ready with papers signed for the putting
of Mr. Gawden in, upon a resignation signed to by Lanyon and sent to Sir
Thos. Ingram. At this I was surprized but yet was glad, and so it passed
but with respect enough to those that are in, at least without any thing
ill taken from it. I got another order signed about the boats, which I
think I shall get something by. So dispatched all my business, having
assurance of continuance of all hearty love from Sir W. Coventry, and so
we staid and saw the King and Queene set out toward Salisbury, and after
them the Duke and Duchesse, whose hands I did kiss. And it was the first
time I did ever, or did see any body else, kiss her hand, and it was a
most fine white and fat hand. But it was pretty to see the young pretty
ladies dressed like men, in velvet coats, caps with ribbands, and with
laced bands, just like men. Only the Duchesse herself it did not become.
They gone, we with great content took coach again, and hungry come to
Clapham about one o'clock, and Creed there too before us, where a
good dinner, the house having dined, and so to walk up and down in
the gardens, mighty pleasant. By and by comes by promise to me Sir G.
Carteret, and viewed the house above and below, and sat and drank there,
and I had a little opportunity to kiss and spend some time with the
ladies above, his daughter, a buxom lass, and his sister Fissant,
a serious lady, and a little daughter of hers, that begins to sing
prettily. Thence, with mighty pleasure, with Sir G. Carteret by coach,
with great discourse of kindnesse with him to my Lord Sandwich, and
to me also; and I every day see more good by the alliance. Almost at
Deptford I 'light and walked over to Half-way House, and so home, in my
way being shown my cozen Patience's house, which seems, at distance, a
pretty house. At home met the weekly Bill, where above 1000 encreased in
the Bill, and of them, in all about 1,700 of the plague, which hath made
the officers this day resolve of sitting at Deptford, which puts me to
some consideration what to do. Therefore home to think and consider of
every thing about it, and without determining any thing eat a little
supper and to bed, full of the pleasure of these 6 or 7 last days.

28th. Up betimes, and down to Deptford, where, after a little discourse
with Sir G. Carteret, who is much displeased with the order of our
officers yesterday to remove the office to Deptford, pretending other
things, but to be sure it