14th. Also all this day looking upon my workmen. Only met with the
Comptroller at the office a little both forenoon and afternoon, and at
night step a little with him to the Coffee House where we light upon very
good company and had very good discourse concerning insects and their
having a generative faculty as well as other creatures. This night in
discourse the Comptroller told me among other persons that were heretofore
the principal officers of the Navy, there was one Sir Peter Buck, a Clerk
of the Acts, of which to myself I was not a little proud.

15th. All day at home looking upon my workmen, only at noon Mr. Moore
came and brought me some things to sign for the Privy Seal and dined with
me. We had three eels that my wife and I bought this morning of a man,
that cried them about, for our dinner, and that was all I did to-day.

16th. In the morning to church, and then dined at home. In the afternoon
I to White Hall, where I was surprised with the news of a plot against the
King's person and my Lord Monk's; and that since last night there are
about forty taken up on suspicion; and, amongst others, it was my lot to
meet with Simon Beale, the Trumpeter, who took me and Tom Doling into the
Guard in Scotland Yard, and showed us Major-General Overton, where I heard
him deny that he is guilty of any such things; but that whereas it is said
that he is found to have brought many arms to town, he says it is only to
sell them, as he will prove by oath. From thence with Tom Doling and
Boston and D. Vines (whom we met by the way) to Price's, and there we
drank, and in discourse I learnt a pretty trick to try whether a woman be
a maid or no, by a string going round her head to meet at the end of her
nose, which if she be not will come a great way beyond. Thence to my
Lady's and staid with her an hour or two talking of the Duke of York and
his lady, the Chancellor's daughter, between whom, she tells me, that all
is agreed and he will marry her. But I know not how true yet. It rained