n
King Street, which was but very poor, and I found by a letter that she
shewed me of her husband's to the King, that he is a right Frenchman,
and full of their own projects, he having a design to reform the
universities, and to institute schools for the learning of all
languages, to speak them naturally and not by rule, which I know will
come to nothing. From thence to my Lord's, where I went forth by coach
to Mrs. Parker's with my Lady, and so to her house again. From thence I
took my Lord's picture, and carried it to Mr. de Cretz to be copied. So
to White Hall, where I met Mr. Spong, and went home with him and played,
and sang, and eat with him and his mother. After supper we looked over
many books, and instruments of his, especially his wooden jack in his
chimney, which goes with the smoke, which indeed is very pretty. I found
him to be as ingenious and good-natured a man as ever I met with in my
life, and cannot admire him enough, he being so plain and illiterate a
man as he is. From thence by coach home and to bed, which was welcome to
me after a night's absence.

24th. I lay and slept long to-day. Office day. I took occasion to be
angry with my wife before I rose about her putting up of half a crown of
mine in a paper box, which she had forgot where she had lain it. But we
were friends again as we are always. Then I rose to Jack Cole, who came
to see me. Then to the office, so home to dinner, where I found Captain
Murford, who did put L3 into my hands for a friendship I had done him,
but I would not take it, but bade him keep it till he has enough to buy
my wife a necklace. This afternoon people at work in my house to make a
light in my yard into my cellar. To White Hall, in my way met with Mr.
Moore, who went back with me. He tells me, among other things, that
the Duke of York is now sorry for his lying with my Lord Chancellor's
daughter, who is now brought to bed of a boy. From Whitehall to Mr. De
Cretz, who I found about my Lord's picture. From thence to Mr. Lilly's,
where, not finding Mr. Spong, I went to Mr. Greatorex, where I met him,
and so to an alehouse, where I bought of him a drawing-pen; and he did
show me the manner of the lamp-glasses, which carry the light a great
way, good to read in bed by, and I intend to have one of them. So to Mr.
Lilly's with Mr. Spong, where well received, there being a club to-night
among his friends. Among the rest Esquire Ashmole, who I found was a
very ingenious gentlema