tell me very odde stories how Mrs. Williams do receive the applications of
people, and hath presents, and she is the hand that receives all, while my
Lord Bruncker do the business, which will shortly come to be loud talk if
she continues here, I do foresee, and bring my Lord no great credit. So
having done all my business, to bed.

11th. Up, and by water to the Temple, and thence to Sir Ph. Warwicke's
about my Tangier warrant for tallies, and there met my Lord Bellasses and
Creed, and discoursed about our business of money, but we are defeated as
to any hopes of getting [any] thing upon the Poll Bill, which I seem but
not much troubled at, it not concerning me much. Thence with Creed to
Westminster Hall, and there up and down, and heard that Prince Rupert is
still better and better; and that he did tell Dr. Troutbecke expressly
that my Lord Sandwich is ordered home. I hear, too, that Prince Rupert
hath begged the having of all the stolen prize-goods which he can find,
and that he is looking out anew after them, which at first troubled me;
but I do see it cannot come to anything, but is done by Hayes, or some of
his little people about him. Here, among other newes, I bought the King's
speech at proroguing the House the other day, wherein are some words which
cannot but import some prospect of a peace, which God send us! After
walking a good while in the Hall, it being Term time, I home by water,
calling at Michell's and giving him a fair occasion to send his wife to
the New Exchange to meet my wife and me this afternoon. So home to
dinner, and after dinner by coach to Lord Bellasses, and with him to
Povy's house, whom we find with Auditor Beale and Vernatty about their
accounts still, which is never likely to have end. Our business was to
speak with Vernatty, who is certainly a most cunning knave as ever was
born. Having done what we had to do there, my Lord carried me and set me
down at the New Exchange, where I staid at Pottle's shop till Betty
Michell come, which she did about five o'clock, and was surprised not to