o find how
to raise this L300,000, and he doubts they will not do it so as to be
seasonable for the King: but do cry out against our great men at Court;
how it is a fine thing for a Secretary of State to dance a jigg, and
that it was not so heretofore; and, above all, do curse my Lord of
Bristoll, saying the worst news that ever he heard in his life, or that
the Devil could ever bring us, was this Lord's coming to prayers the
other day in the House of Lords, by which he is coming about again from
being a Papist, which will undo this nation; and he says he ever did
say, at the King's first coming in, that this nation could not be safe
while that man was alive. Having done there, I away towards Westminster,
but seeing by the coaches the House to be up, I stopped at the 'Change
(where, I met Mrs. Turner, and did give her a pair of gloves), and there
bought several things for my wife, and so to my bookseller's, and there
looked for Montaigne's Essays,

[This must have been Florio's translation, as Cotton's was not
published until 1685.]

which I heard by my Lord Arlington and Lord Blaney so much commended,
and intend to buy it, but did not now, but home, where at the office
did some business, as much as my eyes would give leave, and so home to
supper, Mercer with us talking and singing, and so to bed. The House, I
hear, have this day concluded upon raising L100,000 of the L300,000
by wine, and the rest by a poll-[tax], and have resolved to excuse the
Church, in expectation that they will do the more of themselves at this
juncture; and I do hear that Sir W. Coventry did make a speech in behalf
of the Clergy.

18th. Up betimes to Westminster, where met with cozen Roger and Creed
and walked with them, and Roger do still continue of the mind that there
is no other way of saving this nation but by dissolving this Parliament
and calling another; but there are so many about the King that will not
be able to stand, if a new Parliament come, that they will not persuade
the King to it. I spent most of the morning walking with one or other,
and anon met Doll Lane at the Dog tavern, and there je did hater what I
did desire with her... and I did give her as being my valentine 20s.
to buy what elle would. Thence away by coach to my bookseller's, and
to several places to pay my debts, and to Ducke Lane, and there bought
Montaigne's Essays, in English, and so away home to dinner, and after
dinner with W. Pen to White Hall, whe