human. From a communication by the late Mr. Albert Way, F.S.A., to
the late Lord Braybrooke.]

and also had much mirth at a tomb, on which was "Come sweet Jesu," and I
read "Come sweet Mall," &c., at which Captain Pett and I had good
laughter. So to the Salutacion tavern, where Mr. Alcock and many of the
town came and entertained us with wine and oysters and other things, and
hither come Sir John Minnes to us, who is come to-day to see "the Henery,"
in which he intends to ride as Vice-Admiral in the narrow seas all this
summer. Here much mirth, but I was a little troubled to stay too long,
because of going to Hempson's, which afterwards we did, and found it in
all things a most pretty house, and rarely furnished, only it had a most
ill access on all sides to it, which is a greatest fault that I think can
be in a house. Here we had, for my sake, two fiddles, the one a base
viall, on which he that played, played well some lyra lessons, but both
together made the worst musique that ever I heard. We had a fine
collacion, but I took little pleasure in that, for the illness of the
musique and for the intentness of my mind upon Mrs. Rebecca Allen. After
we had done eating, the ladies went to dance, and among the men we had, I
was forced to dance too; and did make an ugly shift. Mrs. R. Allen danced
very well, and seems the best humoured woman that ever I saw. About 9
o'clock Sir William and my Lady went home, and we continued dancing an
hour or two, and so broke up very pleasant and merry, and so walked home,
I leading Mrs. Rebecca, who seemed, I know not why, in that and other
things, to be desirous of my favours and would in all things show me
respects. Going home, she would needs have me sing, and I did pretty well
and was highly esteemed by them. So to Captain Allen's (where we were
last night, and heard him play on the harpsicon, and I find him to be a
perfect good musician), and there, having no mind to leave Mrs. Rebecca,
what with talk and singing (her father and I), Mrs. Turner and I staid