ebony, tipt
with silver, he did play beyond anything of that kind that ever I heard
in my life; and with great pains he must have obtained it, but with
pains that the instrument do not deserve at all; for, at the best, it is
mighty barbarous musick. So home and there to my chamber, to prick out
my song, "It is Decreed," intending to have it ready to give Mr. Harris
on Thursday, when we meet, for him to sing, believing that he will do it
more right than a woman that sings better, unless it were Knepp, which
I cannot have opportunity to teach it to. This evening I come home from
White Hall with Sir W. Pen, who fell in talk about his going to sea this
year, and the difficulties that arise to him by it, by giving offence to
the Prince, and occasioning envy to him, and many other things that make
it a bad matter, at this time of want of money and necessaries, and bad
and uneven counsels at home,--for him to go abroad: and did tell me how
much with the King and Duke of York he had endeavoured to be excused,
desiring the Prince might be satisfied in it, who hath a mind to go;
but he tells me they will not excuse him, and I believe it, and truly do
judge it a piece of bad fortune to W. Pen.

25th. Up, and walked to White Hall, there to wait on the Duke of York,
which I did: and in his chamber there, first by hearing the Duke of York
call me by my name, my Lord Burlington did come to me, and with great
respect take notice of me and my relation to my Lord Sandwich, and
express great kindness to me; and so to talk of my Lord Sandwich's
concernments. By and by the Duke of York is ready; and I did wait for
an opportunity of speaking my mind to him about Sir J. Minnes, his being
unable to do the King any service, which I think do become me to do in
all respects, and have Sir W. Coventry's concurrence therein, which I
therefore will seek a speedy opportunity to do, come what will come of
it. The Duke of York and all with him this morning were full of the talk
of the 'prentices, who are not yet [put] down, though the guards and
militia of the town have been in armes all this night, and the night
before; and the 'prentices have made fools of them, sometimes by running
from them and flinging stones at them. Some blood hath been spilt, but
a great many houses pulled down; and, among others, the Duke of York was
mighty merry at that of Damaris Page's, the great bawd of the seamen;
and the Duke of York complained merrily that he hath lost t