SEPTEMBER
1660

September 1st. This morning I took care to get a vessel to carry my
Lord's things to the Downs on Monday next, and so to White Hall to my
Lord, where he and I did look over the Commission drawn for him by the
Duke's Council, which I do not find my Lord displeased with, though short
of what Dr. Walker did formerly draw for him. Thence to the Privy Seal to
see how things went there, and I find that Mr. Baron had by a severe
warrant from the King got possession of the office from his brother
Bickerstaffe, which is very strange, and much to our admiration, it being
against all open justice. Mr. Moore and I and several others being
invited to-day by Mr. Goodman, a friend of his, we dined at the Bullhead
upon the best venison pasty that ever I eat of in my life, and with one
dish more, it was the best dinner I ever was at. Here rose in discourse
at table a dispute between Mr. Moore and Dr. Clerke, the former affirming
that it was essential to a tragedy to have the argument of it true, which
the Doctor denied, and left it to me to be judge, and the cause to be
determined next Tuesday morning at the same place, upon the eating of the
remains of the pasty, and the loser to spend 10s. All this afternoon
sending express to the fleet, to order things against my Lord's coming and
taking direction of my Lord about some rich furniture to take along with
him for the Princess!--[Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, who
died in December of this year.]--And talking of this, I hear by Mr.
Townsend, that there is the greatest preparation against the Prince de
Ligne's a coming over from the King of Spain, that ever was in England for
their Embassador. Late home, and what with business and my boy's roguery
my mind being unquiet, I went to bed.

2nd (Sunday). To Westminster, my Lord being gone before my coming to