en. I got her to go with him by coach to Islington to the old
house, where his lady and Madam Lowther, with her exceeding fine coach
and mean horses, and her mother-in-law, did meet us, and two of Mr.
Lowther's brothers, and here dined upon nothing but pigeon-pyes, which
was such a thing for him to invite all the company to, that I was
ashamed of it. But after dinner was all our sport, when there come in a
juggler, who, indeed, did shew us so good tricks as I have never seen
in my life, I think, of legerdemaine, and such as my wife hath since
seriously said that she would not believe but that he did them by the
help of the devil. Here, after a bad dinner, and but ordinary company,
saving that I discern good parts in one of the sons, who, methought, did
take me up very prettily in one or two things that I said, and I was so
sensible of it as to be a caution to me hereafter how I do venture to
speak more than is necessary in any company, though, as I did now, I
do think them incapable to censure me. We broke up, they back to
Walthamstow, and only my wife and I and Sir W. Pen to the King's
playhouse, and there saw "The Mayden Queene," which, though I have often
seen, yet pleases me infinitely, it being impossible, I think, ever to
have the Queen's part, which is very good and passionate, and Florimel's
part, which is the most comicall that ever was made for woman, ever
done better than they two are by young Marshall and Nelly. Home, where
I spent the evening with my father and wife, and late at night some
flagillette with my wife, and then to supper and to bed.

25th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined at
home, and there come Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and dined with me, telling
me that the Duke of Cambridge continues very ill, so as they do despair
of his living. So to the office again, where all the afternoon. About
4 o'clock comes Mrs. Pierce to see my wife, and I into them, and there
find Pierce very fine, and in her own hair, which do become her, and so
says my wife, ten times better than lighter hair, her complexion being
mighty good. With them talked a little, and was invited by her to come
with my wife on Wednesday next in the evening, to be merry there, which
we shall do. Then to the office again, where dispatched a great deal of
business till late at night, to my great content, and then home and with
my wife to our flageolets a little, and so to supper and to bed, after
having my chamber a l