bserve. I left them providing for his stay there to-night and getting a
petition against tomorrow, and so away to Westminster Hall, and meeting
Mr. Coventry, he took me to his chamber, with Sir William Hickeman, a
member of their House, and a very civill gentleman. Here we dined very
plentifully, and thence to White Hall to the Duke's, where we all met,
and after some discourse of the condition of the Fleete, in order to a
Dutch warr, for that, I perceive, the Duke hath a mind it should
come to, we away to the office, where we sat, and I took care to rise
betimes, and so by water to Halfway House, talking all the way good
discourse with Mr. Wayth, and there found my wife, who was gone with her
mayd Besse to have a walk. But, Lord! how my jealous mind did make me
suspect that she might have some appointment to meet somebody. But I
found the poor souls coming away thence, so I took them back, and eat
and drank, and then home, and after at the office a while, I home to
supper and to bed. It was a sad sight, me thought, to-day to see my Lord
Peters coming out of the House fall out with his lady (from whom he is
parted) about this business; saying that she disgraced him. But she hath
been a handsome woman, and is, it seems, not only a lewd woman, but very
high-spirited.

5th. Up very betimes, and walked to my cozen Anthony Joyce's, and thence
with him to his brother Will, in Tuttle Street, where I find him pretty
cheery over [what] he was yesterday (like a coxcomb), his wife being
come to him, and having had his boy with him last night. Here I staid
an hour or two and wrote over a fresh petition, that which was drawn by
their solicitor not pleasing me, and thence to the Painted chamber, and
by and by away by coach to my Lord Peterborough's, and there delivered
the petition into his hand, which he promised most readily to deliver to
the House today. Thence back, and there spoke to several Lords, and
so did his solicitor (one that W. Joyce hath promised L5 to if he be
released). Lord Peterborough presented a petition to the House from
W. Joyce: and a great dispute, we hear, there was in the House for and
against it. At last it was carried that he should be bayled till the
House meets again after Easter, he giving bond for his appearance. This
was not so good as we hoped, but as good as we could well expect. Anon
comes the King and passed the Bill for repealing the Triennial Act, and
another about Writs of Errour. I crowded in a