and blaming Mr. Lilly for writing to please his friends and to keep in
with the times (as he did formerly to his own dishonour), and not
according to the rules of art, by which he could not well err, as he had
done. I set him down at Lime-street end, and so home, where I found a box
of Carpenter's tools sent by my cozen, Thomas Pepys, which I had bespoke
of him for to employ myself with sometimes. To bed.

25th. All day at home doing something in order to the fitting of my
house. In the evening to Westminster about business. So home and to bed.
This night the vault at the end of the cellar was emptied.

26th. Office. My father and Dr. Thomas Pepys dined at my house, the last
of whom I did almost fox with Margate ale. My father is mightily pleased
with my ordering of my house. I did give him money to pay several bills.
After that I to Westminster to White Hall, where I saw the Duke de
Soissons go from his audience with a very great deal of state: his own
coach all red velvet covered with gold lace, and drawn by six barbes, and
attended by twenty pages very rich in clothes. To Westminster Hall, and
bought, among, other books, one of the Life of our Queen, which I read at
home to my wife; but it was so sillily writ, that we did nothing but laugh
at it: among other things it is dedicated to that paragon of virtue and
beauty, the Duchess of Albemarle. Great talk as if the Duke of York do
now own the marriage between him and the Chancellor's daughter.

27th. In London and Westminster all this day paying of money and buying
of things for my house. In my going I went by chance by my new Lord
Mayor's house (Sir Richard Browne), by Goldsmith's Hall, which is now
fitting, and indeed is a very pretty house. In coming back I called at
Paul's Churchyard and bought Alsted's Encyclopaedia,' which cost me 38s.
Home and to bed, my wife being much troubled with her old pain.