s one of the best pieces of musique to my thinking that ever I
did hear in my life; then took coach and to Hackney church, where very
full, and found much difficulty to get pews, I offering the sexton
money, and he could not help me. So my wife and Mercer ventured into
a pew, and I into another. A knight and his lady very civil to me when
they come, and the like to my wife in hers, being Sir G. Viner and his
lady--rich in jewells, but most in beauty--almost the finest woman that
ever I saw. That which we went chiefly to see was the young ladies
of the schools,--[Hackney was long famous for its boarding
schools.]--whereof there is great store, very pretty; and also the
organ, which is handsome, and tunes the psalm, and plays with the
people; which is mighty pretty, and makes me mighty earnest to have a
pair at our church, I having almost a mind to give them a pair, if they
would settle a maintenance on them for it. I am mightily taken with
them. So, church done, we to coach and away to Kingsland and Islington,
and there eat and drank at the Old House, and so back, it raining a
little, which is mighty welcome, it having not rained in many weeks, so
that they say it makes the fields just now mighty sweet. So with great
pleasure home by night. Set down Mercer, and I to my chamber, and there
read a great deal in Rycaut's Turkey book with great pleasure, and so
eat and to bed. My sore throat still troubling me, but not so much. This
night I do come to full resolution of diligence for a good while, and I
hope God will give me the grace and wisdom to perform it.

22nd. Up pretty betimes, my throat better, and so drest me, and to White
Hall to see Sir W. Coventry, returned from Portsmouth, whom I am almost
ashamed to see for fear he should have been told how often I have been
at plays, but it is better to see him at first than afterward. So walked
to the Old Swan and drank at Michell's, and then to White Hall and over
the Park to St. James's to [Sir] W. Coventry, where well received, and
good discourse. He seems to be sure of a peace; that the King of France
do not intend to set out a fleete, for that he do design Flanders.
Our Embassadors set out this week. Thence I over the Park to Sir G.
Carteret, and after him by coach to the Lord Chancellor's house, the
first time I have been therein; and it is very noble, and brave pictures
of the ancient and present nobility, never saw better. Thence with him
to London, mighty merry in the