fternoon, and the
Duke of York run presently to the King, as if now they were really set to
mind their business, which God grant! So I thence to Westminster, and
walked in the Hall and up and down, the House being called over to-day,
and little news, but some talk as if the agreement between France and
Spain were like to be, which would be bad for us, and at noon with Sir
Herbert Price to Mr. George Montagu's to dinner, being invited by him in
the hall, and there mightily made of, even to great trouble to me to be so
commended before my face, with that flattery and importunity, that I was
quite troubled with it. Yet he is a fine gentleman, truly, and his lady a
fine woman; and, among many sons that I saw there, there was a little
daughter that is mighty pretty, of which he is infinite fond: and, after
dinner, did make her play on the gittar and sing, which she did mighty
prettily, and seems to have a mighty musical soul, keeping time with most
excellent spirit. Here I met with Mr. Brownlow, my old schoolfellow, who
come thither, I suppose, as a suitor to one of the young ladies that were
there, and a sober man he seems to be. But here Mr. Montagu did tell me
how Mr. Vaughan, in that very room, did say that I was a great man, and
had great understanding, and I know not what, which, I confess, I was a
little proud of, if I may believe him. Here I do hear, as a great secret,
that the King, and Duke of York and Duchesse, and my Lady Castlemayne, are
now all agreed in a strict league, and all things like to go very current,
and that it is not impossible to have my Lord Clarendon, in time, here
again. But I do hear that my Lady Castlemayne is horribly vexed at the
late libell,

["The Poor Whores' Petition to the most splendid, illustrious,
serene and eminent Lady of Pleasure the Countess of Castlemayne,
&c., signed by us, Madam Cresswell and Damaris Page, this present
25th day of March, 1668." This sham petition occasioned a pretended
answer, entitled, "The Gracious Answer of the Most Illustrious Lady
of Pleasure, the Countess of Castlem . . . . to the Poor Whores'
Petition." It is signed, "Given at our Closset, in King Street,
Westminster, die Veneris, April 24, 1668. Castlem . . . ."
Compare Evelyn, April 2nd, 1668.]

the petition of the poor whores about the town, whose houses were pulled
down the other day. I have got one of them, but it is not very witty, but