his I like well, but do not desire to become
a merchant, and, therefore, put it off, but desired time to think of
it. Thence to the King's play-house, and there saw "Bartholomew Fayre,"
which do still please me; and is, as it is acted, the best comedy in the
world, I believe. I chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew, who tells me
that he is setting up a Nursery; that is, is going to build a house in
Moorefields, wherein he will have common plays acted. But four operas it
shall have in the year, to act six weeks at a time; where we shall
have the best scenes and machines, the best musique, and every thing as
magnificent as is in Christendome; and to that end hath sent for voices
and painters and other persons from Italy. Thence homeward called upon
my Lord Marlborough, and so home and to my office, and then to Sir W.
Pen, and with him and our fellow officers and servants of the house and
none else to Church to lay his brother in the ground, wherein nothing
handsome at all, but that he lays him under the Communion table in the
chancel, about nine at night? So home and to bed.

3rd. Up betimes and set some joyners on work to new lay my floor in our
wardrobe, which I intend to make a room for musique. Thence abroad to
Westminster, among other things to Mr. Blagrave's, and there had his
consent for his kinswoman to come to be with my wife for her woman, at
which I am well pleased and hope she may do well. Thence to White Hall
to meet with Sir G. Carteret about hiring some ground to make our mast
docke at Deptford, but being Council morning failed, but met with Mr.
Coventry, and he and I discoursed of the likeliness of a Dutch warr,
which I think is very likely now, for the Dutch do prepare a fleet to
oppose us at Guinny, and he do think we shall, though neither of us have
a mind to it, fall into it of a sudden, and yet the plague do increase
among them, and is got into their fleet, and Opdam's own ship, which
makes it strange they should be so high. Thence to the 'Change, and
thence home to dinner, and down by water to Woolwich to the rope yard,
and there visited Mrs. Falconer, who tells me odd stories of how Sir W.
Pen was rewarded by her husband with a gold watch (but seems not certain
of what Sir W. Batten told me, of his daughter having a life given her
in L80 per ann.) for his helping him to his place, and yet cost him L150
to Mr. Coventry besides. He did much advise it seems Mr. Falconer not
to marry again, expressing that he