ood this morning, though I hope it is only a great cold that he has
got. 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, which I
told him I would do, 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 a wall in the New-buildings behind our garden,
while he went to see whether any body stood within the Merchants' Gate,
under which we pass to go into our garden, and there standing but a
little dirty boy before the gate, did make me quake and sweat to think
he might be a Trepan. 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 in if I were truly in the condition that many a
poor man is for debt: and therefore ought to bless God that I have
no such reall reason, and to endeavour to keep myself, by my good
deportment and good husbandry, out of any such condition. At home I
found Mr. Creed with my wife, and so he dined with us, I finding 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; I was very glad of it, and
immediately had a light thought of taking pleasure to rejoice my heart,
and so resolved to take my wife to a play at Court to-night, and the
rather because it is my birthday, being this day thirty years old, for
which let me praise God. While my wife dressed herself, Creed and
I walked out to see what play was acted to-day, and we find it "The
Slighted Mayde." But, Lord! to see that though I did know myself to be
out of danger, yet I durst not go through the street, but round by the
garden into Tower Street. By and by took coach, and to the Duke's house,
where we saw it well acted, though the play hath little good in it,
being most pleased to see the little girl dance in boy's apparel, she
having very fine legs, only bends in the hams, as I perceive all women
do. The play being done, we took coach and to Court, and there got good
places, and saw "The Wilde Gallant," performed by the King's house, but
it was ill acted, and the