6th。　　Met　by　agreement　with　Sir　Stephen　Fox　and　Mr。　Ashburnham；　and　discoursed　the　business　of　our　Excise　tallies；　the　former　being　Treasurer　of　the　guards；　and　the　other　Cofferer　of　the　King's　household。　　This　day　great　news　of　the　Swedes　declaring　for　us　against　the　Dutch；　and　so　far　as　that　I　believe　it。
  8th。　　To　the　Duke　of　York；　where　we　all　met　to　hear　the　debate　between　Sir　Thomas　Allen　and　Mr。　Wayth；　the　former　complaining　of　the　latter's　ill　usage　of　him　at　the　late　pay　of　his　ship。　　But　a　very　sorry　poor　occasion　he　had　for　it。　　The　Duke　did　determine　it　with　great　judgement；　chiding　both；　but　encouraging　Wayth　to　continue　to　be　a　check　to　all　captains　in　any　thing　to　the　King's　right。　　And；　indeed；　I　never　did　see　the　Duke　do　any　thing　more　in　order；　nor　with　more　judgement　than　he　did　pass　the　verdict　in　this　business；　The　Court　full　this　morning　of　the　news　of　Tom　Cheffins'　death；　the　King's　closet…keeper。　　＇Sir　E。　Walker；　Garter　King　at　Arms；　in　1644　gave　a　grant　of　arms　GRATIS；　to　Thomas　Chiffinch；　Esq。；　one　of　the　Pages　of　His　Majesty's　Bedchamber；　Keeper　of　his　private　Closet；　and　Comptroller　of　the　Excise。　　His　brother　William　appears　to　have　succeeded　to　the　two　first…named　appointments；　and　became　a　great　favourite　with　the　King；　whom　he　survived。　　There　is　a　portrait　of　William　Chiffinch　at　Gorhamburg。＇　　He　was　well　last　night　as　ever；　playing　at　tables　in　the　house；　and　not　very　ill　this　morning　at　six　o'clock；　yet　dead　before　seven：　　they　think；　of　an　imposthume　in　his　breast。　　But　it　looks　fearfully　among　people　now…a…days；　the　plague；　as　we　hear　encreasing　every　where　again。　　To　the　Chapel；　but　could　not　get　in　to　hear　well。　　But　I　had　the　pleasure　once　in　my　life　to　see　an　Archbishop　（this　was　of　York）　＇Richard　Sterne；　Bishop　of　Carlisle；　elected　Archbishop　of　York；　1664。　Ob。　1683。＇　　in　a　pulpit。　　Then　at　a　loss　how　to　get　home　to　dinner；　having　promised　to　carry　Mrs。　Hunt　thither。　　At　last　got　my　Lord　Hinchingbroke's　coach；　he　staying　at　Court；　and　so　took　her　up　in　Axe…yard；　and　home　and　dined。　　And　good　discourse　of　the　old　matters　of　the　Protector　and　his　family；　she　having　a　relation　to　them。　　The　Protector　lives　in　France：　　spends　about　500l。　per　annum。
  9th。　　By　coach　to　Mrs。　Pierce's；　and　with　her　and　Knipp　and　Mrs。　Pierce's　boy　and　girl　abroad；　thinking　to　have　been　merry　at　Chelsey；　but　being　come　almost　to　the　house　by　coach　near　the　waterside；　a　house　alone；　I　think　the　Swan；　a　gentleman　walking　by　called　to　us　to　tell　us　that　the　house　was　shut　up　of　the　sickness。　　So　we　with　great　affright　turned　back；　being　holden　to　the　gentleman：　　and　went　away　（I　for　my　part　in　great　disorder）　for　Kensington。
  11th。　　To　Hales's；　where　there　was　nothing　to　be　done　more　to　my　picture；　＇This　potrait　is　now　in　the　possession　of　Samuel　Pepys　Cockerel；　Esq。＇　　but　the　musique；　which　now　pleases　me　mightily；　it　being　painted　true。　　To　Gresham　College；　where　a　great　deal　of　do　and　formality　in　choosing　of　the　Council　and　Officers。　　I　had　three　votes　to　be　of　the　Council；　who　am　but　a　stranger；　nor　expected　any。
