hortly against [Sir] W. Batten. So
home, and there to sing with my wife before dinner, and then to dinner,
and after dinner comes Carcasse to speak with me, but I would not give
him way to enlarge on anything, but he would have begun to have made a
noise how I have undone him and used all the wit I could in the drawing
up of his report, wherein he told me I had taken a great deal of pains
to undo him. To which I did not think fit to enter into any answer, but
dismissed him, and so I again up to my chamber, vexed at the impudence
of this rogue, but I think I shall be wary enough for him: So to my
chamber, and there did some little business, and then abroad, and
stopped at the Bear-garden-stairs, there to see a prize fought. But the
house so full there was no getting in there, so forced to go through an
alehouse into the pit, where the bears are baited; and upon a stool did
see them fight, which they did very furiously, a butcher and a waterman.
The former had the better all along, till by and by the latter dropped
his sword out of his hand, and the butcher, whether not seeing his sword
dropped I know not, but did give him a cut over the wrist, so as he
was disabled to fight any longer. But, Lord! to see how in a minute
the whole stage was full of watermen to revenge the foul play, and the
butchers to defend their fellow, though most blamed him; and there they
all fell to it to knocking down and cutting many on each side. It was
pleasant to see, but that I stood in the pit, and feared that in the
tumult I might get some hurt. At last the rabble broke up, and so I away
to White Hall and so to St. James's, but I found not Sir W. Coventry, so
into the Park and took a turn or two, it being a most sweet day, and
so by water home, and with my father and wife walked in the garden, and
then anon to supper and to bed. The Duke of Cambridge very ill still.

28th. Up, and by coach to St. James's, where I find Sir W. Coventry, and
he desirous to have spoke with me. It was to read over a draught of a
letter which he hath made for his brother Commissioners and him to sign
to us, demanding an account of the whole business of the Navy accounts;
and I perceive, by the way he goes about it, that they will do admirable
things. He tells me they have chosen Sir G. Downing their Secretary, who
will be as fit a man as any in the world; and said, by the by, speaking
of the bankers being fearful of Sir G. Downing's being Secretary,
he being their