very good; and would, had I not so much money out already on public
credit. But I see by this his condition all trade will be bad. I staid
and heard Alderman Barker's case of his being abused by the Council of
Ireland, touching his lands there: all I observed there is the silliness
of the King, playing with his dog all the while, and not minding the
business,

[Lord Rochester wrote

"His very dog at council board
Sits grave and wise as any lord."

Poems, 1697; p. 150.--The king's dogs were constantly stolen from
him, and he advertised for their return. Some of these amusing
advertisements are printed in "Notes and Queries" (seventh series,
vol. vii., p. 26).]

and what he said was mighty weak; but my Lord Keeper I observe to be a
mighty able man. The business broke off without any end to it, and so I
home, and thence with my wife and W. Hewer to Bartholomew fayre, and there
Polichinelli, where we saw Mrs. Clerke and all her crew; and so to a
private house, and sent for a side of pig, and eat it at an acquaintance
of W. Hewer's, where there was some learned physic and chymical books, and
among others, a natural "Herball" very fine. Here we staid not, but to the
Duke of York's play house, and there saw "Mustapha," which, the more I
see, the more I like; and is a most admirable poem, and bravely acted;
only both Betterton and Harris could not contain from laughing in the
midst of a most serious part from the ridiculous mistake of one of the men
upon the stage; which I did not like. Thence home, where Batelier and his
sister Mary come to us and sat and talked, and so, they gone, we to supper