ith Shadwell, the poet, who, to my
great wonder, do tell me that my Lord of [Orrery] did write this play,
trying what he could do in comedy, since his heroique plays could do no
more wonders. This do trouble me; for it is as mean a thing, and so he
says, as hath been upon the stage a great while; and Harris, who hath no
part in it, did come to me, and told me in discourse that he was glad of
it, it being a play that will not take. Thence home, and to my business
at the office, to finish it, but was in great pain about yesterday
still, lest my wife should have sent her porter to enquire anything,
though for my heart I cannot see it possible how anything could be
discovered of it, but yet such is fear as to render me full of doubt and
disgust. At night to supper and to bed.

17th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon at home to
dinner, and there find Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and he dined with us;
and there hearing that "The Alchymist" was acted, we did go, and took
him with us to the King's house; and it is still a good play, having not
been acted for two or three years before; but I do miss Clun, for the
Doctor. But more my eyes will not let me enjoy the pleasure I used to
have in a play. Thence with my wife in hackney to Sir W. Coventry's, who
being gone to the Park we drove after him, and there met him coming
out, and followed him home, and there sent my wife to Unthanke's while
I spent on hour with him reading over first my draught of the
Administration of the Navy, which he do like very well; and so fell
to talk of other things, and among the rest of the story of his
late disgrace, and how basely and in what a mean manner the Duke of
Buckingham hath proceeded against him--not like a man of honour. He
tells me that the King will not give other answer about his coming to
kiss his hands, than "Not yet." But he says that this that he desires,
of kissing the King's hand, is only to show to the world that he is not
discontented, and not in any desire to come again into play, though I do
perceive that he speaks this with less earnestness than heretofore:
and this, it may be, is, from what he told me lately, that the King is
offended at what is talked, that he hath declared himself desirous
not to have to do with any employment more. But he do tell me that the
leisure he hath yet had do not at all begin to be burdensome to him, he
knowing how to spend his time with content to himself; and that he hopes
short