nt dinner. Mr.
Temple's wife; after dinner, fell to play on the harpsicon, till she
tired everybody, that I left the house without taking leave, and no
creature left standing by her to hear her. Thence I home and to the
office, where late doing of business, and then home. Read an hour, to
make an end of Potter's Discourse of the Number 666, which I like all
along, but his close is most excellent; and, whether it be right or
wrong, is mighty ingenious. Then to supper and to bed. This is the fatal
day that every body hath discoursed for a long time to be the day that
the Papists, or I know not who, had designed to commit a massacre upon;
but, however, I trust in God we shall rise to-morrow morning as well
as ever. This afternoon Creed comes to me, and by him, as, also my Lady
Pen, I hear that my Lady Denham is exceeding sick, even to death, and
that she says, and every body else discourses, that she is poysoned; and
Creed tells me, that it is said that there hath been a design to poison
the King. What the meaning of all these sad signs is, the Lord knows;
but every day things look worse and worse. God fit us for the worst!

11th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, myself and wife, where the
old dunce Meriton, brother to the known Meriton; of St. Martin's,
Westminster, did make a very good sermon, beyond my expectation. Home
to dinner, and we carried in Pegg Pen, and there also come to us little
Michell and his wife, and dined very pleasantly. Anon to church, my wife
and I and Betty Michell, her husband being gone to Westminster.... Alter
church home, and I to my chamber, and there did finish the putting time
to my song of "It is decreed," and do please myself at last and think
it will be thought a good song. By and by little Michell comes and takes
away his wife home, and my wife and brother and I to my uncle Wight's,
where my aunt is grown so ugly and their entertainment so bad that I
am in pain to be there; nor will go thither again a good while, if sent
for, for we were sent for to-night, we had not gone else. Wooly's wife,
a silly woman, and not very handsome, but no spirit in her at all; and
their discourse mean, and the fear of the troubles of the times hath
made them not to bring their plate to town, since it was carried out
upon the business of the fire, so that they drink in earth and a wooden
can, which I do not like. So home, and my people to bed. I late to
finish my song, and then to bed also, and the business of