over; and I have sent
this night an order from the Duke of Albemarle for a ship of 36 guns to
[go] to Calais to fetch him.

26th. Up, and after doing a little business, down to Deptford with Sir
W. Batten, and there left him, and I to Greenwich to the Park, where I
hear the King and Duke are come by water this morn from Hampton Court.
They asked me several questions. The King mightily pleased with his
new buildings there. I followed them to Castle's ship in building, and
there, met Sir W. Batten, and thence to Sir G. Carteret's, where all the
morning with them; they not having any but the Duke of Monmouth, and Sir
W. Killigrew, and one gentleman, and a page more. Great variety of
talk, and was often led to speak to the King and Duke. By and by they to
dinner, and all to dinner and sat down to the King saving myself, which,
though I could not in modesty expect, yet, God forgive my pride! I was
sorry I was there, that Sir W. Batten should say that he could sit down
where I could not, though he had twenty times more reason than I, but
this was my pride and folly. I down and walked with Mr. Castle, who told
me the design of Ford and Rider to oppose and do all the hurt they can
to Captain Taylor in his new ship "The London," and how it comes, and
that they are a couple of false persons, which I believe, and withal
that he himself is a knave too. He and I by and by to dinner mighty
nobly, and the King having dined, he come down, and I went in the barge
with him, I sitting at the door. Down to Woolwich (and there I just saw
and kissed my wife, and saw some of her painting, which is very curious;
and away again to the King) and back again with him in the barge,
hearing him and the Duke talk, and seeing and observing their manner of
discourse. And God forgive me! though I admire them with all the duty
possible, yet the more a man considers and observes them, the less he
finds of difference between them and other men, though (blessed be God!)
they are both princes of great nobleness and spirits. The barge put me
into another boat that come to our side, Mr. Holder with a bag of gold
to the Duke, and so they away and I home to the office. The Duke of
Monmouth is the most skittish leaping gallant that ever I saw, always
in action, vaulting or leaping, or clambering. Thence mighty full of
the honour of this day, I took coach and to Kate Joyce's, but she
not within, but spoke with Anthony, who tells me he likes well of my
proposal fo