25th (Lord’s day).  To trimming myself, which I have this week done every morning, with a pumice stone,—­[Shaving with pumice stone.]—­which I learnt of Mr. Marsh, when I was last at Portsmouth; and I find it very easy, speedy, and cleanly, and shall continue the practice of it.  To church, and heard a good sermon of Mr. Woodcocke’s at our church; only in his latter prayer for a woman in childbed, he prayed that God would deliver her from the hereditary curse of child-bearing, which seemed a pretty strange expression.  Dined at home, and Mr. Creed with me.  This day I had the first dish of pease I have had this year.  After discourse he and I abroad, and walked up and down, and looked into many churches, among others Mr. Baxter’s at Blackfryers.  Then to the Wardrobe, where I found my Lord takes physic, so I did not see him, but with Captn.  Ferrers in Mr. George Montagu’s coach to Charing Cross; and there at the Triumph tavern he showed me some Portugall ladys, which are come to town before the Queen.  They are not handsome, and their farthingales a strange dress.

[Farthingales had gone out of fashion in England during the reign of Charles I., and therefore their use by the Portuguese ladies astonished the English.  Evelyn also remarks in his Diary on this ugly custom (May 30th, 1662).]

Many ladies and persons of quality come to see them.  I find nothing in them that is pleasing; and I see they have learnt to kiss and look freely up and down already, and I do believe will soon forget the recluse practice of their own country.  They complain much for lack of good water to drink.  So to the Wardrobe back on foot and supped with my Lady, and so home, and after a walk upon the leads with my wife, to prayers and bed.  The King’s guards and some City companies do walk up and down the town these five or six days; which makes me think, and they do say, there are some plots in laying.  God keep us.

26th.  Up by four o’clock in the morning, and fell to the preparing of some accounts for my Lord of Sandwich.  By and by, by appointment comes Mr. Moore, and, by what appears to us at present, we found that my Lord is above L7,000 in debt, and that he hath money coming into him that will clear all, and so we think him clear, but very little money in his purse.  So to my Lord’s, and after he was ready, we spent an hour with him, giving him an account thereof; and he having some L6,000 in his hands, remaining of the King’s, he is resolved to make use of that, and get off of it as well as he can, which I like well of, for else I fear he will scarce get beforehand again a great while.  Thence home, and to the Trinity House; where the Brethren (who have been at Deptford choosing a new Maister; which is Sir J. Minnes, notwithstanding Sir W. Batten did contend highly for it:  at which I am not a little pleased, because of his proud lady) about three o’clock came hither, and so to dinner.  I seated myself