Hales's, where my
father is to begin to sit to-day for his picture, which I have a desire
to have. I all the afternoon at home doing some business, drawing up my
vowes for the rest of the yeare to Christmas; but, Lord! to see in what
a condition of happiness I am, if I would but keepe myself so; but my
love of pleasure is such, that my very soul is angry with itself for my
vanity in so doing. Anon took coach and to Hales's, but he was gone out,
and my father and wife gone. So I to Lovett's, and there to my trouble
saw plainly that my project of varnished books will not take, it not
keeping colour, not being able to take polishing upon a single paper.
Thence home, and my father and wife not coming in, I proceeded with my
coach to take a little ayre as far as Bow all alone, and there turned
back and home; but before I got home, the bonefires were lighted all the
towne over, and I going through Crouched Friars, seeing Mercer at her
mother's gate, stopped, and 'light, and into her mother's, the first
time I ever was there, and find all my people, father and all, at a
very fine supper at W. Hewer's lodging, very neatly, and to my great
pleasure. After supper, into his chamber, which is mighty fine
with pictures and every thing else, very curious, which pleased me
exceedingly. Thence to the gate, with the women all about me, and Mrs.
Mercer's son had provided a great many serpents, and so I made the women
all fire some serpents. By and by comes in our faire neighbour, Mrs.
Turner, and two neighbour's daughters, Mrs. Tite, the elder of whom, a
long red-nosed silly jade; the younger, a pretty black girle, and the
merriest sprightly jade that ever I saw. With them idled away the whole
night till twelve at night at the bonefire in the streets. Some of the
people thereabouts going about with musquets, and did give me two or
three vollies of their musquets, I giving them a crowne to drink; and
so home. Mightily pleased with this happy day's newes, and the more,
because confirmed by Sir Daniel Harvy, who was in the whole fight with
the Generall, and tells me that there appear but thirty-six in all of
the Dutch fleete left at the end of the voyage when they run home. The
joy of the City was this night exceeding great.

7th. Up betimes, and to my office about business (Sir W. Coventry having
sent me word that he is gone down to the fleete to see how matters
stand, and to be back again speedily); and with the same expectation of
congra