eement Mercer, and she, to my great
content, brings Mrs. Gayet, and I carried them to the King's house; but,
coming too soon, we out again to the Rose taverne, and there I did give
them a tankard of cool drink, the weather being very hot, and then into
the playhouse again, and there saw "The Country Captain," a very dull
play, that did give us no content, and besides, little company there,
which made it very unpleasing. Thence to the waterside, at Strand
bridge, and so up by water and to Fox-hall, where we walked a great
while, and pleased mightily with the pleasure thereof, and the company
there, and then in, and eat and drank, and then out again and walked,
and it beginning to be dark, we to a corner and sang, that everybody got
about us to hear us; and so home, where I saw them both at their doors,
and, full of the content of this afternoon's pleasure, I home and to
walk in the garden a little, and so home to bed.

15th. Up, and betimes to White Hall, and there met with Sir H. Cholmly
at Sir Stephen Fox's, and there was also the Cofferer, and we did there
consider about our money and the condition of the Excise, and after much
dispute agreed upon a state thereof and the manner of our future course
of payments. Thence to the Duke of York, and there did a little navy
business as we used to do, and so to a Committee for Tangier, where God
knows how my Lord Bellasses's accounts passed; understood by nobody but
my Lord Ashly, who, I believe, was mad to let them go as he pleased. But
here Sir H. Cholmly had his propositions read, about a greater price for
his work of the Mole, or to do it upon account, which, being read, he
was bid to withdraw. But, Lord! to see how unlucky a man may be, by
chance; for, making an unfortunate minute when they were almost tired
with the other business, the Duke of York did find fault with it, and
that made all the rest, that I believe he had better have given a great
deal, and had nothing said to it to-day; whereas, I have seen other
things more extravagant passed at first hearing, without any difficulty.
Thence I to my Lord Brouncker's, at Mrs. Williams's, and there dined,
and she did shew me her closet, which I was sorry to see, for fear of
her expecting something from me; and here she took notice of my wife's
not once coming to see her, which I am glad of; for she shall not--a
prating, vain, idle woman. Thence with Lord Brouncker to Loriners'-hall,

[The Loriners, or Lorimers (bit-ma