shopsgate, and there saw the picture usually put before the King's
book, put up in the church, but very ill painted, though it were a
pretty piece to set up in a church. I intended to have seen the Quakers,
who, they say, do meet every Lord's day at the Mouth at Bishopsgate; but
I could see none stirring, nor was it fit to aske for the place, so I
walked over Moorefields, and thence to Clerkenwell church, and there, as
I wished, sat next pew to the fair Butler, who indeed is a most perfect
beauty still; and one I do very much admire myself for my choice of her
for a beauty, she having the best lower part of her face that ever I
saw all days of my life. After church I walked to my Lady Sandwich's,
through my Lord Southampton's new buildings in the fields behind Gray's
Inn; and, indeed, they are a very great and a noble work. So I dined
with my Lady, and the same innocent discourse that we used to have, only
after dinner, being alone, she asked me my opinion about Creed, whether
he would have a wife or no, and what he was worth, and proposed Mrs.
Wright for him, which, she says, she heard he was once inquiring after.
She desired I would take a good time and manner of proposing it, and
I said I would, though I believed he would love nothing but money, and
much was not to be expected there, she said. So away back to Clerkenwell
Church, thinking to have got sight of la belle Boteler again, but
failed, and so after church walked all over the fields home, and there
my wife was angry with me for not coming home, and for gadding abroad
to look after beauties, she told me plainly, so I made all peace, and
to supper. This evening came Mrs. Lane (now Martin) with her husband to
desire my helpe about a place for him. It seems poor Mr. Daniel is dead
of the Victualling Office, a place too good for this puppy to follow him
in. But I did give him the best words I could, and so after drinking a
glasse of wine sent them going, but with great kindnesse. Go to supper,
prayers, and to bed.

3rd. Up with Sir J. Minnes, by coach, to St. James's; and there all the
newes now of very hot preparations for the Dutch: and being with the
Duke, he told us he was resolved to make a tripp himself, and that Sir
W. Pen should go in the same ship with him. Which honour, God forgive
me! I could grudge him, for his knavery and dissimulation, though I
do not envy much the having the same place myself. Talke also of great
haste in the getting out another fleet