Ith's Voyage to Bullaen ＇Boulogne＇ marking the great difference between those built then and now。 By and by down to the chapel again； where Bishop Morley ＇George Morley； Bishop of Winchester； to which See he was translated from Worcester； in 1662。 Ob。 1684。＇ preached upon the song of the angels； 〃Glory to God on high； on earth peace； and good will towards men。〃 Methought he made but a poor sermon； but long； and reprehending the common jollity of the Court for the true joy that shall and ought to be on these days。 Particularized concerning their excess in playes and gaming； saying that he whose office it is to keep the gamesters in order and within bounds； serves but for a second rather in a duell； meaning the groome…porter。 Upon which it was worth observing how far they are come from taking the reprehensions of a bishop seriously； that they all laugh in the chapel when he reflected on their ill actions and courses。 He did much press us to joy in these publick days of joy； and to hospitality。 But one that stood by whispered in my eare that the Bishop do not spend one groate to the poor himself。 The sermon done； a good anthem followed with vialls； and the King come down to receive the Sacrament。
26th。 To the Wardrobe。 Hither come Mr。 Battersby； and we falling into discourse of a new book of drollery in use； called Hudebras； I would needs go find it out； and met with it at the Temple： cost me 2s。 6d。 But when I come to read it； it is so silly an abuse of the Presbyter Knight going to the warrs； that I am ashamed of it； and by and by meeting at Mr。 Townsend's at dinner； I sold it to him for 18d。
27th。 With my wife to the Duke's Theatre； and saw the second part of 〃Rhodes；〃 ＇〃The Siege of Rhodes；〃 a tragi…comedy； in two parts； by Sir Wm。 Davenant。＇ done with the new Roxalana； ＇An actress whose name is unknown； but she had been seduced by the Earl of Oxford； and had recently quitted the stage。 For her history； VIDE 〃MEMOIRES DE GRAMMONT。〃＇ which do it rather better in all respects for person； voice； and judgment； than the first Roxalana。
29th。 To Westminster Hall； where I staid reading at Mrs。 Mitchell's shop。 She told me what I heard not of before； the strange burning of Mr。 De Laun； a merchant's house in Lothbury； and his lady （Sir Thomas Allen's daughter ＇Sir Thomas Alleyne； Lord Mayor of London。 1660。＇） and her whole family； not one thing； dog nor cat； escaping； nor any of the neighbours almost hearing of it till the house was quite down and burnt。 How this should come to passe； God knows； but a most strange thing it is！ Hither come Jack Spicer； and talked of Exchequer matters； and how the Lord Treasurer hath now ordered all monies to be brought into the Exchequer； and hath settled the King's revenues； and given to every general expence proper assignments； to the Navy 200；000l。 and odde。 He also told me of the great vast trade of the goldsmiths in supplying the King with money at dear rates。 Thence to White Hall； and got up to the top gallerys in the Banquetting House； to see the audience of the Russia Embassador； which took place after our long waiting and fear of the falling of the gallery （it being so full and part of it being parted from the rest； for nobody to come up merely from the weaknesse thereof：） and very handsome it was。 After they had come in； I went down and got through the croude almost as high as the King and the Embassadors； where I saw all the presents； being rich furs； hawkes； carpets； cloths of tissue； and sea…horse teeth。 The King took two or three hawkes upon his fist； having a glove on wrought with gold； given him for the purpose。 The son of one of the Embassadors was in the richest suit for pearl and tissue； that ever I did see； or shall； I believe。 After they and all the company had kissed the King's hand； then the three Embassadors and the son； and no more； did kiss the Queene's。 One thing more I did observe； that the chief Embassador did carry up his master's letters in state before him on high； and as soon as he had delivered them； he did fall down to the ground and lay there a great while。 After all was done； the company broke up； and I spent a little while walking up and down the gallery seeing the ladies； the two Queenes； and the Duke of Monmouth with his little mistress； ＇Lady Anne Scot。＇ which is very little； and like my brother…in…law's wife。
