k; whereas, had a meaner person
married her, he would for certain have been reckoned a cuckold at
first-dash.

20th. Up pretty betimes, and to the Old Swan, and there drank at
Michell's, but his wife is not there, but gone to her mother's, who is
ill, and so hath staid there since Sunday. Thence to Westminster Hall and
drank at the Swan, and 'baiserais the petite misse'; and so to Mrs.
Martin's. . . . I sent for some burnt wine, and drank and then away,
not pleased with my folly, and so to the Hall again, and there staid a
little, and so home by water again, where, after speaking with my wife, I
with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes to our church to the vestry, to be
assessed by the late Poll Bill, where I am rated as an Esquire, and for my
office, all will come to about L50. But not more than I expected, nor so
much by a great deal as I ought to be, for all my offices. So shall be
glad to escape so. Thence by water again to White Hall, and there up into
the house, and do hear that newes is come now that the enemy do incline
again to a peace, but could hear no particulars, so do not believe it. I
had a great mind to have spoke with the King, about a business proper
enough for me, about the French prize man-of-war, how he would have her
altered, only out of a desire to show myself mindful of business, but my
linen was so dirty and my clothes mean, that I neither thought it fit to
do that, nor go to other persons at the Court, with whom I had business,
which did vex me, and I must remedy [it]. Here I hear that the Duke of
Richmond and Mrs. Stewart were betrothed last night. Thence to
Westminster Hall again, and there saw Betty Michell, and bought a pair of
gloves of her, she being fain to keep shop there, her mother being sick,
and her father gathering of the tax. I 'aimais her de toute my corazon'.
Thence, my mind wandering all this day upon 'mauvaises amours' which I be
merry for. So home by water again, where I find my wife gone abroad, so I
to Sir W. Batten to dinner, and had a good dinner of ling and herring pie,
very good meat, best of the kind that ever I had. Having dined, I by
coach to the Temple, and there did buy a little book or two, and it is
strange how "Rycaut's Discourse of Turky," which before the fire I was
asked but 8s. for, there being all but twenty-two or thereabouts burned, I
did now offer 20s., and he demands 50s., and I think I shall give it him,
though it be only as a monument of t