27th We rode hard home, and set up our horses at Fox Hall, and I by water (observing the King’s barge attending his going to the House this day) home, it being about one o’clock By water to Westminster, and there come most luckily to the Lords’ House, as the House of Commons were going into the Lords’ House, and there I crowded in along with the Speaker, and got to stand close behind him, where he made his speech to the King (who sat with his crown on and robes, and so all the Lords in their robes, a fine sight), wherein he told his Majesty what they have done this Parliament, and now offered for his royall consent The greatest matters were a bill for the Lord’s day, (which it seems the Lords have lost, and so cannot be passed, at which the Commons are displeased) The bills against Conventicles and Papists (but it seems the Lords have not passed them), and giving his Majesty four entire subsidys, which last, with about twenty smaller Acts, were passed with this form the Clerk of the House reads the title of the bill, and then looks at the end and there finds (writ by the King I suppose) ‘Le Roy le veult,’ and that he reads And to others he reads, ‘Soit fait comme vous desirez’ And to the Subsidys, as well that for the Commons, I mean the layety, as for the Clergy, the King writes, ‘Le Roy remerciant les Seigneurs et Prelats et accepte leur benevolences’ The Speaker’s speech was far from any oratory, but was as plain (though good matter) as any thing could be, and void of elocution After the bills passed, the King, sitting on his throne, with his speech writ in a paper which he held in his lap, and scarce looked off of it all the time he made his speech to them, giving them thanks for their subsidys, of which, had he not need, he would not have asked or received them, and that need, not from any extravagancys of his, he was sure, in any thing, but the disorders of the times compelling him to be at greater charge than he hoped for the future, by their care in their country, he should be and that for his family expenses and others, he would labour however to retrench in many things convenient, and would have all others to do so too He desired that nothing of old faults should be remembered, or seventy for the same used to any in the country, it being his desire to have all forgot as well as forgiven But, however, to use all care in suppressing any tumults, &c, assuring them that the restless spirits of his and their adversaries have great expectations of something to be done this summer And promised that though the Acts about Conventicles and Papists, were not ripe for passing this Sessions yet he would take care himself that neither of them should in this intervall be encouraged to the endangering of the peace, and that at their next meeting he would himself prepare two bills for them concerning them So he concluded, that for the better proceeding of justice he did think fit to make this a Sessions, and to prorogue them to the 16th of March next His speech was very plain, nothing at all of spirit in it, nor spoke with any, but rather on the contrary imperfectly, repeating many times his words though he read all which I am sorry to see, it having not been hard for him to have got all the speech without booke So they all went away, the King out of the House at the upper end, he being by and by to go to Tunbridge to the Queene, and I in the Painted Chamber spoke with my Lord Sandwich while he was putting off his robes, who tells me he will now hasten down into the country By water to White Hall, and walked over the Parke to St James’s, but missed Mr Coventry, and so out again, and there the Duke was coming along the Pell-Mell It being a little darkish, I staid not to take notice of him, but went directly back again And in our walk over the Parke, one of the Duke’s footmen come running behind us, and come looking just in our faces to see who we were, and went back again What his meaning is I know not, but was fearful that I might not go far enough with my hat off.

29th To Deptford, reading by the way a most ridiculous play, a new one, called The Politician cheated⁶⁵

30th To Woolwich, and there come Sir G Carteret, and then by water back to Deptford, where we dined with him at his house I find his little daughter Betty,⁶⁶ that was in hanging sleeves but a month or two ago and is a very little young child, married, and to whom, but to young Scott,⁶⁷ son to Madam Catharine Scott,⁶⁸ that was so long in law, and at whose trial I was with her husband, he pleading that it was unlawfully got and would not own it, but it seems a little before his death he did owne the child, and hath left him his estate, not long since So Sir G Carteret hath struck up of a sudden a match with him for his little daughter He hath about £2000 per annum, and it seems Sir G C hath by this means over-reached Sir H Bennet, who did endeavour to get this gentleman for a sister of his By this means Sir G Carteret hath married two daughters this year both very well⁶⁹ The towne talk this day is of nothing but the great foot- race run this day on Banstead Downes, between Lee, the Duke of Richmond’s footman, and a tyler, a