I doubt she got some cold; she is lame
in one of her legs with a rheumatic pain. Dr. Arbuthnot and Mrs. Hill go
tomorrow to Kensington to see her, and return the same night. Mrs. Hill
and I dined with the Doctor to-day. I rode out this morning with the
Doctor to see Cranburn, a house of Lord Ranelagh's,(10) and the Duchess
of Marlborough's lodge, and the Park; the finest places they are, for
nature and plantations, that ever I saw; and the finest riding upon
artificial roads, made on purpose for the Queen. Arbuthnot made me draw
up a sham subscription for a book, called A History of the Maids of
Honour since Harry the Eighth, showing they make the best wives, with a
list of all the maids of honour since, etc.; to pay a crown in hand, and
the other crown upon delivery of the book; and all in common forms of
those things. We got a gentleman to write it fair, because my hand is
known; and we sent it to the maids of honour, when they came to supper.
If they bite at it, it will be a very good Court jest; and the Queen
will certainly have it: we did not tell Mrs. Hill.

20. To-day I was invited to the Green Cloth by Colonel Godfrey, who
married the Duke of Marlborough's sister,(11) mother to the Duke of
Berwick by King James: I must tell you those things that happened before
you were born. But I made my excuses, and young Harcourt (Lord Keeper's
son) and I dined with my next neighbour, Dr Adams.(12) Mrs. Masham is
better, and will be here in three or four days. She had need; for the
Duchess of Somerset is thought to gain ground daily.--We have not sent
you over all your bills; and I think we have altered your money-bill.
The Duke of Ormond is censured here, by those in power, for very wrong
management in the affair of the mayoralty.(13) He is governed by fools,
and has usually much more sense than his advisers, but never proceeds
by it. I must know how your health continues after Wexford. Walk and
use exercise, sirrahs both; and get somebody to play at shuttlecock with
you, Madam Stella, and walk to the Dean's and Donnybrook.

21. Colonel Godfrey sent to me again to-day; so I dined at the Green
Cloth, and we had but eleven at dinner, which is a small number there,
the Court being always thin of company till Saturday night.--This new
ink and pen make a strange figure; I MUST WRITE LARGER, YES I MUST, OR
STELLA WILL NOT BE ABLE TO READ THIS.(14) S. S. S., there is your S's
for you, Stella. The maids of honour are bit, and have