15th. Up, and with Sir J. Minnes by coach to St. James's, and there did
our business with the Duke, who tells us more and more signs of a Dutch
warr, and how we must presently set out a fleete for Guinny, for the Dutch
are doing so, and there I believe the warr will begin. Thence home with
him again, in our way he talking of his cures abroad, while he was with
the King as a doctor, and above all men the pox. And among others, Sir J.
Denham he told me he had cured, after it was come to an ulcer all over his
face, to a miracle. To the Coffee-house I, and so to the 'Change a
little, and then home to dinner with Creed, whom I met at the
Coffee-house, and after dinner by coach set him down at the Temple, and I
and my wife to Mr. Blagrave's. They being none of them at home; I to the
Hall, leaving her there, and thence to the Trumpett, whither came Mrs.
Lane, and there begins a sad story how her husband, as I feared, proves
not worth a farthing, and that she is with child and undone, if I do not
get him a place. I had my pleasure here of her, and she, like an impudent
jade, depends upon my kindness to her husband, but I will have no more to
do with her, let her brew as she has baked, seeing she would not take my
counsel about Hawly. After drinking we parted, and I to Blagrave's, and
there discoursed with Mrs. Blagrave about her kinswoman, who it seems is
sickly even to frantiqueness sometimes, and among other things chiefly
from love and melancholy upon the death of her servant,--[Servant =
lover.]--insomuch that she telling us all most simply and innocently I
fear she will not be able to come to us with any pleasure, which I am
sorry for, for I think she would have pleased us very well. In comes he,
and so to sing a song and his niece with us, but she sings very meanly.
So through the Hall and thence by coach home, calling by the way at
Charing Crosse, and there saw the great Dutchman that is come over, under
whose arm I went with my hat on, and could not reach higher than his
eye-browes with the tip of my fingers, reaching as high as I could. He is