；〃 a tragedy in heroic verse； by Sir Robert Howard and Mr Dryden。＇ which for show； they say； exceeds Henry the Eighth。 Called to see my brother Tom； who was not at home； though they say he is in a deep consumption； and will not live two months。
30th。 This evening I tore some old papers； among others； a romance which （under the title of 〃Love a Cheate〃） I begun ten years ago at Cambridge： and reading it over to…night； I liked it very well； and wondered a little at myself at my vein at that time when I wrote it； doubting that I cannot do so well now if I would try。
FEBRUARY 1； 1663…64。 I hear how two men last night； justling for the wall about the new Exchange； did kill one another； each thrusting the other through； one of them of the King's Chapel； one Cave； and the other a retayner of my Lord Generall Middleton's。 Thence to White Hall； where； in the Duke's chamber； the King come and stayed an hour or two laughing at Sir W。 Petty； who was there about his boat； and at Gresham College in general： at which poor Petty was； I perceive； at some loss； but did argue discreetly； and bear the unreasonable follies of the King's objections and other bystanders with great discretion； and offered to take oddes against the King's best boates： but the King would not lay； but cried him down with words only。 Gresham College he mightily laughed at； for spending time only in weighing of ayre； and doing nothing else since they sat。 Mr。 Pierce tells me how the King； coming the other day to his Theatre to see 〃The Indian Queene；〃 （which he commends for a very fine thing；） my Lady Castlemaine was in the next box before he come； and leaning over other ladies awhile to whisper with the King； she rose out of the box and went into the King's； and set herself on the King's right hand； between the King and the Duke of York： which； he swears； put the King himself； as well as every body else； out of countenance； and believes that she did it only to show the world that she is not out of favour yet； as was believed。 To the King's Theatre； and there saw 〃The Indian Queen〃 acted； which indeed is a most pleasant show； and beyond my expectation； the play good； but spoiled with the ryme； which breaks the sense。 But above my expectation most； the eldest Marshall ＇Anne Marshall； a celebrated actress； and her youngest sister Becke； so frequently mentioned in the Diary； were； I believe； the daughters of a Presbyterian Minister； but very little seems to be known about their history。 One of them is erroneously stated； in the notes to the Memoires de Grammont； and Davies' Dramatic Miscellanies； to have become Lord Oxford's mistress； for Mr。 Pepys uniformly calls the Marshalls by their proper name； and only speaks of the other lady as 〃the first or old Roxalana； who had quitted the stage。〃VIDE Feb。 18； 1661…2； and Dec。 27； in the same year。＇ did do her part most excellently well as I ever heard woman in my life； but her voice is not so sweet as Ianthe's： ＇Malone says； in his HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH STAGE； that Mrs。 Mary Saunderson performed Ianthe in Davenant's play of the Siege of Rhodes； at the first opening of his theatre； April 1662。 She married Betterton the following year； and lived till 1712； having filled almost all the female characters in Shakespeare with great success。 It is probable； therefore； that she was the person alluded to here； and frequently mentioned afterwards； without any more particular designation。＇ but； however； we come home mightily contented。 Here we met Mr。 Pickering； and he tells me that the business runs high between the Chancellor and my Lord Bristoll against the Parliament； and that my Lord Lauderdale and Cooper open high against the Chancellor； which I am sorry for。
3rd。 In Covent Garden to…night； going to fetch my wife； I stopped at the great Coffee…house there； where I never was before： where Dryden the poet （I knew at Cambridge）； and all the wits of the town； and Harris the player； and Mr。 Hoole of our College。 And had I had time then； or could at other times； it will be good coming thither； for there； I perceive； is very witty and pleasant discourse。 But I could not tarry； and as it was late； they were all ready to go away。
