ain, but I hope in God I shall not, for though she be
one of the prettiest women I ever saw, yet I fear her abusing me. So
desiring God to forgive me for this vanity, I went home, taking some
books from my bookseller, and taking his lad home with me, to whom I
paid L10 for books I have laid up money for, and laid out within these
three weeks, and shall do no more a great while I hope. So to my office
writing letters, and then home and to bed, weary of the pleasure I have
had to-day, and ashamed to think of it.

24th (Lord's day). Up, in some pain all day from yesterday's passages,
having taken cold, I suppose. So staid within all day reading of two
or three good plays. At night to my office a little, and so home, after
supper to bed.

25th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten by coach to St.
James's, but there the Duke being gone out we to my Lord Berkeley's
chamber, Mr. Coventry being there, and among other things there met with
a printed copy of the King's commission for the repair of Paul's, which
is very large, and large power for collecting money, and recovering of
all people that had bought or sold formerly any thing belonging to the
Church. And here I find my Lord Mayor of the City set in order before
the Archbishopp or any nobleman, though all the greatest officers of
state are there. But yet I do not hear by my Lord Berkeley, who is
one of them, that any thing is like to come of it. Thence back again
homewards, and Sir W. Batten and I to the Coffee-house, but no newes,
only the plague is very hot still, and encreases among the Dutch. Home
to dinner, and after dinner walked forth, and do what I could I could
not keep myself from going through Fleet Lane, but had the sense of
safety and honour not to go in, and the rather being a holiday I feared
I might meet with some people that might know me. Thence to Charing
Cross, and there called at Unthanke's to see what I owed, but found
nothing, and here being a couple of pretty ladies, lodgers in the
kitchen, I staid a little there. Thence to my barber Gervas, who this
day buries his child, which it seems was born without a passage behind,
so that it never voided any thing in the week or fortnight that it has
been born. Thence to Mr. Reeves, it coming just now in my head to buy a
microscope, but he was not within, so I walked all round that end of the
town among the loathsome people and houses, but, God be thanked! had no
desire to visit any of them. So home,