraordinary joy； he did tell me how much I was beholding to the Duke of York； who did yesterday of his own accord tell him that he did thank him for one person brought into the Navy； naming myself； and much more to my commendation； which is the greatest comfort and encouragement that ever I had in my life； and do owe it all to Mr。 Coventry's goodness and ingenuity。 At night by coach to my Lord's again； but he is at White Hall with the King； before whom the puppet plays I saw this summer in Covent…garden are acted this night。
9th。 To the office； and I bid them adieu for a week； having the Duke's leave got me by Mr。 Coventry。 To whom I did give thanks for my news yesterday of the Duke's words to my Lord Sandwich concerning me； which he took well； and do tell me so freely his love and value of me； that my mind is now in as great a state quiet as to my interest in the office； as I could ever wish to be。 Between one and two o'clock got on horseback at our back gate； with my man Will。 with me； both well…mounted on two grey horses。 We got to Ware before night； and so I resolved to ride on to Puckeridge； which we did； though the way was bad； and the evening dark before we got thither； by help of company riding before us； among others； a gentleman that took up at the same inn； his name Mr。 Brian； with whom I supped； and was very good company； and a scholar。 He tells me that it is believed the Queene is with child； for that the coaches are ordered to ride very easily through the streets。
10th。 Up； and between eight and nine mounted again； and so rid to Cambridge； the way so good that I got very well thither； and set up at the Beare： and there my cosen Angier come to me； and I must needs to his house； and there found Dr。 Fairbrother； with a good dinner。 But； above all； he telling me that this day there is a Congregation for the choice of some officers in the University； he after dinner gets me a gowne； cap； and hoode； and carries me to the Schooles； where Mr。 Pepper； my brother's tutor； and this day chosen Proctor； did appoint a M。A。 to lead me into the Regent House； where I sat with them； and did vote by subscribing papers thus： 〃Ego Samuel Pepys eligo Magistrum Bernardum Skelton； （and which was more strange； my old schoolfellow and acquaintance； and who afterwards did take notice of me； and we spoke together；） alterum e taxatoribus hujus academiae in annum sequentem。〃 The like I did for one Briggs； for the other Taxor； and for other officers； as the Vice…Proctor； （Mr。 Covell） for Mr。 Pepper； and which was the gentleman that did carry me into the Regent House。
11th。 To Brampton； where I found my father and two brothers； my mother and sister。
12th。 To church； where I saw； among others； Mrs。 Hanbury； a proper lady； and Mr。 Bernard and his Lady； with her father； my late Lord St。 John； who looks now like a very plain grave man。 ＇Oliver St。 John； one of Cromwell's Lords； and Chief Justice； and therefore； after the Restoration； properly called 〃My LATE Lord。〃 His third daughter； Elizabeth； by his second wife； daughter of Henry Cromwell of Upwood； Esq。； uncle to the Protector； married Mr。 John Bernard； who became a Baronet on the death of his father； Sir Robert； in 1666 and was M。P。 for Huntingdon。 Ob。 1689。＇
13th。 To the Court； and did sue out a recovery； and cut off the entayle； and my brothers there； to join therein。 And my father and I admitted to all the lands； he for life； and I for myself and my heirs in reversion。 I did with most compleat joy of mind go from the Court with my father home； and away； calling in at Hinchingbroke； and taking leave in three words of my lady； and the young ladies； and so by moonlight to Cambridge； whither we come at about nine o'clock； and took up at the Beare。
15th。 Showed Mr。 Cooke King's College Chapel； Trinity College； and St。 John's College Library； and that being done； to our inn again； where I met Dr。 Fairbrother。 He told us how the room we were in； was the room where Cromwell and his associated officers did begin to plot and act their mischiefs in these counties。 Took leave of all； and begun our journey about nine o'clock； the roads being every where but bad； but finding our horses in good case； we even made shift to reach London； though both of us very weary。 Found all things well； there happening nothing since our going to my discontent in the least degree； which do also please me； that I cannot but bless God for my journey； observing a whole course of successe from the beginning to the end of it。
16th。 I hear Sir H。 Bennet ＇Created Baron of Arlington 1663； and Viscount Thetford and Earl of Arlington； 1672； he was also K。G。； and Chamberlain to the King。 Ob。 1685。＇ is made Secretary of State in Sir Edward Nicholas's stead； not known whether by consent or not。
17th。 To Creed's chamber； and there sat a good while and drank chocolate。 Here I am told how things go at Court； that the young men get uppermost； and the old serious lords are out of favour； that Sir H。 Bennet； being brought into Sir Edward Nicholas's place； Sir Charles Barkeley is made Privy Purse； a most vicious person； and one whom Mr。 Pierce； the surgeon； did tell me that he offered his wife 300l。 per annum to be his mistress。 He also told me； that none in Court hath more the King's eare now than Sir Charles Barkeley； and Sir R。 Bennet； and my Lady Castlemaine； whose interest now is as great as ever： and that Mrs。 Haslerigge； the great beauty； is now brought to bed； and lays it to the King or the Duke of York。 He tells me also； that my Lord St。 Albans is like to be Lord Treasurer： all which things do trouble me much。
19th （Lord's…day）。 Put on my first new lace…band； and so neat it is； that I am resolved my great expence shall be lace…bands； and it will set off any thing else the more。 I am sorry to hear that the news of the selling of Dunkirke is taken so generally ill； as I find it is among the merchants； and other things； as removal of officers at Court； good for worse； and all things else made much worse in their report among people than they are。 And this night； I know not upon what ground； the gates of the City ordered to be all shut； and double guards every where。 Indeed I do find every body's spirit very full of trouble： and the things of the Court and Council very ill taken； so as to be apt to appear in bad colours； if there should ever be a beginning of trouble； which God forbid！
20th。 In Sir J。 Minnes's coach with him and Sir W。 Batten to White Hall； where now the Duke is come again to lodge： and to Mr。 Coventry's little new chamber there。 And by and by up to the Duke； who was making himself ready； and there young Killigrew did so commend 〃The Villaine；〃 a new play made by Tom Porter； and acted only on Saturday at the Duke's house； as if there never had been any such play come upon the stage。 The same yesterday was told me by Captn。 Ferrers； and this morning afterwards by Dr。 Clarke； who saw it。 After I had done with the Duke； with Commissioner Pett to Mr。 Lilly's； the great painter； who come forth to us； but believing that I come to bespeak a picture； he prevented it； by telling us； that he should； not be at leisure these three weeks； which methinks is a rare thing。 And then to see in what pomp his table was laid for himself to go to dinner； and here； among other pictures； saw the so much desired by me picture of my Lady Castlemaine； which is a most blessed picture； and one that I must have a copy of。 From thence I took my wife by coach to the Duke's house； there was the house full of company： but whether it was in overexpecting or what； I know not； but I was never less pleased with a play in my life。 Though there was good singing and dancing； yet no fancy in the play。
21st。 By water with Mr。 Smith； to Mr。 Lechmore； the Councellor at the Temple； ＇Nicholas Lechmere； knighted and made a Baron of the Exchequer； 1689。 Ob。 1701。＇ about Field's business； and he tells me plainly that there being a verdict against me； there is no help for it； but it must proceed to judgement。 It is 30l。 damage to me for my joining with others in committing Field to prison； as being not Justices of the Peace in the City； though in Middlesex； which troubled me； and I hope the King will make it good to us。
24th。 Mr。 Pierce； the chyrurgeon； tells me how ill things go at Court： that the King do show no countenance to any that belong to the Queene； nor； above all； to such Eng