4th。 To St。 Paul's School； and up to hear the upper form examined； and there was kept by very many of the Mercers； Clutterbucke； ＇Probably Alderman Clutterbuck； one of the proposed Knights of the Royal Oak for Middlesex。 There was a Sir Thomas Clutterbuck of London； CIRCITER 1670。＇ Barker； Harrington； and others； and with great respect used by them all； and had a noble dinner。 Here they tell me； that in Dr。 Colett's ＇Dean of St。 Paul's； and founder of the School。＇ will he says that he would have a Master found for the School that hath good skill in Latin； and （if it could be） one that had some knowledge of the Greeke； so little was Greeke known here at that time。 Dr。 Wilkins ＇John Wilkins； warden of Wadham College； and afterwards Dean of Rippon； consecrated Bishop of Chester 1668； Ob。 1672。 He was a learned theologian； and well versed in Mathematics and Natural； Philosophy。＇ and one Mr。 Smallwood； Posers。
8th。 Mr。 Pierce told me how the King still do doat upon his women； even beyond all shame： and that the good Queene will of herself stop before she goes sometimes into her dressing…room； till she knows whether the King be there； for fear he should be； as she hath sometimes taken him； with Mrs。 Stewart； and that some of the best parts of the Queene's joynture are； contrary to faith； and against the opinion of my Lord Treasurer and his Council； bestowed or rented； I know not how； to my Lord Fitzhardinge and Mrs。 Stewart； and others of that crew； that the King do doat infinitely upon the Duke of Monmouth； apparently as one that he intends to have succeed him。 God knows what will be the end of it！
9th。 Great talk of the Dutch proclaiming themselves in India； Lords of the Southern Seas； and denying traffick to all ships but their own； upon pain of confiscation： which makes our merchants mad。 Great doubt of two ships of ours； the Greyhound and another； very rich； coming from the Streights； for fear of the Turkes。 Matters are made up between the Pope and the King of France； so that now all the doubt is； what the French will do with their armies。
10th。 I did give my wife's brother 10s。 and a coat that I had by me； a close…bodied； light…coloured cloth coat； with a gold edgeing in each seam； that was the lace of my wife's best pettycoat that she had when I married her。 He is going into Holland to seek his fortune。
15th。 To White Hall； to the Duke： where he first put on a periwigg to…day： but methought his hair cut short in order thereto did look very prettily of itself； before he put on his periwigg。 Great news of the arrivall of two rich ships； the Greyhound and another； which they were mightily afraid of； and great insurance given。 This afternoon Sir Thomas Chamberlin ＇Son of William Chamberlayne； an English Judge； and created a Baronet 1642。＇ come to the office to me； and showed me several letters from the East Indys； showing the height that the Dutch are come to there； showing scorn to all the English； even in our only Factory there at Surat； beating several men； and hanging the English standard St。 George under the Dutch flag in scorn： saying； that whatever their masters do or say at home； they will do what they list； and be masters of all the world there； and have so proclaimed themselves Soveraine of all the South Seas； which certainly our King cannot endure； if the Parliament will give him money。 But I doubt and yet do hope they will not yet； till we are more ready for it。
17th。 Mr。 Pierce tells me of the King's giving of my Lord FitzHarding two leases which belong indeed to the Queene； worth 20；000l。 to him； and how people do talk of it。
19th。 Mr。 Cutler come； and walked and talked with me a great while； and then to the 'Change together； and it being early； did tell me several excellent examples of men raised upon the 'Change by their great diligence and saving； as also his own fortune； and how credit grew upon him； that when he was not really worth 1；100l。； he had credit for 100；000l。； of Sir W。 Rider how he rose； and others。 By and by joyned with us Sir John Bankes； ＇An opulent merchant； residing in Lincoln's Inn Fields。＇ who told us several passages of the East India Company； and how in every case； when there was due to him and Alderman Mico 64；000l。 from the Dutch for injury done to them in the East Indys； Oliver presently after the peace； they delaying to pay them the money； sent them word； that if they did not pay them by such a day； he would grant letters of mark to those merchants against them； by which they were so fearful of him； they did presently pay the money every farthing。 Took my wife； and taking a coach； went to visit； my Ladys Jemimah and Paulina Montagu； and Mrs。 Elizabeth Pickering； ＇Lord Sandwich's niece。＇ whom we found at their father's new house in Lincolne's Fields； but the house all in dirt。 They received us well enough； but I did not endeavour to carry myself over familiarly with them： and so after a little stay； there coming in presently after us my Lady Aberguenny ＇Probably Mary； daughter of Thomas Clifford； Esq。； of Dun