30th。 Visited Mrs。 Ferrer； and staid talking with her a good while； there being a little； proud； ugly； talking lady there； that was much crying up the Queene…Mother's Court at Somerset House above our own Queene's； there being before her no allowance of laughing and the mirth that is at the other's； and indeed it is observed that the greatest Court now…a…days is there。 Thence to White Hall； where I carried my wife to see the Queene in her presence…chamber； and the maydes of honour and the young Duke of Monmouth playing at cards。 Some of them； and but a few； were very pretty； though all well dressed in velvet gowns。
31st。 Mr。 Povy and I to White Hall； he taking me thither on purpose to carry me into the ball this night before the King。 He brought me first to the Duke's chamber； where I saw him and the Duchesse at supper； and thence into the room where the ball was to be； crammed with fine ladies； the greatest of the Court。 By and by comes the King and Queene； the Duke and Duchesse； and all the great ones： and after seating themselves； the King takes out the Duchesse of York； and the Duke； the Duchesse of Buckingham； the Duke of Monmouth； my Lady Castlemaine； and so other lords other ladies： and they danced the Brantle。 ＇Branle。 Espece de danse de plusieurs personnes qui se tiennent par la main； et qui se menent tour…a…tour。DICTIONNAIRE DE L'ACADEMIE。＇ After that； the King led a lady a single Coranto； and then the rest of the lords； one after another； other ladies： very noble it was； and great pleasure to see。 Then to country dances； the King leading the first； which he called for； which was； says he； 〃Cuckolds all awry；〃 the old dance of England。 Of the ladies that danced； the Duke of Monmouth's mistress； and my Lady Castlemaine； and a daughter of Sir Harry de Vicke's； were the best。 ＇Sir Henry de Vic of Guernsey； Bart。； had been twenty years Resident for Charles II。 at Brussels； and was Chancellor of the Order of the Garter。 He died 1672； and was buried in Westminster Abbey。 His only daughter； Anne Charlotte； married John Lord Fresheville； Baron of Stavely。＇ The manner was； when the King dances； all the ladies in the room； and the Queene herself； stand up： and indeed he dances rarely； and much better than the Duke of York。 Having staid here as long as I thought fit； to my infinite content； it being the greatest pleasure I could wish now to see at Court； I went home； leaving them dancing。
Thus ends this year with great mirth to me and my wife。 Our condition being thus：we are at present spending a night or two at my Lord's lodgings at White Hall。 Our home at the Navy… office； which is and hath a pretty while been in good condition； finished and made very convenient。 By my last year's diligence in my office； blessed be God！ I am come to a good degree of knowledge therein； and am acknowledged so by all the world； even the Duke himself to whom I have a good accesse： and by that； and by my being Commissioner for Tangier； he takes much notice of me； and I doubt not but； by the continuance of the same endeavours； I shall in a little time come to be a man much taken notice of in the world； specially being come to so great an esteem with Mr。 Coventry。 Publick matters stand thus： The King is bringing； as is said； his family； and Navy； and all other his charges； to a less expence。 In the mean time； himself following his pleasures more than with good advice he would do； at least； to be seen to all the world to do so。 His dalliance with my Lady Castlemaine being publick； every day； to his great reproach； and his favouring of none at Court so much as those that are the confidants of his pleasure； as Sir H。 Bennet and Sir Charles Barkeley； which； good God！ put it into his heart to mend； before he makes himself too much contemned by his people for it！ The Duke of Monmouth is in so great splendour at Court； and so dandled by the King； that some doubt； that； if the King should have no child by the Queene （which there is yet no appearance of）； whether he would not be acknowledged for a lawful son； and that there will be a difference follow between the Duke of York and him； which God prevent！ My Lord Chancellor is threatened by people to be questioned； the next sitting of the Parliament； by some spirits that do not love to see him so great： but certainly he is a good servant to the King。 The Queene…Mother is said to keep too great a Court now； and her being married to my Lord St。 Alban's is commonly talked of； and that they had a daughter between them in France； how true； God knows。 The Bishops are high； and go on without any diffidence in pressing uniformity； and the Presbyters seem silent in it； and either conform or lay down； though without doubt they expect a turn； and would be glad these endeavours of the other Fanatiques would take effect； there having been a plot lately found for which four have been pu