22nd This morning, hearing that the Queene grows worse again, I sent to stop the making of my velvet cloak, till I see whether she lives or dies.

23rd The Queene slept pretty well last night, but her fever continues upon her still It seems she hath never a Portuguese doctor here.

24th The Queene is in a good way of recovery, and Sir Francis Pridgeon⁸² hath got great honour by it, it being all imputed to his cordiall, which in her dispaire did give her rest, and brought her to some hopes of recovery It seems that, after much talk of troubles and a plot, something is found in the North that a party was to rise, and some persons that were to command it as I find in a letter that Mr Coventry read to-day about it from those parts.

26th Dr Pierce tells me that the Queene is in a way to be pretty well again, but that her delirium in her head continues still, that she talks idle not by fits, but always, which in some lasts a week after so high a fever, in some more, and in some for ever, that this morning she talked mightily that she was brought to bed, and that she wondered that she should be delivered without pain and without being sick, and that she was troubled that her boy was but an ugly boy But the King being by, said ‘No, it is a very pretty boy’ -- ‘Nay’ says she, ‘if it be like you it is a fine boy indeed, and I would be very well pleased with it’ They say that the Turkes go on apace, and that my Lord Castlehaven⁸³ is going to raise 10,000 men here for to go against him, that the King of France do offer to assist the Empire upon condition that he may be their Generalissimo, and the Dolphin chosen King of the Romans and it is said that the King of France do occasion this difference among the Christian Princes of the Empire, which gives the Turke such advantages They say also that the King of Spayne is making all imaginable force against Portugall again.

27th Mr Coventry tells me to-day that the Queene had a very good night last night, but yet it is strange that still she raves and talks of little more than of her having of children, and fancys now that she hath three children, and that the girle is very like the King And this morning about five o’clock, the physician feeling her pulse, thinking to be better able to Judge, she being still and asleep, waked her, and the first word she said was, ‘How do the children?’

29th To Guild Hall, and meeting with Mr Proby, (Sir R Ford’s son) and Lieutenant-Colonel Baron, a City commander, we went up and down to see the tables, where under every salt there was a bill of fare, and at the end of the table the persons proper for the table Many were the tables, but none in the Hall but the Mayor’s and the Lords of the Privy Council that had napkins or knives which was very strange We went into the Buttry, and there stayed and talked, and then into the Hall again and there wine was offered and they drunk, I only drinking some hypocras, which do not break my vowe, it being, to the best of my present judgement, only a mixed compound drink, and not any wine If I am mistaken, God forgive me but I hope and do think I am not By and by met with Creed, and we, with the others, went within the several Courts, and there saw the tables prepared for the Ladies and Judges and Bishops all great sign of a great dinner to come By and by about one o’clock, before the Lord Mayor come, come into the Hall, from the room where they were first led into, the Lord Chancellor (Archbishop before him,) with the Lords of the Council, and other Bishopps, and they to dinner Anon comes the Lord Mayor, who went up to the lords, and then to the other tables to bid wellcome, and so all to dinner I set near Proby, Baron, and Creed at the Merchant Strangers’ table, where ten good dishes to a messe, with plenty of wine of all sorts, of which I drunk none, but it was very unpleasing that we had no napkins nor change of trenchers, and drunk out of earthen pitchers and wooden dishes It happened that after the lords had half dined, come the French Embassador up to the lords’ table, where he was to have sat, he would not sit down nor dine with the Lord Mayor, who was not yet come, nor have a table to himself, which was offered, but in a discontent went away again After I had dined, I and Creed rose and went up and down the house, and up to the ladys’ room, and there stayed gazing upon them But though there were many and fine, both young and old, yet I could not discern one handsome face there, which was very strange I expected musique, but there was none but only trumpets and drums, which displeased me The dinner, it seems, is made by the Mayor and two Sheriffs for the time being, the Lord Mayor paying one half, and