esus Christ.

He saw four little girles, very young ones, all kneeling, each of them,
upon one knee; and one begun the first line, whispering in the eare of
the next, and the second to the third, and the third to the fourth, and
she to the first. Then the first begun the second line, and so round
quite through, and, putting each one finger only to a boy that lay flat
upon his back on the ground, as if he was dead; at the end of the words,
they did with their four fingers raise this boy as high as they could
reach, and he [Mr. Brisband] being there, and wondering at it, as also
being afeard to see it, for they would have had him to have bore a part
in saying the words, in the roome of one of the little girles that was
so young that they could hardly make her learn to repeat the words, did,
for feare there might be some sleight used in it by the boy, or that the
boy might be light, call the cook of the house, a very lusty fellow, as
Sir G. Carteret's cook, who is very big, and they did raise him in just
the same manner. This is one of the strangest things I ever heard, but
he tells it me of his owne knowledge, and I do heartily believe it to
be true. I enquired of him whether they were Protestant or Catholique
girles; and he told me they were Protestant, which made it the more
strange to me. Thus we end this month, as I said, after the greatest
glut of content that ever I had; only under some difficulty because of
the plague, which grows mightily upon us, the last week being about 1700
or 1800 of the plague. My Lord Sandwich at sea with a fleet of about
100 sail, to the Northward, expecting De Ruyter, or the Dutch East India
fleet. My Lord Hinchingbroke coming over from France, and will meet his
sister at Scott's-hall. Myself having obliged both these families in
this business very much; as both my Lady, and Sir G. Carteret and his
Lady do confess exceedingly, and the latter do also now call me cozen,
which I am glad of. So God preserve us all friends long, and continue
health among us.

AUGUST 1665

August 1st. Slept, and lay long; then up and my Lord [Crew] and Sir G.
Carteret being gone abroad, I first to see the bridegroom and bride, and
found them both up, and he gone to dress himself. Both red in the face,
and well enough pleased this morning with their night's lodging. Thence
down and Mr. Brisband and I to billiards: anon come my Lord and Sir G.
Carteret in, who have been looking abroad and visiting some fa