Diary, Sep/Oct 1663 | Page 6

like the maid's looks well enough, and I believe may do well, she
looking very modestly and speaking so too. I directed her to speak with
my wife, and so Creed and I away to Mr. Povy's, and he not being at
home, walked to Lincoln's Inn walks, which they are making very fine,
and about one o'clock went back to Povy's; and by and by in comes he,
and so we sat and down to dinner, and his lady, whom I never saw
before (a handsome old woman that brought him money that makes
him do as he does), and so we had plenty of meat and drink, though I
drunk no wine, though mightily urged to it, and in the exact manner
that I never saw in my life any where, and he the most full and satisfied
in it that man can be in this world with any thing. After dinner done, to
see his new cellars, which he has made so fine with so noble an arch
and such contrivances for his barrels and bottles, and in a room next to
it such a grotto and fountayne, which in summer will be so pleasant as
nothing in the world can be almost. But to see how he himself do pride
himself too much in it, and command and expect to have all admiration,
though indeed everything do highly deserve it, is a little troublesome.
Thence Creed and I away, and by his importunity away by coach to
Bartholomew Fayre, where I have no mind to go without my wife, and

therefore rode through the fayre without 'lighting, and away home,
leaving him there; and at home made my wife get herself presently
ready, and so carried her by coach to the fayre, and showed her the
monkeys dancing on the ropes, which was strange, but such dirty sport
that I was not pleased with it. There was also a horse with hoofs like
rams hornes, a goose with four feet, and a cock with three. Thence to
another place, and saw some German Clocke works, the Salutation of
the Virgin Mary, and several Scriptural stories; but above all there was
at last represented the sea, with Neptune, Venus, mermaids, and Ayrid
on a dolphin, the sea rocking, so well done, that had it been in a gaudy
manner and place, and at a little distance, it had been admirable.
Thence home by coach with my wife, and I awhile to the office, and so
to supper and to bed. This day I read a Proclamation for calling in and
commanding every body to apprehend my Lord Bristoll.

5th. Up betimes and to my viall awhile, and so to the office, and there
sat, and busy all the morning. So at noon to the Exchange, and so home
to dinner, where I met Creed, who dined with me, and after dinner
mightily importuned by Captain Hicks, who came to tell my wife the
names and story of all the shells, which was a pretty present he made
her the other day. He being gone, Creed, my wife, and I to Cornhill,
and after many tryalls bought my wife a chintz, that is, a painted Indian
callico, for to line her new study, which is very pretty. So home with
her, and then I away (Creed being gone) to Captain Minors upon Tower
Hill, and there, abating only some impertinence of his, I did inform
myself well in things relating to the East Indys; both of the country and
the disappointment the King met with the last voyage, by the knavery
of the Portugall Viceroy, and the inconsiderablenesse of the place of
Bombaim,
[Bombay, which was transferred to the East India Company in 1669.
The seat of the Western Presidency of India was removed from Surat to
Bombay in 1685-87.]
if we had had it. But, above all things, it seems strange to me that
matters should not be understood before they went out; and also that
such a thing as this, which was expected to be one of the best parts of
the Queen's portion, should not be better understood; it being, if we had
it, but a poor place, and not really so as was described to our King in

the draught of it, but a poor little island; whereas they made the King
and Lord Chancellor, and other learned men about the King, believe
that that, and other islands which are near it, were all one piece; and so
the draught was drawn and presented to the King, and believed by the
King and expected to prove so when our men came thither; but it is
quite otherwise. Thence to my office, and after several letters writ,
home to supper and to bed, and took a