to have seen
faire Mrs. Butler, but could not, she not being there, nor, I believe,
lives thereabouts now. So walked to Westminster, very fine fair dry
weather, but all cry out for lack of rain. To Herbert's and drank, and
thence to Mrs. Martin's, and did what I would with her; her husband
going for some wine for us. The poor man I do think would take pains if
I can get him a purser's place, which I will endeavour. She tells me
as a secret that Betty Howlet of the Hall, my little sweetheart, that
I used to call my second wife, is married to a younger son of Mr.
Michell's (his elder brother, who should have had her, being dead this
plague), at which I am glad, and that they are to live nearer me in
Thames Streete, by the Old Swan. Thence by coach home and to my chamber
about some accounts, and so to bed. Sir Christopher Mings is come home
from Hambro without anything done, saving bringing home some pipestaves
for us.

19th. Up betimes and upon a meeting extraordinary at the office most of
the morning with Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Coventry, and Sir W. Pen, upon
the business of the accounts. Where now we have got almost as much as we
would have we begin to lay all on the Controller, and I fear he will
be run down with it, for he is every day less and less capable of doing
business. Thence with my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Coventry to the ticket
office, to see in what little order things are there, and there it is
a shame to see how the King is served. Thence to the Chamberlain of
London, and satisfy ourselves more particularly how much credit we have
there, which proves very little. Thence to Sir Robert Long's, absent.
About much the same business, but have not the satisfaction we would
have there neither. So Sir W. Coventry parted, and my Lord and I to Mrs.
Williams's, and there I saw her closett, where indeed a great many fine
things there are, but the woman I hate. Here we dined, and Sir J. Minnes
come to us, and after dinner we walked to the King's play-house, all in
dirt, they being altering of the stage to make it wider. But God knows
when they will begin to act again; but my business here was to see the
inside of the stage and all the tiring-rooms and machines; and, indeed,
it was a sight worthy seeing. But to see their clothes, and the various
sorts, and what a mixture of things there was; here a wooden-leg, there
a ruff, here a hobbyhorse, there a crown, would make a man split himself
to see with laughing; and particular