  15th。　　Walked　into　the　Park　to　the　Queen's　chapel；　and　there　heard　a　good　deal　of　their　mass；　and　some　of　their　musique；　which　is　not　so　contemptible；　I　think；　as　our　people　would　make　it；　it　pleasing　me　very　well；　and；　indeed；　better　than　the　anthem　I　heard　afterwards　at　White　Hall；　at　my　coming　back。　　I　staid　till　the　King　went　down　to　receive　the　Sacrament；　and　stood　in　his　closet　with　a　great　many　others；　and　there　saw　him　receive　it；　which　I　did　never　see　the　manner　of　before。　　Thence　walked　to　Mr。　Pierce's；　and　there　dined：　　very　good　company　and　good　discourse；　they　being　able　to　tell　me　all　the　businesses　of　the　Court：　　the　amours　and　the　mad　doings　that　are　there：　　how　for　certain　Mrs。　Stewart　is　become　the　King's　mistress；　and　that　the　King　hath　many　bastard　children　that　are　known　and　owned；　besides　the　Duke　of　Monmouth。
  18th。　　To　Mr。　Lilly's；　the　painter's；　and　there　saw　the　heads；　some　finished；　and　all　begun；　of　the　flaggmen　in　the　late　great　fight　with　the　Duke　of　York　against　the　Dutch。　　The　Duke　of　York　hath　them　done　to　hang　in　his　chamber；　and　very　finely　they　are　done　indeed。　　Here　are　the　Prince's；　Sir　G。　Askue's；　Sir　Thomas　Teddiman's；　Sir　Christopher　Mings；　Sir　Joseph　Jordan；　Sir　William　Berkeley；　Sir　Thomas　Allen；　and　Captain　Harman's；　＇Afterwards　Sir　John　Harman。＇　　as　also　the　Duke　of　Albemarle's；　and　will　be　my　Lord　Sandwich's；　Sir　W。　Pen's；　and　Sir　Jeremy　Smith's。　　I　was　very　well　satisfied　with　this　sight；　and　other　good　pictures　hanging　in　the　house。
  21st。　　I　down　to　walk　in　the　garden　at　White　Hall；　it　being　a　mighty　hot　and　pleasant　day；　and　there　was　the　King；　who；　among　others；　talked　to　us　a　little；　and　among　other　pretty　things；　he　swore　merrily　that　he　believed　the　ketch　that　Sir　W。　Batten　bought　the　last　year　at　Colchester；　was　of　his　own　getting；　it　was　so　thick　to　its　length。　　Another　pleasant　thing　he　said　of　Christopher　Pett；　commanding　him　that　he　will　not　alter　his　moulds　of　ships　upon　any　man's　advice；　〃as；〃　says　he；　〃Commissioner　Taylor　I　fear　do　of　his　New　London；　that　he　makes　it　differ；　in　hopes　of　mending　the　Old　London；　built　by　him。〃　〃For；〃　says　he；　〃he　finds　that　God　hath　put　him　into　the　right；　and　so　will　keep　in　it　while　he　is　in。〃　〃And；〃　says　the　King；　〃I　am　sure　it　must　be　God　put　him　in；　for　no　art　of　his　own　ever　could　have　done　it；〃　for　it　seems　he　cannot　give　a　good　account　of　what　he　do　as　an　artist。　　Thence　with　my　Lord　Brouncker　in　his　coach　to　Hide　Parke；　the　first　time　I　have　been　there　this　year。　There　the　King　was；　but　I　was　sorry　to　see　my　Lady　Castlemaine；　for　the　mourning　forceing　all　the　ladies　to　go　in　black；　with　their　hair　plain　and　without　spots。　　I　find　her　to　be　a　much　more　ordinary　woman　than　ever　I　durst　have　thought　she　was；　and；　indeed；　is　not　so　pretty　as　Mrs。　Stewart。
  22nd。　　To　the　Cockpitt；　and　there　took　my　leave　of　the　Duke　of　Albemarle；　who　is　going　to…morrow　to　sea。　　He　seems　mightily　pleased　with　me；　which　I　am　glad　of；　but　I　do　find　infinitely　my　concernment　in　being　careful　to　appear　to　the　King　and　Duke　to　continue　my　care　of　his　business；　and　to　be　found　diligent　as　I　used　to　be。
