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e and untile his house； before he should harbour a rebel in his house； and that they would be here again shortly。 Well； at last they went away； and I by advice took occasion to go abroad； and walked through the street to show myself among the neighbours； that they might not think worse than the business is。 I home to Sir W。 Batten's again； where Sir J。 Lawson； Captain Allen； Spragge； ＇Afterwards Sir Edward Spragg； a distinguished naval commander； who perished in a boat； which was sunk during an action with Van Tromp； in 1673； whilst he was preparing to hoist his flag on board a third ship； having previously lost two in the engagement。＇ and several others； and all our discourse about the disgrace done to our office to be liable to this trouble； which we must get removed。 Hither comes Mr。 Clerke by and by； and tells me that he hath paid the fees of the Court for the commission； but the men are not contented with under 5l。 for their charges； which he will not give them； and therefore advises me not to stir abroad till Monday that he comes or sends to me again； whereby I shall not be able to go to White Hall to the Duke of York； as I ought。 Here I staid vexing； and yet pleased to see every body for me； and so home； where my people are mightily surprised to see this business； but it troubles me not very much； it being nothing touching my particular person or estate。 Sir W。 Batten tells me that little is done yet in the Parliament…house； but only this day it was moved and ordered that all the members of the House do subscribe to the renouncing of the Covenant； which it is thought will try some of them。 There is also a bill brought in for the wearing of nothing but cloth or stuffs of our own manufacture； and is likely to be passed。 Among other talk this morning； my lady did speak concerning Commissioner Pett's calling the present King bastard； and other high words heretofore： and Sir W。 Batten did tell us； that he did give the Duke and Mr。 Coventry an account of that and other like matters in writing under oath； of which I was ashamed； and for which I was sorry。
22nd （Lord's…day）。 Went not out all the morning； but after dinner to Sir W。 Batten's and Sir W。 Pen's； where discoursing much of yesterday's trouble and scandal； but that which troubled me most was Sir J。 Minnes coming from Court at night； and instead of bringing great comfort from thence； （but I expected no better from him；） he tells me that the Duke and Mr。 Coventry make no great matter of it。
23rd。 Up by times； and not daring to go by land； did （Griffin going along with me for fear；） slip to White Hall by water； where to Mr。 Coventry； and； as we used to do； to the Duke； the other of my fellows being come。 But we did nothing of our business； the Duke being sent for to the King； that he could not stay to speak with us。 This morning come my Lord Windsor ＇Created Earl of Plymouth； 6th December； 1682。＇ to kiss the Duke's hand； being returned from Jamaica。 He tells the Duke that from such a degree of latitude going thither he began to be sick； and was never well till his coming so far back again； and then presently begun to be well。 He told the Duke of their taking the fort of St。 Jago； upon Cuba； with his men； but upon the whole； I believe； that he did matters like a young lord； and was weary of being upon service out of his own country； where he might have pleasure。 For methought it was a shame to see him this very afternoon； being the first day of his coming to town； to be at a playhouse。 To my Lord Sandwich： it was a great trouble to me （and I had great apprehensions of it） that my Lord desired me to go to Westminster Hall； to the Parliament…house door； about business； and to Sir Wm。 Wheeler； ＇M。P。 for Queensborough。＇ which I told him I would； but durst not go for fear of being taken by these rogues； but was forced to go to White Hall and take boat； and so land below the Tower at the Iron…gate； and so the back way over Little Tower Hill； and with my cloak over my face； took one of the watermen along with me； and staid behind our garden…wall； while he went to see whether any body stood within the Merchants' Gate。 But there was nobody； and so I got safe into the garden； and coming to open my office door； something behind it fell in the opening； which made me start。 So that God knows in what a sad condition I should be if I were truly in debt： and therefore ought to bless God that I have no such real reason； and to endeavour to keep myself； by my good deportment and good husbandry； out of any such condition。 At home I find； by a note that Mr。 Clerke in my absence hath left here； that I am free； and that he hath stopped all matters in Court； and I was very glad of it。 We took coach and to Court； and there saw 〃The Wilde Gallant；〃 ＇A Comedy by Dryden。＇ performed by the King's house； but it was ill acted。 The King did not seem pleased at all； the whole play； nor any body else。 My Lady Castlemaine was all worth seeing to…night； and little Steward。 ＇Frances； daughter of Walter Stewart； son of Lord Blantyre； married Charles； fifth Duke of Richmond； and died 1702。＇ Mrs。 Wells do appear at Court again； and looks well； so that； it may be； the late report of laying the dropped child to her was not true。 This day I was told that my Lady Castlemaine hath all the King's Christmas presents； made him by the peers； given to her； which is a most abominable thing； and that at the great ball she was much richer in jewells than the Queene and Duchesse put both together。
24th。 Among other things； my Lord Sandwich tells me； that he hears the Commons will not agree to the King's late declaration； nor will yield that the Papists have any ground given them to raise themselves up again in England； which I perceive by my Lord was expected at Court。
25th。 The Commons in Parliament； I hear； are very high to stand to the Act of Uniformity； and will not indulge the Papists （which is endeavoured by the Court Party；） nor the Presbyters。
26th。 Sir W。 Batten and I by water to the Parliament…house： he went in； and I walked up and down the Hall。 All the newes is the great oddes yesterday in the votes between them that are for the Indulgence to the Papists and Presbyters； and those that are against it； which did carry it by 200 against 30。 And pretty it is to consider how the King would appear to be a stiff Protestant and son of the Church； and yet willing to give a liberty to these people； because of his promise at Breda。 And yet all the world do believe that the King would not have the liberty given them at all。
27th。 About 11 o'clock； Commissioner Pett and I walked to Chyrurgeon's Hall； （we being all invited thither； and promised to dine there；） where we were led into the Theatre： and by and by comes the reader； Dr。 Tearne； ＇Christopher Terne； of Leyden； M。D。； originally of Cambridge； and Fellow of the College of Physicians。 Ob。 1673。＇ with the Master and Company； In a very handsome manner： and all being settled； he begun his lecture； and his discourse being ended； we had a fine dinner and good learned company； many Doctors of Phisique； and we used with extraordinary great respect。 Among other observables we drunk the King's health out of a gilt cup given by King Henry VIII。 to this Company； with bells hanging at it； which every man is to ring by shaking after he hath drunk up the whole cup。 There is also a very excellent piece of the King； done by Holbein； stands up in the Hall； with the officers of the Company kneeling to him to receive their Charter。 Dr。 Scarborough took some of his friends； and I went with them； to see the body of a lusty fellow； a seaman； that was hanged for a robbery。 It seems one Dillon； of a great family； was； after much endeavours to have saved him； hanged with a silken halter this Sessions； （of his own preparing；） not for honour only； but it being soft and sleek it do slip close and kills； that is； strangles presently： whereas； a stiff one do not come so close together； and so the party may live the longer before killed。 But all the Doctors at table conclude； that there is no pain at all in hanging； for that it do stop the circulation of the blood； and so stops all sense and motion in an instant。 To Sir W。 Batten's to speak upon