wherein he will have common plays acted. But four operas it shall have in
the year, to act six weeks at a time; where we shall have the best scenes
and machines, the best musique, and every thing as magnificent as is in
Christendome; and to that end hath sent for voices and painters and other
persons from Italy. Thence homeward called upon my Lord Marlborough, and
so home and to my office, and then to Sir W. Pen, and with him and our
fellow officers and servants of the house and none else to Church to lay
his brother in the ground, wherein nothing handsome at all, but that he
lays him under the Communion table in the chancel, about nine at night?
So home and to bed.

3rd. Up betimes and set some joyners on work to new lay my floor in our
wardrobe, which I intend to make a room for musique. Thence abroad to
Westminster, among other things to Mr. Blagrave's, and there had his
consent for his kinswoman to come to be with my wife for her woman, at
which I am well pleased and hope she may do well. Thence to White Hall to
meet with Sir G. Carteret about hiring some ground to make our mast docke
at Deptford, but being Council morning failed, but met with Mr. Coventry,
and he and I discoursed of the likeliness of a Dutch warr, which I think
is very likely now, for the Dutch do prepare a fleet to oppose us at
Guinny, and he do think we shall, though neither of us have a mind to it,
fall into it of a sudden, and yet the plague do increase among them, and
is got into their fleet, and Opdam's own ship, which makes it strange they
should be so high. Thence to the 'Change, and thence home to dinner, and
down by water to Woolwich to the rope yard, and there visited Mrs.
Falconer, who tells me odd stories of how Sir W. Pen was rewarded by her
husband with a gold watch (but seems not certain of what Sir W. Batten
told me, of his daughter having a life given her in L80 per ann.) for his
helping him to his place, and yet cost him L150 to Mr. Coventry besides.
He did much advise it seems Mr. Falconer not to marry again, expressing