April 2nd To St James’s Park, where I saw the Duke of York playing at Pelemele, the first time that ever I saw the sport Then to the Dolphin to Sir W Batten, and Pen, and other company, among others Mr Delabar, where strange how these men, who at other times are all wise men, do now, in their drink, betwitt and reproach one another with their former conditions, and their actions as in public concerns, till I was ashamed to see it.

3rd I hear that the Dutch have sent the King a great present of money, which we think will stop the match with Portugal, and judge this to be the reason that our so great haste in sending the two ships to the East Indys is also stayed.

7th To White Hall, and there I met with Dr Fuller²¹ of Twickenham, newly come from Ireland, and took him to my Lord’s, where he and I dined, and he did give my Lord and me a good account of the condition of Ireland and how it come to pass, through the joyning of the Fanatiques and the Presbyterians, that the latter and the former are in their declaration put together under the names of Fanatiques.

9th At the sale of old stores at Chatham, and among other things sold there was all the State’s armes, which Sir W Batten bought, intending to set up some of the images in his garden, and the rest to burn on the Coronacion night.

10th Then to Rochester, and there saw the Cathedrall, which is now fitting for use, and the organ then a-tuning Then away thence, observing the great doors of the church, as they say covered with the skins of the Danes.

13th Met my Lord with the Duke, and after a little talk with him, I went to the Banquet-house, and there saw the King heale, the first time that ever I saw him do it, which he did with great gravity, and it seemed to me to be an ugly office and a simple one.

20th Comes my boy to tell me that the Duke of York had sent for all the principall officers, &c, to come to him today So I went by water to Mr Coventry’s, and there staid and talked a good while with him till all the rest come We went up and saw the Duke dress himself, and in his night habitt he is a very plain man Then he sent us to his closett, where we saw among other things two very fine chests, covered with gold and Indian varnish, given him by the East Indy Company of Holland The Duke comes, and after he had told us that the fleet was designed for Algier (which was kept from us till now,) we did advise about many things as to the fitting of the fleet, and so went away to White Hall, and in the Banqueting- house saw the King create my Lord Chancellor and several others, Earles, and Mr Crewe and several others, Barons the first being led up by Heralds and five old Earles to the King, and there the patent is read, and the King puts on his vest, and sword, and coronett, and gives him the patent And then he kisseth the King’s hand, and rises and stands covered before the King And the same for each Baron, only he is led up by three of the old Barons And they are girt with swords before they go to the King To the Cockpitt, and there, by the favour of one Mr Bowman, he and I got in, and there saw the King and Duke of York and his Duchesse (which is a plain woman, and like her mother, my Lady Chancellor) And so saw The Humersome Lieutenant²² acted before the King, but not very well done But my pleasure was great to see the manner of it, and so many great beauties, but above all Mrs Palmer, with whom the King do discover a great deal of familiarity!

21st Dined with Doctor Thos Pepys²³ and Dr Fayrebrother, and all our talk about to-morrow’s showe, and our trouble that it is like to be a wet day All the way is so thronged with people to see the triumphall arches that I could hardly pass for them.

22nd The King’s going from the Tower to White Hall Up early and made myself as fine as I could, and put on my velvet coat, the first day that I put it on, though made half a year ago And being ready, Sir W Batten, my Lady, and his two daughters and his son and wife, and Sir W Pen and his son and I, went to Mr Young’s, the flagmaker, in Cornehill, and there we had a good room to ourselves, with wine and good cake, and saw the show very well In which it is impossible to relate the glory of this day, expressed in the clothes of them that rid, and their horses and horses-clothes Among others, my Lord Sandwich’s