to which they are now coming to choose and swear their Lord Mayor,
compared with what it heretofore was. Thence by coach (having in the
Hall bought me a velvet riding cap, cost me 20s.) to my taylor's, and
there bespoke a plain vest, and so to my goldsmith to bid him look out
for some gold for me; and he tells me that ginnys, which I bought 2,000
of not long ago, and cost me but 18 1/2d. change, will now cost me 22d.;
and but very few to be had at any price. However, some more I will have,
for they are very convenient, and of easy disposal. So home to dinner
and to discourse with my brother upon his translation of my Lord
Bacon's "Faber Fortunae," which I gave him to do and he has done it, but
meanely; I am not pleased with it at all, having done it only literally,
but without any life at all. About five o'clock I took my wife (who is
mighty fine, and with a new fair pair of locks, which vex me, though
like a foole I helped her the other night to buy them), and to Mrs.
Pierces, and there staying a little I away before to White Hall, and
into the new playhouse there, the first time I ever was there, and the
first play I have seen since before the great plague. By and by Mr.
Pierce comes, bringing my wife and his, and Knipp. By and by the King
and Queene, Duke and Duchesse, and all the great ladies of the Court;
which, indeed, was a fine sight. But the play being "Love in a Tub,"
a silly play, and though done by the Duke's people, yet having neither
Betterton nor his wife, and the whole thing done ill, and being ill
also, I had no manner of pleasure in the play. Besides, the House,
though very fine, yet bad for the voice, for hearing. The sight of the
ladies, indeed, was exceeding noble; and above all, my Lady Castlemayne.
The play done by ten o'clock. I carried them all home, and then home
myself, and well satisfied with the sight, but not the play, we with
great content to bed.

30th. Up, and to the office, where sat all the morning, and at noon
home to dinner, and then to the office again, where late, very busy,
and dispatching much business. Mr. Hater staying most of the afternoon
abroad, he come to me, poor man, to make excuse, and it was that he had
been looking out for a little house for his family. His wife being much
frightened in the country with the discourses of troubles and disorders
like to be, and therefore durst not be from him, and therefore he is
forced to bring her to towne that they may be together. T