at dinner and most excellent
venison, but it almost made me sick by not daring to drink wine. After
dinner into a withdrawing room; and there we talked, among other things,
of the Lord Mayor's sword. They tell me this sword, they believe, is
at least a hundred or two hundred years old; and another that he hath,
which is called the Black Sword, which the Lord Mayor wears when he
mournes, but properly is their Lenten sword to wear upon Good Friday and
other Lent days, is older than that. Thence I, leaving Sir J. Minnes to
look after his indictment drawing up, I home by water, and there found
my wife mightily pleased with a present of shells, fine shells given her
by Captain Hickes, and so she and I up and look them over, and indeed
they are very pleasant ones. By and by in comes Mr. Lewellin, lately
come from Ireland, to see me, and he tells me how the English interest
falls mightily there, the Irish party being too great, so that most
of the old rebells are found innocent, and their lands, which were
forfeited and bought or given to the English, are restored to them;
which gives great discontent there among the English. He being gone, I
to my office, where late, putting things in order, and so home to supper
and to bed. Going through the City, my Lord Mayor told me how the piller
set up by Exeter House is only to show where the pipes of water run to
the City; and observed that this City is as well watered as any city
in the world, and that the bringing the water to the City hath cost it
first and last above L300,000; but by the new building, and the building
of St. James's by my Lord St. Albans,

[It was at this time that the Earl of St. Albans planned St. James's
Square, which was first styled "The Piazza." The "Warrant for a
grant to Baptist May and Abraham Cowley on nomination of the Earl of
St. Albans of several parcels of ground in Pall Mall described, on
rental of L80, for building thereon a square of 13 or 14 great and
good houses," was dated September 24th, 1664.]

which is now about (and which the City stomach I perceive highly, but
dare not oppose it), were it now to be done, it would not be done for a
million of money.

3rd. Up betimes, and for an hour at my viall before my people rise. Then
up and to the office a while, and then to Sir W. Batten, who is going
this day for pleasure down to the Downes. I eat a breakfast with them,
and at my Lady's desire with them by coach to Gr