27th At the Coffee-house, where I sat with Sir G Ascue⁵ and Sir William Petty, who in discourse is, methinks, one of the most rational men that ever I heard speak with a tongue, having all his notions the most distinct and clear To Covent Garden, to buy a maske at the French House, Madam Charett’s, for my wife, in the way observing the street full of coaches at the new play, at The Indian Queene,⁶ which for show, they say, exceeds Henry the Eighth Called to see my brother Tom, who was not at home, though they say he is in a deep consumption, and will not live two months.

30th This evening I tore some old papers, among others, a romance which (under the title of Love a Cheate) I begun ten years ago at Cambridge and reading it over to-night, I liked it very well, and wondered a little at myself at my vein at that time when I wrote it, doubting that I cannot do so well now if I would try.

February 1st I hear how two men last night justling for the wall about the new Exchange, did kill one another, each thrusting the other through, one of them of the King’s Chapel, one Cave, and the other a retayner of my Lord Generall Middleton’s Thence to White Hall, where, in the Duke’s chamber, the King come and stayed an hour or two laughing at Sir W Petty, who was there about his boat, and at Gresham College in general at which poor Petty was, I perceive, at some loss, but did argue discreetly, and bear the unreasonable follies of the King’s objections and other bystanders with great discretion, and offered to take oddes against the King’s best boates but the King would not lay, but cried him down with words only Gresham College he mightily laughed at, for spending time only in weighing of ayre, and doing nothing else since they sat Mr Pierce tells me how the King, coming the other day to his Theatre to see The Indian Queene, (which he commends for a very fine thing,) my Lady Castlemaine was in the next box before he come, and leaning over other ladies awhile to whisper with the King, she rose out of the box and went into the King’s, and set herself on the King’s right hand, between the King and the Duke of York which, he swears, put the King himself, as well as every body else, out of countenance, and believes that she did it only to show the world that she is not out of favour yet, as was believed To the King’s Theatre, and there saw The Indian Queen acted, which indeed is a most pleasant show, and beyond my expectation, the play good, but spoiled with the ryme, which breaks the sense But above my expectation most, the eldest Marshall⁷ did do her part most excellently well as I ever heard woman in my life but her voice is not so sweet as Ianthe’s⁸ but however we come home mightily contented Here we met Mr Pickering, and he tells me that the business runs high between the Chancellor and my Lord Bristoll against the Parliament, and that my Lord Lauderdale and Cooper open high against the Chancellor, which I am sorry for.

3rd In Covent Garden to-night, going to fetch my wife, I stopped at the great Coffee-house there, where I never was before where Dryden the poet (I knew at Cambridge), and all the wits of the town, and Harris the player, and Mr Hoole of our College And had I had time then or could at other times it will be good coming thither for there, I perceive, is very witty and pleasant discourse But I could not tarry, and as it was late, they were all ready to go away.

4th To St Paul’s School, and up to hear the upper form examined, and there was kept by very many of the Meroers, Clutterbucke,⁹ Barker, Harrington, and others, and with great respect used by them all, and had a noble dinner Here they tell me that in Dr Colett’s¹⁰ will he says that he would have a Master found for the School that hath good skill in Latin, and (if it could be) one that had some knowledge of the Greeke, so little was Greeke known here at that time Dr Wilkins¹¹ and one Mr Smallwood, Posers.

8th Mr Pierce told me how the King still do doat upon his women, even beyond all shame and that the good Queene will of herself stop before she goes sometimes into her dressing-room, till she knows whether the King be there, for fear he should be, as she hath sometimes taken him with Mrs Stewart, and that some of the best parts of the Queene’s joynture are, contrary to faith, and against the opinion of my Lord Treasurer and his Council bestowed or rented, I know not how, to my Lord Fitzhardinge and Mrs Stewart, and others of that crew, that the King do doat infinitely upon the Duke of Monmouth, apparently as one that he intends to have succeed him God knows what will be the end of it!