Diary, May/Jun 1666 | Page 7

presently, that she would. So I left
my company and went with her to Bow, but was vexed and spoke not
one word to her all the way going nor coming, or being come home, but
went up straight to bed. Half an hour after (she in the coach leaning on
me as being desirous to be friends) she comes up mighty sicke with a
fit of the cholique and in mighty pain and calls for me out of the bed; I
rose and held her, she prays me to forgive her, and in mighty pain we
put her to bed, where the pain ceased by and by, and so had some
asparagus to our bed side for supper and very kindly afterward to
sleepe and good friends in the morning.

10th. So up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon home to
dinner and there busy all the afternoon till past six o'clock, and then
abroad with my wife by coach, who is now at great ease, her cheeke
being broke inward. We took with us Mrs. Turner, who was come to
visit my wife just as we were going out. A great deale of tittle tattle
discourse to little purpose, I finding her, though in other things a very
discreete woman, as very a gossip speaking of her neighbours as any
body. Going out towards Hackney by coach for the ayre, the silly
coachman carries us to Shoreditch, which was so pleasant a piece of
simplicity in him and us, that made us mighty merry. So back again late,
it being wondrous hot all the day and night and it lightning exceeding
all the way we went and came, but without thunder. Coming home we
called at a little ale-house, and had an eele pye, of which my wife eat
part and brought home the rest. So being come home we to supper and
to bed. This day come our new cook maid Mary, commended by Mrs.
Batters.

11th. Up betimes, and then away with Mr. Yeabsly to my Lord Ashly's,
whither by and by comes Sir H. Cholmly and Creed, and then to my
Lord, and there entered into examination of Mr. Yeabsly's accounts,
wherein as in all other things I find him one of the most distinct men
that ever I did see in my life. He raised many scruples which were to be
answered another day and so parted, giving me an alarme how to
provide myself against the day of my passing my accounts. Thence I to
Westminster to look after the striking of my tallys, but nothing done or
to be done therein. So to the 'Change, to speake with Captain Cocke,
among other things about getting of the silver plates of him, which he
promises to do; but in discourse he tells me that I should beware of my
fellow- officers; and by name told me that my Lord Bruncker should
say in his hearing, before Sir W. Batten, of me, that he could undo the
man, if he would; wherein I think he is a foole; but, however, it is
requisite I be prepared against the man's friendship. Thence home to
dinner alone, my wife being abroad. After dinner to the setting some
things in order in my dining-room; and by and by comes my wife home
and Mrs. Pierce with her, so I lost most of this afternoon with them,
and in the evening abroad with them, our long tour by coach, to
Hackney, so to Kingsland, and then to Islington, there entertaining
them by candlelight very well, and so home with her, set her down, and
so home and to bed.

12th. Up to the office very betimes to draw up a letter for the Duke of
Yorke relating to him the badness of our condition in this office for
want of money. That being in good time done we met at the office and
there sat all the morning. At noon home, where I find my wife troubled
still at my checking her last night in the coach in her long stories out of
Grand Cyrus, which she would tell, though nothing to the purpose, nor
in any good manner.
[Sir Walter Scott observes, in his "Life of Dryden," that the romances
of Calprenede and Scuderi, those ponderous and unmerciful folios, now
consigned to oblivion, were, in their day, not only universally read and
admired, but supposed to furnish the most perfect models of gallantry
and heroism. Dr. Johnson read them all. "I have," says Mrs. Chapone,
"and yet I am still alive, dragged through 'Le Grand Cyrus,' in twelve
huge volumes; 'Cleopatra,' in eight or ten; 'Ibrahim,' 'Clelie,' and some

others, whose names, as well as all the rest of them, I have forgotten"