my Cosen Angier to
supper, where I caused two bottles of wine to be carried from the Rose
Tavern; that was drunk up, and I had not the wit to let them know at table
that it was I that paid for them, and so I lost my thanks for them. After
supper Mr. Fairbrother, who supped there with us, took me into a room by
himself, and shewed me a pitiful copy of verses upon Mr. Prinn which he
esteemed very good, and desired that I would get them given to Mr. Prinn,
in hopes that he would get him some place for it, which I said I would do,
but did laugh in my sleeve to think of his folly, though indeed a man that
has always expressed great civility to me. After that we sat down and
talked; I took leave of all my friends, and so to my Inn, where after I
had wrote a note and enclosed the certificate to Mr. Widdrington, I bade
good night to my father, and John went to bed, but I staid up a little
while, playing the fool with the lass of the house at the door of the
chamber, and so to bed.

27th. Up by four o'clock, and after I was ready, took my leave of my
father, whom I left in bed, and the same of my brother John, to whom I
gave 10s. Mr. Blayton and I took horse and straight to Saffron Walden,
where at the White Hart, we set up our horses, and took the master of the
house to shew us Audley End House, who took us on foot through the park,
and so to the house, where the housekeeper shewed us all the house, in
which the stateliness of the ceilings, chimney-pieces, and form of the
whole was exceedingly worth seeing. He took us into the cellar, where we
drank most admirable drink, a health to the King. Here I played on my
flageolette, there being an excellent echo. He shewed us excellent
pictures; two especially, those of the four Evangelists and Henry VIII.
After that I gave the man 2s. for his trouble, and went back again. In
our going, my landlord carried us through a very old hospital or
almshouse, where forty poor people was maintained; a very old foundation;
and over the chimney in the mantelpiece was an inscription in brass:
"Orate pre anima Thomae Bird," &c.; and the poor box also was on the same
chimney-piece, with an iron door and locks to it, into which I put 6d.
They brought me a draft of their drink in a brown bowl, tipt with silver,
which I drank off, and at the bottom was a picture of the Virgin and the
child in her arms, done in silver. So we went to our Inn, and after
eating of something, and kissed the daughter