acquaintance of Mercer's, whose house is burnt. Knipp tells me the King
was so angry at the liberty taken by Lacy's, part to abuse him to his
face, that he commanded they should act no more, till Moone went and got
leave for them to act again, but not this play. The King mighty angry;
and it was bitter indeed, but very true and witty. I never was more taken
with a play than I am with this "Silent Woman," as old as it is, and as
often as I have seen it. There is more wit in it than goes to ten new
plays. Thence with my wife and Knipp to Mrs. Pierce's, and saw her closet
again, and liked her picture. Thence took them all to the Cake-house, in
Southampton Market-place, where Pierce told us the story how, in good
earnest, [the King] is offended with the Duke of Richmond's marrying, and
Mrs. Stewart's sending the King his jewels again. As she tells it, it is
the noblest romance and example of a brave lady that ever I read in my
life. Pretty to hear them talk of yesterday's play, and I durst not own
to my wife to have seen it. Thence home and to [Sir] W. Batten!'s, where
we have made a bargain for the ending of some of the trouble about some of
our prizes for L1400. So home to look on my new books that I have lately
bought, and then to supper and to bed.

17th. Up, and with the two Sir Williams by coach to the Duke of York, who
is come to St. James's, the first time we have attended him there this
year. In our way, in Tower Street, we saw Desbrough walking on foot: who
is now no more a prisoner, and looks well, and just as he used to do
heretofore. When we come to the Duke of York's I was spoke to by Mr.
Bruncker on behalf of Carcasse. Thence by coach to Sir G. Carteret's, in
London, there to pass some accounts of his, and at it till dinner, and
then to work again a little, and then go away, and my wife being sent for
by me to the New Exchange I took her up, and there to the King's playhouse
(at the door met with W. Joyce in the street, who come to our coach side,
but we in haste took no notice of him, for which I was sorry afterwards,