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Doctor of Music； Organist of St。 George's Chapel； at Windsor。 Ob。 1696； aged 91。＇ who come to us； and carried us to St。 George's Chapel； and there placed us among the Knights' stalls； （and pretty the observation； that no man； but a woman may sit in a Knight's place； where any brass…plates are set；） and hither come！ cushions to us； and a young singing…boy to bring us a copy of the anthem to be sung。 And here； for our sakes； had this anthem and the great service sung extraordinary； only to entertain us。 It is a noble place indeed； and a good Quire of voices。 Great bowing by all the people； the poor Knights in particularly； to the Alter。 After prayers； we to see the plate of the chapel； and the robes of Knights； and a man to show us the banners of the several Knights in being； which hang up over the stalls。 And so to other discourse very pretty； about the Order。 Was shown where the late King is buried； and King Henry the Eighth； and my Lady Seymour。 This being done； to the King's house； and to observe the neatness and contrivance of the house and gates： it is the most romantique castle that is in the world。 But； Lord！ the prospect that is in the balcone in the Queene's lodgings； and the terrace and walk； are strange things to consider； being the best in the world； sure； and so giving a great deal of money to this and that man and woman； we to our tavern； and there dined； the Doctor with us； and so took coach and away to Eton； the Doctor with me。 At Eton I left my wife in the coach； and he and I to the College； and there find all mighty fine。 The school good； and the custom pretty of boys cutting their names in the shuts of the windows when they go to Cambridge； by which many a one hath lived to see himself a Provost and Fellow； that hath his name in the window standing。 To the Hall； and there find the boys' verses； 〃De Peste；〃 it being their custom to make verses at Shrove…tide。 I read several； and very good they were； better； I think； than ever I made when I was a boy； and in rolls as long and longer than the whole Hall； by much。 Here is a picture of Venice hung up； and a monument made of Sir H。 Wotton's giving it to the College。 Thence to the porter's； in the absence of the butler； and did drink of the College beer； which is very good； and went into the back fields to see the scholars play。 And so to the chapel； and there saw； among other things； Sir H。 Wotton's stone with this Epitaph：
Hic jacet primus hujus sententiae Author： Disputandi pruritus fit ecclesiae scabies。
But unfortunately the word 〃Author〃 was wrong writ； and now so basely altered that it disgraces the stone。
MARCH 1； 1665…6。 Blessed be God！ a good Bill this week we have； being but 257 in all； and 42 of the plague； and of them but six in the City： though my Lord Brouncker says； that these six are most of them in new parishes where they were not the last week
3rd。 To Hales's； and there saw my wife sit； and I do like her picture mightily； and very like it will be； and a brave piece of work。 But he do complain that her nose hath cost him as much work as another's face； and he hath done it finely indeed。
5th。 News for certain of the King of Denmark's declaring for the Dutch； and resolution to assist them。 I find my Lord Brouncker and Mrs。 Williams； and they would of their own accord； though I had never obliged them （nor my wife neither） with one visit for many of theirs； go see my house and my wife； which I showed them； and made them welcome with wine and China oranges （now a great rarity since the war； none to be had。） My house happened to be mighty clean； and did me great honour； and they mightily pleased with it。
7th。 Up betimes； and to St。 James's； thinking Mr。 Coventry had lain there； but he do not； but at White Hall； so thither I went to him。 We walked an hour in the Matted Gallery： he of himself begun to discourse of the unhappy differences between him and my Lord of Sandwich； and from the beginning to the end did run through all passages wherein my Lord hath； at any time gathered any dissatisfaction； and cleared himself to me most honourably； and in truth； I do believe he do as he says。 I did afterwards purge myself of all partiality in the business of Sir G。 Carteret； （whose story Sir W。 Coventry did also run over；） that I do mind the King's interest； notwithstanding my relation to him； all which he declares he firmly believes； and assures me he hath the same kindness and opinion of me as ever。 And when I said I was jealous of myself； that having now come to such an income as I am； by his favour； I should not be found to do as much service as might deserve it； he did assure me； he thinks it not too much for me； but thinks I deserve it as much as any man in England。 All this discourse did cheer my heart； and sets me right again； after a good deal of melancholy； out of fears of his disinclination to me； upon the difference with my Lord Sandwich and Sir G。 Carteret； but I am satisfied thoroughly； and so went away quite another man； and by the grace of God will never lose it again by my folly in not visiting and writing to him； as I used heretofore to do。 The King and Duke are to go to…morrow to Audly End； in order to the seeing and buying of it of my Lord Suffolke。
9th。 Made a visit to the Duke of Albemarle； and to my great joy find him the same man to me that heretofore； which I was in great doubt of； through my negligence in not visiting of him a great while； and having now set all to rights there； I shall never suffer matters to run so far backwards again as I have done of late； with reference to my neglecting him and Sir W。 Coventry。 The truth is； I do indulge myself a little the more in pleasure； knowing that this is the proper age of my life to do it； and out of my observation that most men that do thrive in the world； do forget to take pleasure during the time that they are getting their estate； but reserve that till they have got one； and then it is too late for them to enjoy it。
12th。 My Uncle Talbot Pepys died the last week。 All the news now is； that Sir Jeremy Smith is at Cales ＇Cadiz。＇ with his fleet； and Mings in the Elve。 The King is come this noon to town from Audly End； with the Duke of York and a fine train of gentlemen。
13th。 The plague encreased this week 29 from 28； though the total fallen from 238 to 207。
14th。 With my Lord Brouncker towards London； and in our way called in Covent Garden； and took in Sir John （formerly Dr。） Baber； who hath this humour that he will not enter into discourse while any stranger is in company； till he be told who he is that seems a stranger to him。 This he did declare openly to me； and asked my Lord who I was。 Thence to Guildhall； （in our way taking in Dr。 Wilkins；） and there my Lord and I had full and large discourse with Sir Thomas Player； ＇One of the City Members in the Oxford and Westminster Parliaments。 See more of him in the Notes； by Scott； to Absalom and Achitophel； in which poem he is introduced under the designation of 〃railing Rabsheka。〃＇ the Chamberlain of the City （a man I have much heard of） about the credit of our tallies； which are lodged there for security to such as should lend money thereon to the use of the Navy。 I had great satisfaction therein： and the truth is； I find all our matters of credit to be in an ill condition。 To walk all alone in the fields behind Grayes Inne； making an end of reading over my dear 〃Faber fortunae；〃 of my Lord Bacon's。
15th。 To Hales； where I met my wife and people； and do find the picture； above all things； a most pretty picture； and mighty like my wife； and I asked him his price： he says 14l。 and the truth is； I think he do deserve it。
17th。 To Hales's； and paid him 14l。 for the picture； and 1l。 5s。 for the frame。 This day I began to sit； and he will make me； I think； a very fine picture。 He promises it shall be as good as my wife's； and I sit to have it full of shadows； and do almost break my neck looking over my shoulder to make the posture for him to work by。 Home； having a great cold： so to bed； drinking butter…ale。
19th。 After dinner we walked to the King's play…house； all in dirt； they being altering of the stage to make it wider。 But God knows when they will begin t