Diary, May/Jun 1663 | Page 8

and it may be for that
among others. Thence to my brother's, and there took up my wife and
Ashwell to the Theatre Royall, being the second day of its being
opened. The house is made with extraordinary good contrivance, and
yet hath some faults, as the narrowness of the passages in and out of the
Pitt, and the distance from the stage to the boxes, which I am confident
cannot hear; but for all other things it is well, only, above all, the
musique being below, and most of it sounding under the very stage,
there is no hearing of the bases at all, nor very well of the trebles,
which sure must be mended. The play was "The Humerous
Lieutenant," a play that hath little good in it, nor much in the very part
which, by the King's command, Lacy now acts instead of Clun. In the
dance, the tall devil's actions was very pretty. The play being done, we
home by water, having been a little shamed that my wife and woman
were in such a pickle, all the ladies being finer and better dressed in the

pitt than they used, I think, to be. To my office to set down this day's
passage, and, though my oath against going to plays do not oblige me
against this house, because it was not then in being, yet believing that
at the time my meaning was against all publique houses, I am resolved
to deny myself the liberty of two plays at Court, which are in arreare to
me for the months of March and April, which will more than
countervail this excess, so that this month of May is the first that I must
claim a liberty of going to a Court play according to my oath. So home
to supper, and at supper comes Pembleton, and afterwards we all up to
dancing till late, and so broke up and to bed, and they say that I am like
to make a dancer.
9th. Up betimes and to my office, whither sooner than ordinary comes
Mr. Hater desiring to speak a word to me alone, which I was from the
disorder of his countenance amused at, and so the poor man began
telling me that by Providence being the last Lord's day at a meeting of
some Friends upon doing of their duties, they were surprised, and he
carried to the Counter, but afterwards released; however, hearing that
Sir W. Batten do hear of [it,] he thought it good to give me an account
of it, lest it might tend to any prejudice to me. I was extraordinary
surprised with it, and troubled for him, knowing that now it is out it is
impossible for me to conceal it, or keep him in employment under me
without danger to myself. I cast about all I could, and did give him the
best advice I could, desiring to know if I should promise that he would
not for the time to come commit the same, he told me he desired that I
would rather forbear to promise that, for he durst not do it, whatever
God in His providence shall do with him, and that for my part he did
bless God and thank me for all the love and kindness I have shewed
him hitherto. I could not without tears in my eyes discourse with him
further, but at last did pitch upon telling the truth of the whole to Mr.
Coventry as soon as I could, and to that end did use means to prevent
Sir W. Batten (who came to town last night) from going to that end
to-day, lest he might doe it to Sir G. Carteret or Mr. Coventry before
me; which I did prevail and kept him at the office all the morning. At
noon dined at home with a heavy heart for the poor man, and after
dinner went out to my brother's, and thence to Westminster, where at
Mr. Jervas's, my old barber, I did try two or three borders and
perriwiggs, meaning to wear one; and yet I have no stomach [for it,] but

that the pains of keeping my hair clean is so great. He trimmed me, and
at last I parted, but my mind was almost altered from my first purpose,
from the trouble that I foresee will be in wearing them also. Thence by
water home and to the office, where busy late, and so home to supper
and bed, with my mind much troubled about T. Hater.

10th (Lord's day). Up betimes, and put on a black cloth suit, with white
lynings under all, as the fashion is to wear, to appear under the breeches.
So being ready walked to St. James's, where I sat talking