e him and Dr. Williams, and had
them sign the copy and so did give T. Trice the original to prove, so
he took my father and me to one of the judges of the Court, and there we
were sworn, and so back again to the alehouse and drank and parted. Dr.
Williams and I to a cook's where we eat a bit of mutton, and away, I
to W. Joyce's, where by appointment my wife was, and I took her to the
Opera, and shewed her "The Witts," which I had seen already twice, and
was most highly pleased with it. So with my wife to the Wardrobe to see
my Lady, and then home.

24th. At the office all the morning and did business; by and by we
are called to Sir W. Batten's to see the strange creature that Captain
Holmes hath brought with him from Guiny; it is a great baboon, but so
much like a man in most things, that though they say there is a species
of them, yet I cannot believe but that it is a monster got of a man and
she-baboon. I do believe that it already understands much English, and
I am of the mind it might be taught to speak or make signs. Hence the
Comptroller and I to Sir Rd. Ford's and viewed the house again, and are
come to a complete end with him to give him L200 per an. for it. Home
and there met Capt. Isham inquiring for me to take his leave of me, he
being upon his voyage to Portugal, and for my letters to my Lord which
are not ready. But I took him to the Mitre and gave him a glass of sack,
and so adieu, and then straight to the Opera, and there saw "Hamlet,
Prince of Denmark," done with scenes very well, but above all, Betterton

[Sir William Davenant introduced the use of scenery. The character
of Hamlet was one of Betterton's masterpieces. Downes tells us that
he was taught by Davenant how the part was acted by Taylor of the
Blackfriars, who was instructed by Shakespeare himself.]

did the prince's part beyond imagination. Hence homeward, and met with
Mr. Spong and took him to the Sampson in Paul's churchyard, and there
staid till late, and it rained hard, so we were fain to get home wet,
and so to bed.

25th (Lord's day). At church in the morning, and dined at home alone
with my wife very comfortably, and so again to church with her, and had
a very good and pungent sermon of Mr. Mills, discoursing the necessity
of restitution. Home, and I found my Lady Batten and her daughter to
look something askew upon my wife, because my wife do not buckle to
them, and is not solicitous for their acquaintance, whi