ck, and carried my cozen Turner and sister Dyke to a friend's house,
where they were to sup, in Lincoln's Inn Fields; and I to the Duke of
York's house and saw the last two acts, and so carried The. thither, and
so home with my wife, who read to me late, and so to supper and to bed.
This day The. Turner shewed me at the play my Lady Portman, who has grown
out of my knowledge.

16th. Up, and to the office all the morning, dined at home with my
people, and so all the afternoon till night at the office busy, and so
home to supper and to bed. This morning Creed, and in the afternoon comes
Povy, to advise with me about my answer to the Lords [Commissioners] of
Tangier, about the propositions for the Treasurership there, which I am
not much concerned for. But the latter, talking of publick things, told
me, as Mr. Wren also did, that the Parliament is likely to meets again,
the King being frighted with what the Speaker hath put him in mind of--his
promise not to prorogue, but only to adjourne them. They speak mighty
freely of the folly of the King in this foolish woman's business, of my
Lady Harvy. Povy tells me that Sir W. Coventry was with the King alone,
an hour this day; and that my Lady Castlemayne is now in a higher command
over the King than ever--not as a mistress, for she scorns him, but as a
tyrant, to command him: and says that the Duchess of York and the Duke of
York are mighty great with her, which is a great interest to my Lord
Chancellor's' family; and that they do agree to hinder all they can the
proceedings of the Duke of Buckingham and Arlington: and so we are in the
old mad condition, or rather worse than any; no man knowing what the
French intend to do the next summer.

17th (Lord's day). To church myself after seeing every thing fitted for
dinner, and so, after church, home, and thither comes Mrs. Batelier and
her two daughters to dinner to us; and W. Hewer and his mother, and Mr.
Spong. We were very civilly merry, and Mrs. Batelier a very discreet
woman, but mighty fond in the stories she tells of her son Will. After
dinner, Mr. Spong and I to my closet, there to try my instrument
Parallelogram, which do mighty well, to my full content; but only a little
stiff, as being new. Thence, taking leave of my guests, he and I and W.
Hewer to White Hall, and there parting with Spong, a man that I mightily
love for his plainness and ingenuity, I into the Court, and there up and
down and spoke with my Lords