home, and at the office late, and so home to supper and to bed,
our boy ill.

4th. By coach to White Hall to the Council-chamber; and there met with
Sir W. Coventry going in, who took me aside, and told me that he was
just come from delivering up his seal and papers to Mr. Wren; and told
me he must now take his leave of me as a naval man, but that he shall
always bear respect to his friends there, and particularly to myself,
with great kindness; which I returned to him with thanks, and so, with
much kindness parted: and he into, the Council. I met with Sir Samuel
Morland, who chewed me two orders upon the Exchequer, one of L600, and
another of L400, for money assigned to him, which he would have me lend
him money upon, and he would allow 12 per cent. I would not meddle with
them, though they are very good; and would, had I not so much money out
already on public credit. But I see by this his condition all trade will
be bad. I staid and heard Alderman Barker's case of his being abused by
the Council of Ireland, touching his lands there: all I observed there
is the silliness of the King, playing with his dog all the while, and
not minding the business,

[Lord Rochester wrote

"His very dog at council board
Sits grave and wise as any lord."

Poems, 1697; p. 150.--The king's dogs were constantly stolen from
him, and he advertised for their return. Some of these amusing
advertisements are printed in "Notes and Queries" (seventh series,
vol. vii., p. 26).]

and what he said was mighty weak; but my Lord Keeper I observe to be a
mighty able man. The business broke off without any end to it, and so
I home, and thence with my wife and W. Hewer to Bartholomew fayre, and
there Polichinelli, where we saw Mrs. Clerke and all her crew; and so
to a private house, and sent for a side of pig, and eat it at an
acquaintance of W. Hewer's, where there was some learned physic and
chymical books, and among others, a natural "Herball" very fine. Here
we staid not, but to the Duke of York's play house, and there saw
"Mustapha," which, the more I see, the more I like; and is a most
admirable poem, and bravely acted; only both Betterton and Harris could
not contain from laughing in the midst of a most serious part from the
ridiculous mistake of one of the men upon the stage; which I did not
like. Thence home, where Batelier and his sister Mary come to us and sat
and talked, an