28th. Up betimes, and Knepp's maid comes to me, to tell me that the
women's day at the playhouse is to-day, and that therefore I must be
there, to encrease their profit. I did give the pretty maid Betty that
comes to me half-a-crown for coming, and had a baiser or two-elle being
mighty jolie. And so I about my business. By water to St. James's, and
there had good opportunity of speaking with the Duke of York, who desires
me again, talking on that matter, to prepare something for him to do for
the better managing of our Office, telling me that, my Lord Keeper and he
talking about it yesterday, my Lord Keeper did advise him to do so, it
being better to come from him than otherwise, which I have promised to do.
Thence to my Lord Burlington's houses the first time I ever was there, it
being the house built by Sir John Denham, next to Clarendon House; and
here I visited my Lord Hinchingbroke and his lady; Mr. Sidney Montagu
being come last night to town unexpectedly from Mount's Bay, where he left
my Lord well, eight days since, so as we may now hourly expect to hear of
his arrival at Portsmouth. Sidney is mighty grown; and I am glad I am
here to see him at his first coming, though it cost me dear, for here I
come to be necessitated to supply them with L500 for my Lord. He sent him
up with a declaration to his friends, of the necessity of his being
presently supplied with L2000; but I do not think he will get one.
However, I think it becomes my duty to my Lord to do something
extraordinary in this, and the rather because I have been remiss in
writing to him during this voyage, more than ever I did in my life, and
more indeed than was fit for me. By and by comes Sir W. Godolphin to see
Mr. Sidney, who, I perceive, is much dissatisfied that he should come to
town last night, and not yet be with my Lord Arlington, who, and all the
town, hear of his being come to town, and he did, it seems, take notice of
it to Godolphin this morning: so that I perceive this remissness in
affairs do continue in my Lord's managements still, which I am sorry for;