so home with my mind out of order, though not
very sad with it, but ashamed for myself something, and for the honour
of the office much more. So home and to bed.

22d (Lord's day). Lay long in bed and went not out all day; but after
dinner to Sir W. Batten's and Sir W. Pen's, where discoursing much of
yesterday's trouble and scandal; but that which troubled me most was
Sir J. Minnes coming from Court at night, and instead of bringing great
comfort from thence (but I expected no better from him), he tells me
that the Duke and Mr. Coventry make no great matter of it. So at night
discontented to prayers, and to bed.

23d. Up by times; and not daring to go by land, did (Griffin going along
with me for fear), slip to White Hall by water; where to Mr. Coventry,
and, as we used to do, to the Duke; the other of my fellows being come.
But we said nothing of our business, the Duke being sent for to the
King, that he could not stay to speak with us. This morning came my Lord
Windsor to kiss the Duke's hand, being returned from Jamaica. He tells
the Duke, that from such a degree of latitude going thither he begun to
be sick, and was never well till his coming so far back again, and then
presently begun to be well. He told the Duke of their taking the fort of
St. Jago, upon Cuba, by his men; but, upon the whole, I believe that he
did matters like a young lord, and was weary of being upon service out
of his own country, where he might have pleasure. For methought it was a
shame to see him this very afternoon, being the first day of his coming
to town, to be at a playhouse. Thence to my Lord Sandwich, who though he
has been abroad again two or three days is falling ill again, and is let
blood this morning, though I hope it is only a great cold that he has
got. It was a great trouble to me (and I had great apprehensions of
it) that my Lord desired me to go to Westminster Hall, to the
Parliament-house door, about business; and to Sir Wm. Wheeler, which I
told him I would do, but durst not go for fear of being taken by these
rogues; but was forced to go to White Hall and take boat, and so land
below the Tower at the Iron-gate; and so the back way over Little Tower
Hill; and with my cloak over my face, took one of the watermen along
with me, and staid behind a wall in the New-buildings behind our garden,
while he went to see whether any body stood within the Merchants' Gate,
under which we pass to go into our garden, and there standing b