the pew, and went out by ourselves a good while after them, which we judge a very fine project hereafter to avoyd contention.  So my wife and I to walk an hour or two on the leads, which begins to be very pleasant, the garden being in good condition.  So to supper, which is also well served in.  We had a lobster to supper, with a crabb Pegg Pen sent my wife this afternoon, the reason of which we cannot think; but something there is of plot or design in it, for we have a little while carried ourselves pretty strange to them.  After supper to bed.

31st.  This morning Mr. Coventry and all our company met at the office about some business of the victualling, which being dispatched we parted.  I to my Lord Crew’s to dinner (in my way calling upon my brother Tom, with whom I staid a good while and talked, and find him a man like to do well, which contents me much), where used with much respect, and talking with him about my Lord’s debts, and whether we should make use of an offer of Sir G. Carteret’s to lend my Lady 4 or L500, he told me by no means, we must not oblige my Lord to him, and by the by he made a question whether it was not my Lord’s interest a little to appear to the King in debt, and for people to clamor against him as well as others for their money, that by that means the King and the world may see that he do lay out for the King’s honour upon his own main stock, which many he tells me do, that in fine if there be occasion he and I will be bound for it.  Thence to Sir Thomas Crew’s lodgings.  He hath been ill, and continues so, under fits of apoplexy.  Among other things, he and I did discourse much of Mr. Montagu’s base doings, and the dishonour that he will do my Lord, as well as cheating him of 2 or L3,000, which is too true.  Thence to the play, where coming late, and meeting with Sir W. Pen, who had got room for my wife and his daughter in the pit, he and I into one of the boxes, and there we sat and heard “The Little Thiefe,” a pretty play and well done.  Thence home, and walked in the garden with them, and then to the house to supper and sat late talking, and so to bed.

Diaryof Samuel Pepys.

April1662

April 1st.  Within all the morning and at the office.  At noon my wife and I (having paid our maid Nell her whole wages, who has been with me half a year, and now goes away for altogether) to the Wardrobe, where my Lady and company had almost dined.  We sat down and dined.  Here was Mr. Herbert, son to Sir Charles Herbert, that lately came with letters from my Lord Sandwich to the King.  After some discourse we remembered one another to have been together at the tavern when Mr. Fanshaw took his leave of me at his going to Portugall with Sir Richard.  After dinner he and I and the two young ladies and my wife to the playhouse, the Opera, and saw “The Mayde in the Mill,” a pretty good play.  In the middle of the play my Lady Paulina, who had