ring into Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, at the end of
Bell Yard, where strange the folly of men to lay and lose so much money,
and very glad I was to see the manner of a gamester's life, which I see
is very miserable, and poor, and unmanly. And thence he took me to a
dancing school in Fleet Street, where we saw a company of pretty girls
dance, but I do not in myself like to have young girls exposed to so
much vanity. So to the Wardrobe, where I found my Lady had agreed upon a
lace for my wife of L6, which I seemed much glad of that it was no more,
though in my mind I think it too much, and I pray God keep me so to
order myself and my wife's expenses that no inconvenience in purse or
honour follow this my prodigality. So by coach home.

12th. At the office all the morning. Dined at home alone. So abroad with
Sir W. Pen. My wife and I to "Bartholomew Fayre," with puppets which I
had seen once before, and Ate play without puppets often, but though I
love the play as much as ever I did, yet I do not like the puppets at
all, but think it to be a lessening to it. Thence to the Greyhound in
Fleet Street, and there drank some raspberry sack and eat some sasages,
and so home very merry. This day Holmes come to town; and we do expect
hourly to hear what usage he hath from the Duke and the King about
this late business of letting the Swedish Embassador go by him without
striking his flag.

[And that, too, in the river Thames itself. The right of obliging
ships of all nations to lower topsails, and strike their flag to the
English, whilst in the British seas, and even on the French coasts,
had, up to this time, been rigidly enforced. When Sully was sent by
Henry IV., in 1603, to congratulate James I. on his accession, and
in a ship commanded by a vice-admiral of France, he was fired upon
by the English Admiral Mansel, for daring to hoist the flag of
France in the presence of that of England, although within sight of
Calais. The French flag was lowered, and all Sully's remonstrances
could obtain no redress for the alleged injury. According to Rugge,
Holmes had insisted upon the Swede's lowering his flag, and had even
fired a shot to enforce the observance of the usual tribute of
respect, but the ambassador sent his secretary and another gentleman
on board the English frigate, to assure the captain, upon the word
and honour of an ambassador, that the king, by a ve