letter about the good condition of Chatham, which he is
sorry for, and, owns as a mistake, the thing not being necessary to have
been done; and confesses that nobody can escape from such error, some
times or other. He says the House was well satisfied with my Report
yesterday; and so several others told me in the Hall that my Report was
very good and satisfactory, and that I have got advantage by it in
the House: I pray God it may prove so! And here, after the Hall pretty
empty, I did walk a few turns with Commissioner Pett, and did give the
poor weak man some advice for his advantage how to better his pleading
for himself, which I think he will if he can remember and practise,
for I would not have the man suffer what he do not deserve, there being
enough of what he do deserve to lie upon him. Thence to Mrs. Martin's,
and there staid till two o'clock, and drank and talked, and did give her
L3 to buy my goddaughter her first new gowne.... and so away homeward,
and in my way met Sir W. Pen in Cheapside, and went into his coach, and
back again and to the King's playhouse, and there saw "The Black Prince"
again: which is now mightily bettered by that long letter being printed,
and so delivered to every body at their going in, and some short
reference made to it in heart in the play, which do mighty well; but,
when all is done, I think it the worst play of my Lord Orrery's. But
here, to my great satisfaction, I did see my Lord Hinchingbroke and his
mistress, with her father and mother; and I am mightily pleased with the
young lady, being handsome enough--and, indeed, to my great liking, as
I would have her. I could not but look upon them all the play; being
exceeding pleased with my good hap to see them, God bring them together!
and they are now already mighty kind to one another, and he is as it
were one of their family. The play done I home, and to the office a
while, and then home to supper, very hungry, and then to my chamber, to
read the true story, in Speed, of the Black Prince, and so to bed. This
day, it was moved in the House that a day might be appointed to bring
in an impeachment against the Chancellor, but it was decried as being
irregular; but that, if there was ground for complaint, it might be
brought to the Committee for miscarriages, and, if they thought good, to
present it to the House; and so it was carried. They did also vote this
day thanks to be given to the Prince and Duke of Albemarle, for their
care an