till noon, very full of business. Then Sir John Minnes, both Sir
Williams and I to the Trinity House, where we had at dinner a couple of
venison pasties, of which I eat but little, being almost cloyed, having
been at five pasties in three days, namely, two at our own feast,
and one yesterday, and two to-day. So home and at the office all the
afternoon, busy till nine at night, and so to my lodging and to bed.
This afternoon I had my new key and the lock of my office door altered,
having lost my key the other day, which vexed me.

7th (Lord's day). Up betimes and round about by the streets to my
office, and walked in the garden and in my office till my man Will
rose, and then sent to tell Sir J. Minnes that I would go with him to
Whitehall, which anon we did, in his coach, and to the Chapell, where
I heard a good sermon of the Dean of Ely's, upon returning to the old
ways, and a most excellent anthem, with symphonys between, sung by
Captain Cooke. Then home with Mr. Fox and his lady; and there dined with
them, where much company come to them. Most of our discourse was what
ministers are flung out that will not conform: and the care of the
Bishop of London that we are here supplied with very good men. Thence
to my Lord's, where nobody at home but a woman that let me in, and Sarah
above, whither I went up to her and played and talked with her... After
I had talked an hour or two with her I went and gave Mr. Hunt a short
visit, he being at home alone, and thence walked homewards, and meeting
Mr. Pierce, the chyrurgeon, he took me into Somersett House; and there
carried me into the Queen-Mother's presence-chamber, where she was with
our own Queen sitting on her left hand (whom I did never see before);
and though she be not very charming, yet she hath a good, modest, and
innocent look, which is pleasing. Here I also saw Madam Castlemaine,
and, which pleased me most, Mr. Crofts, the King's bastard, a most
pretty spark of about 15 years old, who, I perceive, do hang much upon
my Lady Castlemaine, and is always with her; and, I hear, the Queens
both of them are mighty kind to him.

[James, the son of Charles II. by Lucy Walter, daughter of William
Walter, of Roch Castle, co. Pembroke. He was born April 9th, 1649,
and landed in England with the Queen-Mother, July 28th, 1662, when
he bore the name of Crofts, after Lord Crofts, his governor. He was
created Duke of Monmouth, February 14th, 1663, and marr