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To White Hall； and into the new playhouse there； the first time I ever was there； and the first play I have seen since before the great plague。 By and by Mr。 Pierce comes； bringing my wife and his； and Knipp。 By and by the King and Queen； Duke and Duchesse； and all the great ladies of the Court； which； indeed； was a fine sight。 But the play； being 〃Love in a Tub；〃 ＇A comedy； by Sir George Etheridge。＇ a silly play； and though done by the Duke's people； yet having neither Beterton nor his wife； ＇Vide Note to Feb。 1； 1663…4。＇ and the whole thing done ill； and being ill also； I had no manner of pleasure in the play。 Besides； the House； though very fine； yet bad for the voice； for hearing。 The sight of the ladies； indeed； was exceeding noble； and above all； my Lady Castlemaine。 The play done by ten o'clock。
NOVEMBER 2； 1666。 On board the Ruby French prize； the only ship of war we have taken from any of our enemies this year。 It seems a very good ship； but with galleries quite round the sterne to walk in as a balcone； which will be taken down。
4th。 My taylor's man brings my vest home； and coat to wear with it and belt； and silver…hilted sword。 I waited in the gallery till the Council was up； and did speak with Mr。 Cooling； my Lord Chamberlain's secretary； who tells me my Lord Generall is become mighty low in all people's opinion； and that he hath received several slurs from the King and Duke of York。 The people at Court do see the difference between his and the Prince's management； and my Lord Sandwich's。 That this business which he is put upon of crying out against the Catholiques and turning them out of all employment； will undo him； when he comes to turn the officers out of the Army； and this is a thing of his own seeking。 That he is grown a drunken sot； and drinks with nobody but Troutbecke； whom nobody else will keep company with。 Of whom he told me this story； that once the Duke of Albemarle in his drink taking notice as of a wonder that Nan Hide should ever come to be Duchesse of York： 〃Nay；〃 says Troutbecke； 〃ne'er wonder at that； for if you will give me another bottle of wine； I will tell you as great； if not greater； a miracle。〃 And what was that； but that our dirty Besse （meaning his Duchesse） should come to be Duchesse of Albemarle？
5th。 To my Lady Peterborough； who had sent to speak with me。 She makes mighty mourn of the badness of the times； and her family as to money。 My Lord's passionateness for want thereof； and his want of coming in of rents； and no wages from the Duke of York。 No money to be had there for wages or disbursements； and therefore prays my assistance about his pension。 To my Lord Crewe's； and there dined； and mightily made of。 Here my Lord； and Sir Thomas Crewe； Mr。 John； and Dr； Crewe； ＇Nathaniel； afterwards Bishop of Durham and Baron Crewe。＇ and two strangers。 The best family in the world for goodness and sobriety。 Here beyond my expectation I met my Lord Hinchingbroke； who is come to town two days since from Hinchingbroke； and brought his sister and brother Carteret with him； who are at Sir G。 Carteret's。 After dinner I and Sir Thomas Crewe went aside to discourse of public matters； and do find by him that all the country gentlemen are publickly jealous of the courtiers in the Parliament； and that they do doubt every thing that they propose； and that the true reason why the country…gentlemen are for a land…tax and against a general excise； is； because they are fearful that if the latter be granted； they shall never get it down again； whereas the land…tax will be but for so much； and when the war ceases； there will be no ground got by the court to keep it up。 He says the House would be very glad to get something against Sir G。 Carteret； and will not let their inquiries die till they have got something。 He do； from what he hath heard at the Committee for examining the burning of the City； conclude it as a thing certain； that it was done by plots； it being proved by many witnesses that endeavours were made in several places to encrease the fire； and that both in City and country it was bragged by several Papists； that upon such a day or in such a time we should find the hottest weather that ever was in England； and words of plainer sense。 But my Lord Crewe was discoursing at table how the Judges have determined in the case whether the landlords or the tenants （who are； in their leases； all of them generally tied to maintain and uphold their houses；） shall bear the loss of the fire； and they say； that tenants should against all casualties of fire beginning either in their own； or in their neighbour's； but； where it is done by an enemy； they are not to do it。 And this was by an enemy； there having been one convicted and hanged upon this very score。 This is an excellent salve for the tenants； and for which I am glad； because of my father's house。 After dinner and this discourse； I took coach； and at the same time find my Lord Hinchingbroke and Mr。 John Crewe and the Doctor going out to see the ruins of the City； so I took the Doctor into my hackney… coach； （and he is a very fine sober gentleman；） and so through the City。 But Lord！ what pretty and sober observations he made of the City and its desolation； anon we come to my house； and there I took them upon Tower…Hill to show them what houses were pulled down there since the fire； and then to my house； where I treated them with good wine of several sorts； and they took it mighty respectfully； and a fine company of gentlemen they are； but above all I was glad to see my Lord Hinchingbroke drink no wine at all。 I home by coach； but met not one bonfire through the whole town in going round by the wall； which is strange； and speaks the melancholy disposition of the City at present； while never more was said of； and feared of； and done against the Papists； than just at this time。
7th。 Called at Faythorne's to buy some prints for my wife to draw by this winter； and here did see my Lady Castlemaine's picture； done by him from Lilly's； in red chalke； and other colours； by which he hath cut it in copper to be printed。 The picture in chalke is the finest thing I ever saw in my life； I think； and I did desire to buy it； but he says he must keep it awhile to correct his copper…plate by； and when that is done he will sell it me。 By the Duke of York his discourse to…day in his chamber； they have it at Court； as well as we here； that a fatal day is to be expected shortly； of some great mischief； whether by the Papists； or what； they are not certain。 But the day is disputed； some say next Friday； others a day sooner； others later； and I hope all will prove a foolery。 But it is observable how every bodys fears are busy at this time。
8th。 I to Westminster Hall； and there met Mr。 Grey； who tells me the House is sitting still； （and now it was six o'clock；） and likely to sit till midnight； and have proceeded fair to give the King his supply presently。 And herein have done more to…day than was hoped for。 Sir W。 Coventry did this night tell me how the business is about Sir J。 Minnes； that he is to be a commissioner； and my Lord Brouncker and Sir W。 Pen are to be Controller jointly； which I am very glad of； and better than if they were either of them alone； and do hope truly that the King's business will be better done thereby； and infinitely better than now it is。 Mr。 Grey did assure me this night； that he was told this day； by one of the greater Ministers of State in England； and one of the King's Cabinet； that we had little left to agree on between the Dutch and us towards a peace； but only the place of treaty； which do astonish me to hear； but I am glad of it； for I fear the consequence of the war。 But he says that the King； having all the money he is like to have； we shall be sure of a peace in a little time。
9th。 To Mrs。 Pierce's by appointment； where we find good company： a fair lady； my Lady Prettyman； Mrs。 Corbet； Knipp； and for men； Captain Downing； Mr。 Lloyd； Sir W。 Coventry's clerk； and one Mr。 Tripp； who dances well。 After our first bout of dancing； Knipp； and I to sing； and Mercer and Captain Downing （who loves and understands musick） would by all means have my song of 〃Beauty retire：〃 which Knipp had spread abr