at we have
to a dinner this day, but after having waited till past one o'clock I
went, and left her to put on some other clothes and come after me to the
Mitre tavern in Wood-street (a house of the greatest note in London),
where I met W. Symons, and D. Scobell, and their wives, Mr. Samford,
Luellin, Chetwind, one Mr. Vivion, and Mr. White,

[According to Noble, Jeremiah White married Lady Frances Cromwell's
waiting-woman, in Oliver's lifetime, and they lived together fifty
years. Lady Frances had two husbands, Mr. Robert Rich and Sir John
Russell of Chippenham, the last of whom she survived fifty-two years
dying 1721-22 The story is, that Oliver found White on his knees to
Frances Cromwell, and that, to save himself, he pretended to have
been soliciting her interest with her waiting-woman, whom Oliver
compelled him to marry. (Noble's "Life of Cromwell," vol. ii.
pp. 151, 152.) White was born in 1629 and died 1707.]

formerly chaplin to the Lady Protectresse--[Elizabeth, wife of Oliver
Cromwell.]--(and still so, and one they say that is likely to get my
Lady Francess for his wife). Here we were very merry and had a very good
dinner, my wife coming after me hither to us.

Among other pleasures some of us fell to handycapp,

["A game at cards not unlike Loo, but with this difference, the
winner of one trick has to put in a double stake, the winner of two
tricks a triple stake, and so on. Thus, if six persons are playing,
and the general stake is 1s., suppose A gains the three tricks, he
gains 6s., and has to 'hand i' the cap,' or pool, 4s. for the next
deal. Suppose A gains two tricks and B one, then A gains 4s. and B
2s., and A has to stake 3s. and B 2s. for the next deal."--Hindley's
Tavern Anecdotes.--M. B.]

a sport that I never knew before, which was very good. We staid till
it was very late; it rained sadly, but we made shift to get coaches. So
home and to bed.

20th. At home, and at the office, and in the garden walking with both
Sir Williams all the morning. After dinner to Whitehall to Mr. Dalton,
and with him to my house and took away all my papers that were left in
my closet, and so I have now nothing more in the house or to do with
it. We called to speak with my Landlord Beale, but he was not within but
spoke with the old woman, who takes it very ill that I did not let her
have it, but I did give her an answer. From