es; but, Lord! what a stir Stankes
makes with his being crowded in the streets and wearied in walking in
London, and would not be wooed by my wife and Ashwell to go to a play,
nor to White Hall, or to see the lyons,

[The Tower menagerie, with its famous lions, which was one of the
chief sights of London, and gave rise to a new English word, was not
abolished until the early part of the present century.]

though he was carried in a coach. I never could have thought there had
been upon earth a man so little curious in the world as he is. At the
office all the afternoon till 9 at night, so home to cards with my
father, wife, and Ashwell, and so to bed.

MAY 1663

May 1st. Up betimes and my father with me, and he and I all the morning
and Will Stankes private, in my wife's closet above, settling our
matters concerning our Brampton estate, &c., and I find that there will
be, after all debts paid within L100, L50 per annum clear coming towards
my father's maintenance, besides L25 per annum annuities to my Uncle
Thomas and Aunt Perkins. Of which, though I was in my mind glad, yet
thought it not fit to let my father know it thoroughly, but after he had
gone out to visit my uncle Thomas and brought him to dinner with him,
and after dinner I got my father, brother Tom, and myself together, I
did make the business worse to them, and did promise L20 out of my own
purse to make it L50 a year to my father, propounding that Stortlow
may be sold to pay L200 for his satisfaction therein and the rest to go
towards payment of debts and legacies. The truth is I am fearful lest my
father should die before debts are paid, and then the land goes to Tom
and the burden of paying all debts will fall upon the rest of the land.
Not that I would do my brother any real hurt. I advised my father to
good husbandry and to living within the compass of L50 a year, and all
in such kind words, as not only made, them but myself to weep, and I
hope it will have a good effect. That being done, and all things agreed
on, we went down, and after a glass of wine we all took horse, and I,
upon a horse hired of Mr. Game, saw him out of London, at the end of
Bishopsgate Street, and so I turned and rode, with some trouble, through
the fields, and then Holborn, &c., towards Hide Park, whither all the
world, I think, are going, and in my going, almost thither, met W. Howe
coming galloping upon a little crop black nag; it seems one that was
tak