et Sir W. Rider and Mr. Clerke, and there after much ado made an end,
giving Mr. Custos L202 against Mr. Bland, which I endeavoured to bring
down but could not, and think it is well enough ended for Mr. Bland for
all that. Thence by coach to fetch my wife from her brother's, and found
her gone home. Called at Sir Robert Bernard's about surrendering my
estate in reversion to the use of my life, which will be done, and at
Roger Pepys, who was gone to bed in pain of a boyle that he could not
sit or stand. So home, where my wife is full of sad stories of her
good-natured father and roguish brother, who is going for Holland and
his wife, to be a soldier. And so after a little at the office to bed.
This night late coming in my coach, coming up Ludgate Hill, I saw two
gallants and their footmen taking a pretty wench, which I have much
eyed, lately set up shop upon the hill, a seller of riband and gloves.
They seek to drag her by some force, but the wench went, and I believe
had her turn served, but, God forgive me! what thoughts and wishes I had
of being in their place. In Covent Garden to-night, going to fetch home
my wife, I stopped at the great Coffee-house' there, where I never was
before; where Dryden the poet (I knew at Cambridge), and all the wits of
the town, and Harris the player, and Mr. Hoole of our College. And had I
had time then, or could at ether times, it will be good coming thither,
for there, I perceive, is very witty and pleasant discourse. But I could
not tarry, and as it was late, they were all ready to go away.

4th. Up and to the office, where after a while sitting, I left the board
upon pretence of serious business, and by coach to Paul's School, where
I heard some good speeches of the boys that were to be elected
this year. Thence by and by with Mr. Pullen and Barnes (a great
Non-Conformist) with several others of my old acquaintance to the Nag's
Head Taverne, and there did give them a bottle of sacke, and away again
and I to the School, and up to hear the upper form examined; and
there was kept by very many of the Mercers, Clutterbucke, a Barker,
Harrington, and others; and with great respect used by them all, and
had a noble dinner. Here they tell me, that in Dr. Colett's will he says
that he would have a Master found for the School that hath good skill in
Latin, and (if it could be) one that had some knowledge of the Greeke;
so little was Greeke known here at that time. Dr. Wilkins and one Mr.
Smallw