  23rd。　　To　White　Hall；　where　I　had　the　opportunity　to　take　leave　of　the　Prince；　and　again　of　the　Duke　of　Albemarle；　and　saw　them　kiss　the　King's　hands　and　the　Duke's；　and　much　content　indeed；　there　seems　to　be　in　all　people　at　their　going　to　sea；　and　they　promise　themselves　much　good　from　them。　　This　morning　the　House　of　Parliament　do　meet；　only　to　adjourne　again　till　winter。　　The　plague；　I　hear；　encreases　in　the　town　much；　and　exceedingly　in　the　country　every　where。　　Bonfires　in　the　street；　for　being　St。George's　day；　and　the　King's　Coronation；　and　the　day　of　the　Prince　and　Duke's　going　to　sea。
  25th。　　I　to　the　office；　where　Mr。　Prin　come　to　meet　about　the　Chest…business；　and　till　company　come；　did　discourse　with　me　a　good　while　in　the　garden　about　the　laws　of　England；　telling　me　the　main　faults　in　them；　and　among　others；　their　obscurity　through　multitude　of　long　statutes；　which　he　is　about　to　abstract　out　of　all　of　a　sort；　and　as　he　lives；　and　Parliaments　come；　get　them　put　into　laws；　and　the　other　statutes　repealed；　and　then　it　will　be　a　short　work　to　know　the　law。　　Having　supped　upon　the　leads；　to　bed。　　The　plague；　blessed　be　God！　　is　decreased　sixteen　this　week。
  29th。　　To　Mr。　Evelyn's；　where　I　walked　in　his　garden　till　he　come　from　Church；　with　great　pleasure　reading　Ridly's　discourse；　all　my　way　going　and　coming；　upon　the　Civill　and　Ecclesiastical　Law。　He　being　come　home；　he　and　I　walked　together　in　the　garden　with　mighty　pleasure；　he　being　a　very　ingenious　man；　and　the　more　I　know　him　the　more　I　love　him。
  30th。　　I　after　dinner　to　even　all　my　accounts　of　this　month；　and　bless　God；　I　find　myself；　notwithstanding　great　expences　of　late；　viz。　80l。　now　to　pay　for　a　necklace；　near　40l。　for　a　set　of　chairs　and　couch；　near　40l。　for　my　three　pictures：　　yet　I　do　gather；　and　am　worth　5200l。　　My　wife　comes　home　by　and　by；　and　hath　pitched　upon　a　necklace　with　three　rows；　which　is　a　very　good　one；　and　80l。　is　the　price。　　So　ends　this　month　with　great　layings…out。　　Good　health　and　gettings；　and　advanced　well　in　the　whole　of　my　estate；　for　which　God　make　me　thankful！
  May　1；　1666。　　At　noon；　my　cosen　Thomas　Pepys　did　come　to　me；　to　consult　about　the　business　of　his　being　a　Justice　of　the　Peace；　which　he　is　much　against；　and　among　other　reasons；　tells　me；　as　a　confidant；　that　he　is　not　free　to　exercise　punishment　according　to　the　Act　against　Quakers　and　other　people；　for　religion。　　Nor　do　he　understand　Latin；　and　so　is　not　capable　of　the　place　as　formerly；　now　all　warrants　do　run　in　Latin。　　Nor　he　in　Kent；　though　he　be　of　Deptford　parish；　his　house　standing　in　Surry。　However；　I　did　bring　him　to　incline　towards　it；　if　he　be　pressed　to　take　it。　　I　do　think　it　may　be　some　repute　to　me　to　have　my　kinsman　in　Commission　there；　specially；　if　he　behave　himself　to　content　in　the　country。
  12th。　　Met　Sir　G。　Downing　on　White　Hall　bridge；　and　there　walked　half　an　hour；　talking　of　the　success　of　the　late　new　Act；　and　indeed　it　is　very　much；　that　that　hath　stood　really　in　the　room　of　800；000l。　　＇There　appears　to　be　some　error　in　these　f