r private discourse ended, we going into the other room)
did, at my Lady's command, tell me the manner of a masquerade

[The masquerade at Court took place on the 2nd, and is referred to
by Evelyn, who was present, in his Diary. Some amusing incidents
connected with the entertainment are related in the "Grammont
Memoirs" (chapter vii.).]

before the King and Court the other day. Where six women (my Lady
Castlemayne and Duchesse of Monmouth being two of them) and six men (the
Duke of Monmouth and Lord Arran and Monsieur Blanfort, being three of
them) in vizards, but most rich and antique dresses, did dance admirably
and most gloriously. God give us cause to continue the mirthe! So home,
and after awhile at my office to supper and to bed.

4th. Lay long in bed discoursing with my wife about her mayds, which
by Jane's going away in discontent and against my opinion do make some
trouble between my wife and me. But these are but foolish troubles and
so not to be set to heart, yet it do disturb me mightily these things.
To my office, and there all the morning. At noon being invited, I to
the Sun behind the 'Change, to dinner to my Lord Belasses, where a great
deal of discourse with him, and some good, among others at table he told
us a very handsome passage of the King's sending him his message about
holding out the town of Newarke, of which he was then governor for the
King. This message he sent in a sluggbullet, being writ in cypher, and
wrapped up in lead and swallowed. So the messenger come to my Lord and
told him he had a message from the King, but it was yet in his belly;
so they did give him some physique, and out it come. This was a month
before the King's flying to the Scotts; and therein he told him that at
such a day, being the 3d or 6th of May, he should hear of his being come
to the Scotts, being assured by the King of France that in coming to
them he should be used with all the liberty, honour, and safety, that
could be desired. And at the just day he did come to the Scotts. He told
us another odd passage: how the King having newly put out Prince Rupert
of his generallshipp, upon some miscarriage at Bristoll, and Sir Richard
Willis

[Sir Richard Willis, the betrayer of the Royalists, was one of the
"Sealed Knot." When the Restoration had become a certainty, he
wrote to Clarendon imploring him to intercede for him with the king
(see Lister's "Life of Clarendon," vol. i