my wife not well, but yet engaged by invitation to go with Sir W. Pen. I
got her to go with him by coach to Islington to the old house, where his
lady and Madam Lowther, with her exceeding fine coach and mean horses, and
her mother-in-law, did meet us, and two of Mr. Lowther's brothers, and
here dined upon nothing but pigeon-pyes, which was such a thing for him to
invite all the company to, that I was ashamed of it. But after dinner was
all our sport, when there come in a juggler, who, indeed, did shew us so
good tricks as I have never seen in my life, I think, of legerdemaine, and
such as my wife hath since seriously said that she would not believe but
that he did them by the help of the devil. Here, after a bad dinner, and
but ordinary company, saving that I discern good parts in one of the sons,
who, methought, did take me up very prettily in one or two things that I
said, and I was so sensible of it as to be a caution to me hereafter how I
do venture to speak more than is necessary in any company, though, as I
did now, I do think them incapable to censure me. We broke up, they back
to Walthamstow, and only my wife and I and Sir W. Pen to the King's
playhouse, and there saw "The Mayden Queene," which, though I have often
seen, yet pleases me infinitely, it being impossible, I think, ever to
have the Queen's part, which is very good and passionate, and Florimel's
part, which is the most comicall that ever was made for woman, ever done
better than they two are by young Marshall and Nelly. Home, where I spent
the evening with my father and wife, and late at night some flagillette
with my wife, and then to supper and to bed.

25th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined at
home, and there come Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and dined with me, telling
me that the Duke of Cambridge continues very ill, so as they do despair of
his living. So to the office again, where all the afternoon. About 4
o'clock comes Mrs. Pierce to see my wife, and I into them, and there find
Pierce very fine, and in her own hair, which do become her, and so says my