and little
news, but some talk as if the agreement between France and Spain were
like to be, which would be bad for us, and at noon with Sir Herbert
Price to Mr. George Montagu's to dinner, being invited by him in the
hall, and there mightily made of, even to great trouble to me to be so
commended before my face, with that flattery and importunity, that I was
quite troubled with it. Yet he is a fine gentleman, truly, and his lady
a fine woman; and, among many sons that I saw there, there was a little
daughter that is mighty pretty, of which he is infinite fond: and, after
dinner, did make her play on the gittar and sing, which she did mighty
prettily, and seems to have a mighty musical soul, keeping time
with most excellent spirit. Here I met with Mr. Brownlow, my old
schoolfellow, who come thither, I suppose, as a suitor to one of the
young ladies that were there, and a sober man he seems to be. But here
Mr. Montagu did tell me how Mr. Vaughan, in that very room, did say that
I was a great man, and had great understanding, and I know not what,
which, I confess, I was a little proud of, if I may believe him. Here
I do hear, as a great secret, that the King, and Duke of York and
Duchesse, and my Lady Castlemayne, are now all agreed in a strict
league, and all things like to go very current, and that it is not
impossible to have my Lord Clarendon, in time, here again. But I do hear
that my Lady Castlemayne is horribly vexed at the late libell,

["The Poor Whores' Petition to the most splendid, illustrious,
serene and eminent Lady of Pleasure the Countess of Castlemayne,
&c., signed by us, Madam Cresswell and Damaris Page, this present
25th day of March, 1668." This sham petition occasioned a pretended
answer, entitled, "The Gracious Answer of the Most Illustrious Lady
of Pleasure, the Countess of Castlem.... to the Poor Whores'
Petition." It is signed, "Given at our Closset, in King Street,
Westminster, die Veneris, April 24, 1668. Castlem...."
Compare Evelyn, April 2nd, 1668.]

the petition of the poor whores about the town, whose houses were pulled
down the other day. I have got one of them, but it is not very witty,
but devilish severe against her and the King and I wonder how it durst
be printed and spread abroad, which shews that the times are loose, and
come to a great disregard of the King, or Court, or Government. Thence
I to White Hall to attend the Council, and