Diary, Apr/May 1668 | Page 8

of dew hanging on the leaves, so as I
was forced, again and again, to put my finger to it, to feel whether my
eyes were deceived or no. He do ask L70 for it: I had the vanity to bid
him L20; but a better picture I never saw in my whole life; and it is
worth going twenty miles to see it. Thence, leaving Balty there, I took
my wife to St. James's, and there carried her to the Queen's Chapel, the
first time I ever did it; and heard excellent musick, but not so good as
by accident I did hear there yesterday, as I went through the Park from
White Hall to see Sir W. Coventry, which I have forgot to set down in
my journal yesterday. And going out of the Chapel, I did see the Prince

of Tuscany' come out, a comely, black, fat man, in a mourning suit; and
my wife and I did see him this afternoon through a window in this
Chapel. All that Sir W. Coventry yesterday did tell me new was, that
the King would not yet give him leave to come to kiss his hand; and he
do believe that he will not in a great while do it, till those about him
shall see fit, which I am sorry for. Thence to the Park, my wife and I;
and here Sir W. Coventry did first see me and my wife in a coach of
our own; and so did also this night the Duke of York, who did eye my
wife mightily. But I begin to doubt that my being so much seen in my
own coach at this time, may be observed to my prejudice; but I must
venture it now. So home, and by night home, and so to my office, and
there set down my journal, with the help of my left eye through my
tube, for fourteen days' past; which is so much, as, I hope, I shall not
run in arrear again, but the badness of my eyes do force me to it. So
home to supper and to bed.

12th. Up, and by water to White Hall, where I of the whole Office
attended the Duke of York at his meeting with Sir Thomas Allen and
several flag-officers, to consider of the manner of managing the war
with Algiers; and, it being a thing I was wholly silent in, I did only
observe; and find that; their manner of discourse on this weighty affair
was very mean and disorderly, the Duke of York himself being the man
that I thought spoke most to the purpose. Having done here, I up and
down the house, talking with this man and that, and: then meeting Mr.
Sheres, took him to see the fine flower-pot I saw yesterday, and did
again offer L20 for it; but he [Verelst] insists upon L50. Thence I took
him to St. James's, but there was no musique, but so walked to White
Hall, and, by and by to my wife at Unthanke's, and with her was Jane,
and so to the Cocke, where they, and I, and Sheres, and Tom dined, my
wife having a great desire to eat of their soup made of pease, and dined
very well, and thence by water to the Bear-Garden, and there happened
to sit by Sir Fretcheville Hollis, who is still full of his vain-glorious and
prophane talk. Here we saw a prize fought between a soldier and
country fellow, one Warrell, who promised the least in his looks, and
performed the most of valour in his boldness and evenness of mind,
and smiles in all he did, that ever I saw and we were all both deceived
and infinitely taken with him. He did soundly beat the soldier, and cut

him over the head. Thence back to White Hall, mightily pleased, all of
us, with this sight, and particularly this fellow, as a most extraordinary
man for his temper and evenness in fighting. And there leaving Sheres,
we by our own coach home, and after sitting an hour, thrumming upon
my viall, and singing, I to bed, and left my wife to do something to a
waistcoat and petticoat she is to wear to-morrow. This evening, coming
home, we overtook Alderman Backewell's coach and his lady, and
followed them to their house, and there made them the first visit, where
they received us with extraordinary civility, and owning the obligation.
But I do, contrary to my expectation, find her something a proud and
vain-glorious woman, in telling the number of her servants and family
and expences: he is also so, but he was ever of that strain. But here he
showed me the model of his houses that he is going