nd with great pleasure to bed.

31st. Lay pretty long in bed, and then I up and to Westminster Hall, and
so to the Swan, sending for Mr. W. Bowyer, and there drank my morning
draft, and had some of his simple discourse. Among other things he tells
me how the difference comes between his fair cozen Butler and Collonell
Dillon, upon his opening letters of her brother's from Ireland,
complaining of his knavery, and forging others to the contrary; and so
they are long ago quite broke off. Thence to a barber's and so to my
wife, and at noon took her to Mrs. Pierces by invitacion to dinner,
where there came Dr. Clerke and his wife and sister and Mr. Knight,
chief chyrurgeon to the King and his wife. We were pretty merry, the two
men being excellent company, but I confess I am wedded from the opinion
either of Mrs. Pierces beauty upon discovery of her naked neck to-day,
being undrest when we came in, or of Mrs. Clerke's genius, which I so
much admired, I finding her to be so conceited and fantastique in her
dress this day and carriage, though the truth is, witty enough. After
dinner with much ado the doctor and I got away to follow our business
for a while, he to his patients and I to the Tangier Committee, where
the Duke of York was, and we staid at it a good while, and thence in
order to the despatch of the boats and provisions for Tangier away, Mr.
Povy, in his coach, carried Mr. Gauden and I into London to Mr. Bland's,
the merchant, where we staid discoursing upon the reason of the delay
of the going away of these things a great while. Then to eat a dish
of anchovies, and drink wine and syder, and very merry, but above all
things pleased to hear Mrs. Bland talk like a merchant in her husband's
business very well, and it seems she do understand it and perform
a great deal. Thence merry back, Mr. Povy and, I to White Hall; he
carrying me thither on purpose to carry me into the ball this night
before the King. All the way he talking very ingenuously, and I find
him a fine gentleman, and one that loves to live nobly and neatly, as I
perceive by his discourse of his house, pictures, and horses. He brought
me first to the Duke's chamber, where I saw him and the Duchess at
supper; and thence into the room where the ball was to be, crammed with
fine ladies, the greatest of the Court. By and by comes the King and
Queen, the Duke and Duchess, and all the great ones: and after seating
themselves, the King takes out the Duchess of York