Diary, Aug/Sep 1664 | Page 5

and again, too, that he confesses himself my
debtor too for my service and friendship to him in his present great
contract of masts, and that between this and Christmas he shall be in
stocke and will pay it me. This I like well, but do not desire to become
a merchant, and, therefore, put it off, but desired time to think of it.
Thence to the King's play-house, and there saw "Bartholomew Fayre,"
which do still please me; and is, as it is acted, the best comedy in the
world, I believe. I chanced to sit by Tom Killigrew, who tells me that
he is setting up a Nursery; that is, is going to build a house in

Moorefields, wherein he will have common plays acted. But four
operas it shall have in the year, to act six weeks at a time; where we
shall have the best scenes and machines, the best musique, and every
thing as magnificent as is in Christendome; and to that end hath sent for
voices and painters and other persons from Italy. Thence homeward
called upon my Lord Marlborough, and so home and to my office, and
then to Sir W. Pen, and with him and our fellow officers and servants
of the house and none else to Church to lay his brother in the ground,
wherein nothing handsome at all, but that he lays him under the
Communion table in the chancel, about nine at night? So home and to
bed.

3rd. Up betimes and set some joyners on work to new lay my floor in
our wardrobe, which I intend to make a room for musique. Thence
abroad to Westminster, among other things to Mr. Blagrave's, and there
had his consent for his kinswoman to come to be with my wife for her
woman, at which I am well pleased and hope she may do well. Thence
to White Hall to meet with Sir G. Carteret about hiring some ground to
make our mast docke at Deptford, but being Council morning failed,
but met with Mr. Coventry, and he and I discoursed of the likeliness of
a Dutch warr, which I think is very likely now, for the Dutch do
prepare a fleet to oppose us at Guinny, and he do think we shall, though
neither of us have a mind to it, fall into it of a sudden, and yet the
plague do increase among them, and is got into their fleet, and Opdam's
own ship, which makes it strange they should be so high. Thence to the
'Change, and thence home to dinner, and down by water to Woolwich
to the rope yard, and there visited Mrs. Falconer, who tells me odd
stories of how Sir W. Pen was rewarded by her husband with a gold
watch (but seems not certain of what Sir W. Batten told me, of his
daughter having a life given her in L80 per ann.) for his helping him to
his place, and yet cost him L150 to Mr. Coventry besides. He did much
advise it seems Mr. Falconer not to marry again, expressing that he
would have him make his daughter his heire, or words to that purpose,
and that that makes him, she thinks, so cold in giving her any
satisfaction, and that W. Boddam hath publickly said, since he came
down thither to be clerke of the ropeyard, that it hath this week cost
him L100, and would be glad that it would cost him but half as much

more for the place, and that he was better before than now, and that if
he had been to have bought it, he would not have given so much for it.
Now I am sure that Mr. Coventry hath again and again said that he
would take nothing, but would give all his part in it freely to him, that
so the widow might have something. What the meaning of this is I
know not, but that Sir W. Pen do get something by it. Thence to the
Dockeyard, and there saw the new ship in great forwardness. So home
and to supper, and then to the office, where late, Mr. Bland and I
talking about Tangier business, and so home to bed.

4th. Up betimes and to the office, fitting myself against a great dispute
about the East India Company, which spent afterwards with us all the
morning. At noon dined with Sir W. Pen, a piece of beef only, and I
counterfeited a friendship and mirth which I cannot have with him, yet
out with him by his coach, and he did carry me to a play and pay for me
at the King's house, which is "The Rivall Ladys," a very innocent and
most pretty witty play. I was