in Callis safe. This afternoon I went to Westminster. and there hear that the King and Queene intend to come to White Hall from Hampton Court next week, for all winter. Thence to Mrs Sarah,³⁶ and there looked over my Lord’s lodgings, which are very pretty; and White Hall garden and the Bowling-ally (where lords and ladies are now at bowles), in brave condition. Mrs Sarah told me how the falling out between my Lady Castlemaine and her Lord was about christening of the child lately, which he would have, and had done by a priest: and some days after, she had it again christened by a minister; the King, and Lord of Oxford,³⁷ and Duchesse of Suffolk³⁸ being witnesses: and christened with a proviso, that it had not already been christened. Since that she left her Lord, carrying away every thing in the house; so much as every dish, and cloth, and servant but the porter. He is gone discontented into France, they say, to enter a monastery; and now she is coming back again to her house in King-streete. But I hear that the Queene did prick her out of the list presented her by the King; desiring that she might have that favour done her, or that he would send her from whence she come: and that the King was angry and the Queene discontented a whole day and night upon it; but that the King hath promised to have nothing to do with her hereafter. But I cannot believe that the King can fling her off so, he loving her too well: and so I writ this night to my Lady to be my opinion; she calling her my lady, and the lady I admire. Here I find that my Lord hath lost the garden to his lodgings, and that it is turning into a tennis-court.

27th. I to walk in the Parke, which is now every day more and more pleasant, by the new works upon it.

28th. Walked to the water-side, and there took boat for the Tower; hearing that the Queene-Mother is come this morning already as high as Woolwich: and that my Lord Sandwich was with her; at which my heart was glad.

30th. By water to White Hall, and there waited upon my Lord Sandwich; and joyed him, at his lodgings, of his safe coming home after all his danger, which he confesses to be very great. And his people do tell me how bravely my Lord did carry himself, while my Lord Crofts³⁹ did cry; and I perceive all the town talk how poorly he carried himself. But the best was one of Mr Rawlins, a courtier, that was with my Lord; and in the greatest danger cried, ‘My Lord I won’t give you three-pence for your place now.’ But all ends in the honour of the pleasure-boats; which, had they not been very good boats, they could never have endured the sea as they did.

31st. At noon Mr Coventry and I by his coach to the Exchange together, and in Lumbard-streete met Captn. Browne of the Rosebush: at which he was cruel angry; and did threaten to go today to the Duke at Hampton Court, and get him turned out because he was not sailed.

August 3rd. This day Commissioner Pett told me how despicable a thing it is to be a hangman in Poland, although it be a place of credit. And that, in his time, there was some repairs to be made of the gallows there, which was very fine of stone; but nobody could be got to mend it till the Burgo-master, or Mayor of the towne, with all the companies of those trades which were necessary to be used about those repairs, did go in their habits with flags, in solemn procession to the place, and there the Burgo-master did give the first blow with the hammer upon the wooden work; and the rest of the Masters of the Companys upon the works belonging to their trades; that so workmen might not be ashamed to be employed upon doing of the gallows works.

6th. By water to White Hall; and so to St James’s; but there found Mr Coventry gone to Hampton Court. So to my Lord’s; and he is also gone: this being a great day at the Council about some business before the King. Here Mr Pierce, the chyrurgeon, told me how Mr Edward Montagu hath lately had a duell with Mr Cholmely, that is first gentleman-usher to the Queene, and was a messenger to her from the King of Portugall, and is a fine gentleman; but had received many affronts from Mr Montagu, and some unkindness from my Lord, upon his score, (for which I am sorry). He proved too hard for Montagu, and drove him so far backward that he fell into a ditch, and dropt his sword, but with honour would take no advantage over him; but did give him his life: and the world says Mr Montagu did carry himself very poorly in the business, and hath lost his honour for ever with all people in it. This afternoon Mr Waith was with