dinary good sport after my Lord had done playing at ninepins.
After that W. Howe and I went to play two trebles in the great
cabin below, which my Lord hearing, after supper he called for our
instruments, and played a set of Lock's, two trebles, and a base, and
that being done, he fell to singing of a song made upon the Rump, with
which he played himself well, to the tune of "The Blacksmith." After all
that done, then to bed.

["The Blacksmith" was the same tune as "Green Sleeves." The
earliest known copy of "The Praise of the Blacksmith" is in "An
Antidote against Melancholy," 1661. See "Roxburghe Ballads," ed.
W. Chappell, 1872, vol. ii. p. 126. (Ballad Society:)]

24th. This morning I had Mr. Luellin and Mr. Sheply to the remainder
of my oysters that were left yesterday. After that very busy all
the morning. While I was at dinner with my Lord, the Coxon of the
Vice-Admiral came for me to the Vice-Admiral to dinner. So I told my
Lord and he gave me leave to go. I rose therefore from table and went,
where there was very many commanders, and very pleasant we were on board
the London, which hath a state-room much bigger than the Nazeby, but not
so rich. After that, with the Captain on board our own ship, where we
were saluted with the news of Lambert's being taken, which news was
brought to London on Sunday last. He was taken in Northamptonshire by
Colonel Ingoldsby, at the head of a party, by which means their whole
design is broke, and things now very open and safe. And every man begins
to be merry and full of hopes. In the afternoon my Lord gave a great
large character to write out, so I spent all the day about it, and after
supper my Lord and we had some more very good musique and singing of
"Turne Amaryllis," as it is printed in the song book, with which my Lord
was very much pleased. After that to bed.

25th. All the morning about my Lord's character. Dined to-day with
Captain Clerke on board the Speaker (a very brave ship) where was the
Vice-Admiral, Rear-Admiral, and many other commanders. After dinner
home, not a little contented to see how I am treated, and with what
respect made a fellow to the best commanders in the Fleet. All the
afternoon finishing of the character, which I did and gave it my Lord,
it being very handsomely done and a very good one in itself, but that
not truly Alphabetical. Supped with Mr. Sheply, W. Howe, &c. in Mr.
Pierce, the Purser's cabin, where very merry, an