s afterward. Thence
to my Lord Bellasses, by invitation, and there dined with him, and his
lady and daughter; and at dinner there played to us a young boy, lately
come from France, where he had been learning a yeare or two on the
viallin, and plays finely. But impartially I do not find any goodnesse
in their ayres (though very good) beyond ours when played by the same
hand, I observed in several of Baptiste's'

[Jean Baptiste Lulli, son of a Tuscan peasant, born 1633, died 1687.
He invented the dramatic overture. "But during the first years of
Charles II. all musick affected by the beau mond run in the french
way; and the rather because at that time the master of the court
musick in France, whose name was Baptista (an Italian frenchifyed)
had influenced the french style by infusing a great portion of the
Italian harmony into it, whereby the ayre was exceedingly improved"
(North's "Memoires of Musick," ed. Rimbault, 1846, p, 102).]

(the present great composer) and our Bannister's. But it was pretty to
see how passionately my Lord's daughter loves musique, the most that
ever I saw creature in my life. Thence after dinner home and to the
office and anon to Lumbard Streete again, where much talke at Colvill's,
he censuring the times, and how matters are ordered, and with reason
enough; but, above all, the thinking to borrow money of the City, which
will not be done, but be denied, they being little pleased with the
King's affairs, and that must breed differences between the King and
the City. Thence down by water to Deptford, to order things away to the
fleete and back again, and after some business at my office late home
to supper and to bed. Sir W. Coventry is returned this night from the
fleete, he being the activest man in the world, and we all (myself
particularly) more afeard of him than of the King or his service, for
aught I see; God forgive us! This day the great newes is come of the
French, their taking the island of St. Christopher's' from us; and it
is to be feared they have done the like of all those islands thereabouts
this makes the city mad.

19th. Up, and to my office, there to fit business against the rest meet,
which they did by and by, and sat late. After the office rose (with
Creed with me) to Wm. Joyce's to dinner, being invited, and there find
my father and sister, my wife and Mercer, with them, almost dined. I
made myself as complaisant as I could till I ha