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er is broken down； and many of their ships sunk into the mole。 So that God Almighty hath now ended that unlucky business for us； which is very good news。
4th。 To Westminster Hall； where it was full terme。 Here all the morning； and at noon to my Lord Crewe's； where one Mr。 Templer （an ingenious man and a person of honour he seems to be） dined； and； discoursing of the nature of serpents； he told us some in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness； and do feed upon larkes； which they take thus：They observe when the lark is soared to the highest； and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them； and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost； and there； as is conceived； they do eject poyson upon the bird； for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle； and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent； which is very strange。 He is a great traveller； and； speaking of the tarantula； he says that all the harvest long （about which times they are most busy） there are fidlers go up and down the fields every where； in expectation of being hired by those that are stung。 This afternoon； going into the office； one met me and did serve a subpoena upon me for one Field； whom we did commit to prison the other day for some ill words he did give the office。 The like he had for others； but we shall scoure him for it。
5th。 To the Playhouse； and there saw 〃Rule a wife and have a Wife；〃 ＇A comedy by J。 Fletcher。＇ very well done。 And here also I did look long upon my Lady Castlemaine； who； notwithstanding her sickness； continues a great beauty。
7th。 I hear the prisoners in the Tower that are to die are come to the Parliament…house this morning。 To the Wardrobe to dinner with my Lady； where a civitt cat； parrot； apes； and many other things； are come from my Lord by Captain Hill； who dined with my Lady with us to…day。 Thence to the Paynter's； and am well pleased with our pictures。
10th。 To Paul's Church…yard； and there I met with Dr。 Fuller's 〃England's Worthys；〃 the first time that I ever saw it； and so I sat down reading in it； being much troubled that （though he had some discourse with me about my family and armes） he says nothing at all； nor mentions us either in Cambridgeshire or Norfolke。 But I believe； indeed； our family were never considerable。
13th。 Mr。 Blackburne do tell me plain of the corruption of all our Treasurer's officers； and that they hardly pay any money under ten per cent。； and that the other day for a mere assignation of 200l。 to some counties； they took 15l。 which is very strange。 Last night died the Queene of Bohemia。
15th。 With the two Sir Williams to the Trinity…house； and there in their society had the business debated of Sir Nicholas Crisp's sasse at Deptford。 After dinner I was sworn a Younger Brother； Sir W。 Rider being Deputy…Master for my Lord of Sandwich； and after I was sworn； all the Elder Brothers shake me by the hand： it is their custom； it seems。 No news yet of our fleet gone to Tangier； which we now begin to think long。
17th。 This morning； both Sir Williams； myself； and Captn。 Cock； and Captn。 Tinker of the Covertine； which we are going to look upon； （being intended with these ships fitting for the East Indys） down to Deptford； and thence； after being on ship…board； to Woolwich； and there eat something。 The Sir Williams being unwilling to eat flesh； Captn。 Cock and I had a breast of veale roasted。
18th。 Having agreed with Sir Wm。 Pen to meet him at the Opera； and finding by my walking in the streets； which were every where full of brick…bates and tyles flung down by the extraordinary winde the last night （such as hath not been in memory before； unless at the death of the late Protector；） that it was dangerous to go out of doors； and hearing how several persons had been killed to…day by the fall of things in the streets； and that the pageant in Fleet…streete is most of it blown down； and hath broke down part of several houses； among others Dick Brigden's； and that one Lady Sanderson； a person of quality in Covent…Garden； was killed by the fall of the house； in her bed； last night； I sent my boy to forbid him to go forth； But he bringing me word that he is gone； I went thither and saw 〃The Law against Lovers；〃 ＇A tragi…comedy by Sir William Davenant； taken from 〃Measure for Measure；〃 and 〃Much Ado about Nothing。〃＇ a good play and well performed； especially the little girl's （whom I never saw act before） dancing and singing； and were it not for her； the losse of Roxalana would spoil the house。
20th。 Letters from Tangier from my Lord； telling me how； upon a Great defete given to the Portuguese there by the Moors； he had put in 300 men into the towne； and so he is in possession； of which we are very glad； because now the Spaniards' designs of hindering our getting the place are frustrated。 I went with the letter inclosed to my Lord Chancellor to the House of Lords； and did give it him in the House。 Went by promise to Mr。 Savill's； and there sat the first time for my picture in little； which pleaseth me well。
22nd。 This evening I wrote letters to my father； among other things acquainted him with the unhappy accident which hath happened lately to my Lord of Dorset's two oldest sons； who； with two Belasses and one Squire Wentworth； were lately apprehended for killing and robbing of a tanner about Newington on Wednesday last； and are all now in Newgate。 I am much troubled for it； and for the grief and disgrace it brings to their familys and friends。 ＇The following account of this transaction is abridged from the MERCURIUS PUBLICUS of the day：〃Charles Lord Brockhurst； Edward Sackville； Esq。； his brother； Sir Henry Belasyse； K。B。； eldest son of Lord Belasyse； John Belasyse； brother to Lord Faulconberg； and Thomas Wentworth； Esq。； only son of Sir G。 Wentworth； whilst in pursuit of thieves near Waltham Cross； mortally wounded an innocent tanner named Hoppy； whom they had endeavoured to secure； suspecting him to have been one of the robbers； and as they took away the money found on his person； under the idea that it was stolen property they were soon after apprehended on the charges of robbery and murder； but the Grand Jury found a bill for manslaughter only。〃 By a subsequent allusion in the Diary to their trial； it seems probable that a verdict of acquittal was pronounced。＇
23rd。 This day by God's mercy I am 29 years of age； and in very good health； and like to live and get an estate； and if I have a heart to be contented； I think I may reckon myself as happy a man as any in the world； for which God be praised。 So to prayers and to bed。
25th。 Great talk of the effects of this late great wind； and I heard one say that he had five great trees standing together blown down； and； beginning to lop them； one of them； as soon as the lops were cut off； did； by the weight of the root； rise again and fasten。 We have letters from the forest of Deane； that above 1000 oakes and as many beeches are blown down in one walke there。 And letters from my father tell me of 20l。 hurt done to us at Brampton。 This day in the news…booke I find that my Lord Buckhurst ＇Charles Lord Buckhurst； eldest son of Richard； fifth Earl of Dorset； created Earl of Middlesex soon after his uncle's death； in 1675； and succeeded his father in 1677。 Ob。 1705…6。＇ and his fellows have printed their case as they did give it in upon examination to a Justice of Peace； wherein they make themselves a very good tale that they were in pursuit of thieves； and that they took this man for one of them； and so killed him； and that he himself confessed it was the first time of his robbing； and that he did pay dearly for it； for he was a dead man。 But I doubt things will be proved otherwise than they say。
MARCH 1； 1661…62。 To the Opera； and there saw 〃Romeo and Juliet；〃 the first time it was ever acted。 I am resolved to go no more to see the first time of acting； for they were all of them out more or less。
3rd。 I am told that this day the Parliament hath voted 2s。 per annum for every chimney in England； as a constant revenue for ever to the Crowne。
7th。 Early to White Hall to the chapel； where by Mr。 Blagrave's means I got into his pew； and heard Mr。 Creeto