my Lord came home, with whom I staid long, and talked
of many things. Among others I got leave to have his picture, that was
done by Lilly,

[Peter Lely, afterwards knighted. He lived in the Piazza, Covent
Garden. This portrait was bought by Lord Braybrooke at Mr. Pepys
Cockerell's sale in 1848, and is now at Audley End.]

copied, and talking of religion, I found him to be a perfect Sceptic,
and said that all things would not be well while there was so much
preaching, and that it would be better if nothing but Homilies were
to be read in Churches. This afternoon (he told me) there hath been a
meeting before the King and my Lord Chancellor, of some Episcopalian and
Presbyterian Divines; but what had passed he could not tell me. After
I had done talk with him, I went to bed with Mr. Sheply in his chamber,
but could hardly get any sleep all night, the bed being ill made and he
a bad bedfellow.

23rd. We rose early in the morning to get things ready for My Lord, and
Mr. Sheply going to put up his pistols (which were charged with bullets)
into the holsters, one of them flew off, and it pleased God that, the
mouth of the gun being downwards, it did us no hurt, but I think I never
was in more danger in my life, which put me into a great fright. About
eight o'clock my Lord went; and going through the garden my Lord met
with Mr. William Montagu, who told him of an estate of land lately come
into the King's hands, that he had a mind my Lord should beg. To which
end my Lord writ a letter presently to my Lord Chancellor to do it for
him, which (after leave taken of my Lord at White Hall bridge) I did
carry to Warwick House to him; and had a fair promise of him, that
he would do it this day for my Lord. In my way thither I met the
Lord Chancellor and all the judges riding on horseback and going to
Westminster Hall, it being the first day of the term, which was the
first time I ever saw any such solemnity. Having done there I returned
to Whitehall, where meeting with my brother Ashwell and his cozen Sam.
Ashwell and Mr. Mallard, I took them to the Leg in King Street and gave
them a dish of meat for dinner and paid for it. From thence going to
Whitehall I met with Catan Stirpin in mourning, who told me that her
mistress was lately dead of the small pox, and that herself was now
married to Monsieur Petit, as also what her mistress had left her, which
was very well. She also took me to her lodging at an Ironmonger's i