and so they away and I home to the office. The Duke of
Monmouth is the most skittish leaping gallant that ever I saw, always
in action, vaulting or leaping, or clambering. Thence mighty full of
the honour of this day, I took coach and to Kate Joyce's, but she
not within, but spoke with Anthony, who tells me he likes well of my
proposal for Pall to Harman, but I fear that less than L500 will not be
taken, and that I shall not be able to give, though I did not say so to
him. After a little other discourse and the sad news of the death of
so many in the parish of the plague, forty last night, the bell always
going, I back to the Exchange, where I went up and sat talking with my
beauty, Mrs. Batelier, a great while, who is indeed one of the finest
women I ever saw in my life. After buying some small matter, I home, and
there to the office and saw Sir J. Minnes now come from Portsmouth, I
home to set my Journall for these four days in order, they being four
days of as great content and honour and pleasure to me as ever I hope to
live or desire, or think any body else can live. For methinks if a man
would but reflect upon this, and think that all these things are ordered
by God Almighty to make me contented, and even this very marriage now on
foot is one of the things intended to find me content in, in my life and
matter of mirth, methinks it should make one mightily more satisfied in
the world than he is. This day poor Robin Shaw at Backewell's died, and
Backewell himself now in Flanders. The King himself asked about Shaw,
and being told he was dead, said he was very sorry for it. The sicknesse
is got into our parish this week, and is got, indeed, every where;
so that I begin to think of setting things in order, which I pray God
enable me to put both as to soul and body.

27th. Called up at 4 o'clock. Up and to my preparing some papers for
Hampton Court, and so by water to Fox Hall, and there Mr. Gauden's coach
took me up, and by and by I took up him, and so both thither, a brave
morning to ride in and good discourse with him. Among others he begun
with me to speak of the Tangier Victuallers resigning their employment,
and his willingness to come on. Of which I was glad, and took the
opportunity to answer him with all kindness and promise of assistance.
He told me a while since my Lord Berkeley did speak of it to him, and
yesterday a message from Sir Thomas Ingram. When I come to Hampton Court
I find Sir T. Ingram and Creed