petition to the House,
sending in the paper to them. But the truth is we were in a great hurry,
but it fell out that they were most of the morning upon the business of
not prosecuting the first victory; which they have voted one of the
greatest miscarriages of the whole war, though they cannot lay the fault
anywhere yet, because Harman is not come home. This kept them all the
morning, which I was glad of. So down to the Hall, where my wife by
agreement stayed for me at Mrs. Michell's, and there was Mercer and the
girl, and I took them to Wilkinson's the cook's in King Street (where I
find the master of the house hath been dead for some time), and there
dined, and thence by one o'clock to the King's house: a new play, "The
Duke of Lerma," of Sir Robert Howard's: where the King and Court was; and
Knepp and Nell spoke the prologue most excellently, especially Knepp, who
spoke beyond any creature I ever, heard. The play designed to reproach
our King with his mistresses, that I was troubled for it, and expected it
should be interrupted; but it ended all well, which salved all. The play
a well-writ and good play, only its design I did not like of reproaching
the King, but altogether a very good and most serious play. Thence home,
and there a little to the office, and so home to supper, where Mercer with
us, and sang, and then to bed.

21st. At the office all the morning to get a little business done, I
having, and so the whole office, been put out of doing any business there
for this week by our trouble in attending the Parliament. Hither comes to
me young Captain Beckford, the slopseller, and there presents me a little
purse with gold in it, it being, as he told me, for his present to me, at
the end of the last year. I told him I had not done him any service I
knew of. He persisted, and I refused, but did at several denials; and
telling him that it was not an age to take presents in, he told me he had
reason to present me with something, and desired me to accept of it,
which, at his so urging me, I did, and so fell to talk of his business,
and so parted. I do not know of any manner of kindness I have done him
this last year, nor did expect any thing. It was therefore very welcome
to me, but yet I was not fully satisfied in my taking it, because of my
submitting myself to the having it objected against me hereafter, and the
rather because this morning Jacke Fen come and shewed me an order from the
Commissioners of