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d understands musick） would by all means have my song of 〃Beauty retire：〃 which Knipp had spread abroad； and he extols it above any thing he ever heard。 Going to dance again； and then comes news that White Hall was on fire。 And presently more particulars； that the Horse…guard was on fire。 And so we run up to the garret； and find it so； a horrid great fire。 And by and by we saw and heard part of it blown up with powder。 The ladies begun presently to be afraid： one fell into fits。 The whole town in an alarm。 Drums beat and trumpets； and the Horse…guards every where spread； running up and down in the street。 And I begun to have mighty apprehensions how things might be； for we are in expectation （from common fame） this night or to…morrow to have a massacre； by the having so many fires one after another； as that in the City； and at same time begun in Westminster； by the Palace； but put out； and since in Southwarke； to the burning down some houses。 And now this do make all people conclude there is something extraordinary in it； but nobody knows what。 By and by comes news that the fire is slackened； so then we were a little cheered up again； and to supper； and pretty merry。 But above all there comes in the dumb boy that I knew in Oliver's time； who is mightily acquainted here； and with Downing。 And he made strange signs of the fire； and how the King was abroad； and many things they understood； but I could not。 Which I wondered at； and discoursing with Downing about it； 〃Why；〃 says he； 〃it is only a little use； and you will understand him； and make him understand you with as much ease as may be。〃 So I prayed him to tell him that I was afraid that my coach would be gone； and that he should go down and steal one of the seats out of the coach and keep it； and that would make the coachman to stay。 He did this； so that the dumb boy did go down； and like a cunning rogue went into the coach； pretending to sleep； and by and by fell to his work； but finds the seats nailed to the coach。 So he could not do it； however； stayed there； and stayed the coach； till the coachman's patience was quite spent； and beat the dumb boy by force； and so went away。 So the dumb boy came up and told him all the story； which they below did see all that passed； and knew it to be true。 After supper another dance or two； and then news that the fire is as great as ever； which put us all to our wits' end； and I mightily anxious to go home； but the coach being gone； and it being about ten at night； and rainy dirty weather； I knew not what to do； but to walk out with Mr。 Batelier； myself resolving to go home on foot； and leave the women there。 And so did； but at the Savoy got a coach； and come back and took up the women； and so （having； by people come from the fire； understood that the fire was overcome； and all well；） we merrily parted； and home。 Stopped by several guards and constables quite through the town； （round the wall as we went；） all being in arms。
10th。 The Parliament did fall foul of our accounts again yesterday； and we must arme to have them examined； which I am sorry for： it will bring great trouble to me； and shame upon the office。 This is the fatal day that every body hath discoursed for a long time to be the day that the Papists； or I know not who； have designed to commit a massacre upon； but； however； I trust in God we shall rise to…morrow morning as well as ever。 I hear that my Lady Denham is exceeding sick； even to death； and that she says； and every body else discourses； that she is poisoned； and Creed tells me； that it is said that there hath been a design to poison the King。 What the meaning of all these sad signs is the Lord only knows； but every day things look worse and worse。 God fit us for the worst！
12th。 Creed tells me of my Lady Denham； whom every body says is poisoned； and she hath said it to the Duke of York； but is upon the mending hand； though the town says she is dead this morning。 This day I received 450 pieces of gold more of Mr。 Stokes； but cost me 22 1/2d。 change。 But I am well contented with it； I having now nearly 2800l。 in gold； and will not rest till I get full 3000l。 Creed and I did stop （the Duke of York being just going away from seeing of it） at Pauls； and in the Convocation… House Yard did there see the body of Robert Braybrooke； Bishop of London； that died 1404。 He fell down in the tomb out of the great church into St。 Fayth's this late fire； and is here seen his skeleton with the flesh on； but all tough and dry like a spongy dry leather； or touchwood all upon his bones。 His head turned aside。 A great man in his time； and Lord Chancellor。 And now exposed to be handled and derided by some； though admired for its duration by others。 Many flocking to see it。
14th； Knipp tells me how Smith； of the Duke's house； hath killed a man upon a quarrel in play； which makes every body sorry； he being a good actor； and they say a good man； however this happens。 The ladies of the Court do much bemoan him。 Sir G。 Carteret tells me that just now my Lord Hollis had been with him； and wept to think in what a condition we are fallen。 Dr。 Croone ＇William Croune of Emmanuel College； Cambridge； chosen Rhetoric Professor at Gresham College 1659； F。R。S。 and M。D。 Ob。 1684。＇ told me； that at the meeting at Gresham College to…night （which it seems； they now have every Wednesday again；） there was a pretty experiment of the blood of one dog let out （till he died） into the body of another on one side； while all his own run out on the other side。 The first died upon the place； and the other very well； and likely to do well。 This did give occasion to many pretty wishes； as of the blood of a Quaker to be let into an Archbishop； and such like； but； as Dr。 Croone says； may； if it takes； be of mighty use to man's health； for the amending of bad blood by borrowing from a better body。
15th。 To Mrs。 Pierce's； where I find her as fine as possible； and Mr。 Pierce going to the ball at night at Court； it being the Queene's birthday。 I also to the ball； and with much ado got up to the loft； where with much trouble I could see very well。 Anon the house grew full； and the candles light； and the King and Queene and all the ladies sat： and it was； indeed； a glorious sight to see Mrs。 Stewart in black and white lace； and her head and shoulders dressed with diamonds； and the like many great ladies more （only the Queene none；） and the King in his rich vest of some rich silk and silver trimming； as the Duke of York and all the dancers were； some of cloth of silver； and others of other sorts； exceeding rich。 Presently after the King was come in； he took the Queene； and about fourteen more couple there was； and begun the Bransles。 As many of the men as I can remember presently； were； the King； Duke of York； Prince Rupert； Duke of Monmouth； Duke of Buckingham； Lord Douglas； Mr。 Hamilton； Colonell Russell； Mr。 Griffith； Lord Ossory； Lord Rochester； and of the ladies； the Queene； Duchesse of York； Mrs。 Stewart； Duchesse of Monmouth； Lady Essex Howard； ＇Only daughter of James third Earl of Suffolk； by his first wife Susan； daughter of Henry Rich Earl of Holland； afterwards married to Edward Lord Griffin of Braybrooke。 There is a portrait of her at Audley End； by Lely。＇ Mrs。 Temple； Swedes Embassadresse； Lady Arlington； ＇Isabella； of Nassau； daughter of Lord Beverweert； natural son of Prince Maurice。 She was sister to the Countess of Ossory； and mother of the first Duchess of Grafton。＇ Lord George Barkeley's daughter； and many others I remember not； but all most excellently dressed in rich petticoats and gowns； and dyamonds and pearls。 After the Bransles； then to a Corant； and now and then a French dance； but that so rare that the Corants grew tiresome； that I wished it done。 Only Mrs。 Stewart danced mighty finely； and many French dances； specially one the King called the New Dance； which was very pretty。 But upon the whole matter； the business of the dancing of itself was not extraordinary pleasing。 But the clothes and sight of the persons were indeed very pleasing； and worth my coming； being never likely to see more gallantry while I live； if I should come twenty times。 Above twelve at night it broke up。 My Lady Castlemai