ke under it, and a coat over it,
and the legs ruffled with black riband like a pigeon's leg; and, upon
the whole, I wish the King may keep it, for it is a very fine and
handsome garment.

[Evelyn describes the new fashion as "a comely dress after ye
Persian mode" (see "Diary," October 18th, 1666). He adds that he
had described the "comelinesse and usefulnesse" of the Persian
clothing in his pamphlet entitled "Tyrannus, or the Mode." "I do
not impute to this discourse the change which soone happen'd, but
it was an identity I could not but take notice of." Rugge, in his
"Diurnal," thus describes the new Court costume "1666, Oct. 11. In
this month His Majestie and whole Court changed the fashion of their
clothes-viz. a close coat of cloth, pinkt with a white taffety under
the cutts. This in length reached the calf of the leg, and upon
that a sercoat cutt at the breast, which hung loose and shorter than
the vest six inches. The breeches the Spanish cut, and buskins some
of cloth, some of leather, but of the same colour as the vest or
garment; of never the like fashion since William the Conqueror." It
is represented in a portrait of Lord Arlington, by Sir P. Lely,
formerly belonging to Lord de Clifford, and engraved in Lodge's
"Portraits." Louis XIV. ordered his servants to wear the dress.
See November 22.]

Walking with Pierce in the Court of Wards out comes Sir W. Coventry, and
he and I talked of business. Among others I proposed the making Sir J.
Minnes a Commissioner, and make somebody else Comptroller. He tells me
it is the thing he hath been thinking of, and hath spoke to the Duke of
York of it. He believes it will be done; but that which I fear is that
Pen will be Comptroller, which I shall grudge a little. The Duke of
Buckingham called him aside and spoke a good while with him. I did
presently fear it might be to discourse something of his design to
blemish my Lord of Sandwich, in pursuance of the wild motion he made the
other day in the House. Sir W. Coventry, when he come to me again, told
me that he had wrought a miracle, which was, the convincing the Duke of
Buckingham that something--he did not name what--that he had intended
to do was not fit to be done, and that the Duke is gone away of that
opinion. This makes me verily believe it was something like what I
feared. By and by the House rose, and then we parted, an