be a conference on
the Lords' side to the Commons this afternoon, giving in their Reasons,
which I would have been at, but could not; for, going by direction to
the Prince's chamber, there Brouncker, W. Pen, and Mr. Wren, and I, met,
and did our business with the Duke of York. But, Lord! to see how this
play of Sir Positive At-all,--["The Impertinents."]--in abuse of Sir
Robert Howard, do take, all the Duke's and every body's talk being of
that, and telling more stories of him, of the like nature, that it is
now the town and country talk, and, they say, is most exactly true. The
Duke of York himself said that of his playing at trap-ball is true, and
told several other stories of him. This being done, Brouncker, Pen,
and I to Brouncker's house, and there sat and talked, I asking many
questions in mathematics to my Lord, which he do me the pleasure to
satisfy me in, and here we drank and so spent an hour, and so W. Pen and
I home, and after being with W. Pen at his house an hour, I home and to
bed.

9th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning we sat. Here I first
hear that the Queene hath miscarryed of a perfect child, being gone
about ten weeks, which do shew that she can conceive, though it be
unfortunate that she cannot bring forth. Here we are told also that last
night the Duchesse of Monmouth, dancing at her lodgings, hath sprained
her thigh. Here we are told also that the House of Commons sat till five
o'clock this morning, upon the business of the difference between the
Lords and them, resolving to do something therein before they rise, to
assert their privileges. So I at noon by water to Westminster, and there
find the King hath waited in the Prince's chamber these two hours, and
the Houses are not ready for him. The Commons having sent this morning,
after their long debate therein the last night, to the Lords, that
they do think the only expedient left to preserve unity between the two
Houses is, that they do put a stop to any proceedings upon their late
judgement against the East India Company, till their next meeting; to
which the Lords returned answer that they would return answer to them by
a messenger of their own, which they not presently doing, they were all
inflamed, and thought it was only a trick, to keep them in suspense
till the King come to adjourne them; and, so, rather than lose the
opportunity of doing themselves right, they presently with great fury
come to this vote: "That whoever should