Diary, August 1668 | Page 8

I believe: for the world is labouring to eclipse him, I doubt; I
mean, the factious part of the Parliament. The Office met this afternoon
as usual, and waited on him; where, among other things, he talked a
great while of his intentions of going to Dover soon, to be sworn as
Lord Warden, which is a matter of great ceremony and state, and so to
the Temple with Mr. Wren, to the Attorney's chamber, about business,
but he abroad, and so I home, and there spent the evening talking with
my wife and piping, and pleased with our chimney-piece, and so to
bed.

15th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy, and after dinner
with my wife, Mercer, and Deb., to the King's playhouse, and there saw
"Love's Mistresse" revived, the thing pretty good, but full of variety of
divertisement. So home and to my business at the office, my eyes bad
again, and so to bed.

16th (Lord's day). All the morning at my Office with W. Hewer, there
drawing up my Report to the Duke of York, as I have promised, about
the faults of this Office, hoping thereby to have opportunity of doing
myself [something]. At noon to dinner, and again with him to work all
the afternoon till night, till I was weary and had despatched a good deal
of business, and so to bed after hearing my wife read a little.

17th. Up, and by water to White Hall, and so to St. James's, and thence
with Mr. Wren by appointment in his coach to Hampstead, to speak
with the Atturney-general, whom we met in the fields, by his old route
and house; and after a little talk about our business of Ackeworth, went
and saw the Lord Wotton's house and garden, which is wonderfull fine:
too good for the house the gardens are, being, indeed, the most noble
that ever I saw, and brave orange and lemon trees. Thence to Mr.
Chichley's by invitation, and there dined with Sir John, his father not
coming home. And while at dinner comes by the French Embassador
Colbert's mules, the first I eversaw, with their sumpter-clothes mighty
rich, and his coaches, he being to have his entry to-day: but his things,

though rich, are not new; supposed to be the same his brother
[A mistake of Pepys's. Colbert de Croissy, then in England, had himself
been the French Plenipotentiary at Aix-la-Chapelle.--B.]
had the other day, at the treaty at Aix-la-Chapelle, in Flanders. Thence
to the Duke of York's house, and there saw "Cupid's Revenge," under
the new name of "Love Despised," that hath something very good in it,
though I like not the whole body of it. This day the first time acted here.
Thence home, and there with Mr. Hater and W. Hewer late, reading
over all the principal officers' instructions in order to my great work
upon my hand, and so to bed, my eyes very ill.

18th. Up, and to my office about my great business betimes, and so to
the office, where all the morning. At noon dined, and then to the office
all the afternoon also, and in the evening to Sir W. Coventry's, but he
not within, I took coach alone to the Park, to try to meet him there, but
did not; but there were few coaches, but among the few there were in
two coaches our two great beauties, my Lady Castlemayne and
Richmond; the first time I saw the latter since she had the smallpox. I
had much pleasure to see them, but I thought they were strange one to
another. Thence going out I met a coach going, which I thought had
Knepp in it, so I went back, but it was not she. So back to White Hall
and there took water, and so home, and busy late about my great letter
to the Duke of York, and so to supper and to bed . . . .

19th. Up betimes, and all day and afternoon without going out, busy
upon my great letter to the Duke of York, which goes on to my content.
W. Hewer and Gibson I employ with me in it. This week my people
wash, over the water, and so I little company at home. In the evening,
being busy above, a great cry I hear, and go down; and what should it
be but Jane, in a fit of direct raving, which lasted half-an-hour. Beyond
four or five of our strength to keep her down; and, when all come to all,
a fit of jealousy about Tom, with whom she is in love. So at night, I,
and my wife, and W. Hewer called them to us, and there I did examine