sfied with several women's voices and men also, as Crispe of
the Wardrobe. The women sung well, but that which distinguishes all is
this, that in singing, the words are to be considered, and how they are
fitted with notes, and then the common accent of the country is to be
known and understood by the hearer, or he will never be a good judge of
the vocal musique of another country. So that I was not taken with this
at all, neither understanding the first, nor by practice reconciled to
the latter, so that their motions, and risings and fallings, though it
may be pleasing to an Italian, or one that understands the tongue, yet
to me it did not, but do from my heart believe that I could set words
in English, and make musique of them more agreeable to any Englishman's
eare (the most judicious) than any Italian musique set for the voice,
and performed before the same man, unless he be acquainted with the
Italian accent of speech. The composition as to the musique part was
exceeding good, and their justness in keeping time by practice much
before any that we have, unless it be a good band of practised fiddlers.
So away, here being Captain Cocke, who is stole away, leaving them at
it, in his coach, and to Mrs. Pierce's, where I took up my wife, and
there I find Mrs. Pierce's little girl is my Valentine, she having drawn
me; which I was not sorry for, it easing me of something more that I
must have given to others. But here I do first observe the fashion of
drawing of mottos as well as names; so that Pierce, who drew my wife,
did draw also a motto, and this girl drew another for me. What mine was
I have forgot; but my wife's was, "Most virtuous and most fair;" which,
as it may be used, or an anagram made upon each name, might be very
pretty. Thence with Cocke and my wife, set him at home, and then we
home. To the office, and there did a little business, troubled that I
have so much been hindered by matters of pleasure from my business, but
I shall recover it I hope in a little time. So home and to supper, not
at all smitten with the musique to-night, which I did expect should have
been so extraordinary, Tom Killigrew crying it up, and so all the world,
above all things in the world, and so to bed. One wonder I observed
to-day, that there was no musique in the morning to call up our
new-married people, which is very mean, methinks, and is as if they had
married like dog and bitch.

17th (Lord's day). Up, and called at Michell's, an