Diary, February 1666/67 | Page 7

"The Chances." A
good play I find it, and the actors most good in it; and pretty to hear
Knipp sing in the play very properly, "All night I weepe;" and sung it

admirably. The whole play pleases me well: and most of all, the sight
of many fine ladies--among others, my Lady Castlemayne and Mrs.
Middleton: the latter of the two hath also a very excellent face and body,
I think. Thence by coach to the New Exchange, and there laid out
money, and I did give Betty Michell two pair of gloves and a
dressing-box; and so home in the dark, over the ruins, with a link. I was
troubled with my pain, having got a bruise on my right testicle, I know
not how. But this I did make good use of to make my wife shift sides
with me, and I did come to sit 'avec' Betty Michell, and there had her
'main', which 'elle' did give me very frankly now, and did hazer
whatever I 'voudrais avec la', which did 'plaisir' me 'grandement', and
so set her at home with my mind mighty glad of what I have prevailed
for so far; and so home, and to the office, and did my business there,
and then home to supper, and after to set some things right in my
chamber, and so to bed. This morning, before I went to the office, there
come to me Mr. Young and Whistler, flaggmakers, and with mighty
earnestness did present me with, and press me to take a box, wherein I
could not guess there was less than L100 in gold: but I do wholly refuse
it, and did not at last take it. The truth is, not thinking them safe men to
receive such a gratuity from, nor knowing any considerable courtesy
that ever I did do them, but desirous to keep myself free from their
reports, and to have it in my power to say I had refused their offer.

6th. Up, lying a little long in bed, and by water to White Hall, and there
find the Duke of York gone out, he being in haste to go to the
Parliament, and so all my Brethren were gone to the office too. So I to
Sir Ph. Warwicke's about my Tangier business, and then to
Westminster Hall, and walked up and down, and hear that the Prince do
still rest well by day and night, and out of pain; so as great hopes are
conceived of him: though I did meet Dr. Clerke and Mr. Pierce, and
they do say they believe he will not recover it, they supposing that his
whole head within is eaten by this corruption, which appeared in this
piece of the inner table. Up to the Parliament door, and there discoursed
with Roger Pepys, who goes out of town this week, the Parliament
rising this week also. So down to the Hall and there spied Betty Michell,
and so I sent for burnt wine to Mrs. Michell's, and there did drink with
the two mothers, and by that means with Betty, poor girle, whom I love

with all my heart. And God forgive me, it did make me stay longer and
hover all the morning up and down the Hall to 'busquer occasions para
ambulare con elle. But ego ne pouvoir'. So home by water and to dinner,
and then to the office, where we sat upon Denis Gawden's accounts,
and before night I rose and by water to White Hall, to attend the
Council; but they sat not to-day. So to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and
find him within, and with a letter from the Downes in his hands, telling
the loss of the St. Patricke coming from Harwich in her way to
Portsmouth; and would needs chase two ships (she having the Malago
fire-ship in company) which from English colours put up Dutch, and he
would clap on board the Vice-Admirall; and after long dispute the
Admirall comes on the other side of him, and both together took him.
Our fire-ship (Seely) not coming in to fire all three, but come away,
leaving her in their possession, and carried away by them: a ship built
at Bristoll the last year, of fifty guns and upwards, and a most excellent
good ship. This made him very melancholy. I to talk of our wants of
money, but I do find that he is not pleased with that discourse, but
grieves to hear it, and do seem to think that Sir G. Carteret do not mind
the getting of money with the same good cheer that he did heretofore,
nor do I think he hath the same reason. Thence to Westminster Hall,
thinking to see Betty Michell, she staying there all night, and