towne end, and walked through the towne in the darke,
it being now night. But in the streete did overtake
and almost run upon two women crying and carrying a
man’s coffin between them. I suppose the
husband of one of them, which, methinks, is a sad
thing. Being come to Shelden’s, I find
my people in the darke in the dining room, merry and
laughing, and, I thought, sporting one with another,
which, God helpe me! raised my jealousy presently.
Come in the darke, and one of them touching me (which
afterward I found was Susan) made them shreeke, and
so went out up stairs, leaving them to light a candle
and to run out. I went out and was very vexed
till I found my wife was gone with Mr. Hill and Mercer
this day to see me at Greenwich, and these people
were at supper, and the candle on a sudden falling
out of the candlesticke (which I saw as I come through
the yarde) and Mrs. Barbary being there I was well
at ease again, and so bethought myself what to do,
whether to go to Greenwich or stay there; at last go
I would, and so with a lanthorne, and 3 or 4 people
with me, among others Mr. Browne, who was there, would
go, I walked with a lanthorne and discoursed with him
about paynting and the several sorts of it. I
came in good time to Greenwich, where I found Mr.
Hill with my wife, and very glad I was to see him.
To supper and discourse of musique and so to bed,
I lying with him talking till midnight about Berckenshaw’s
musique rules, which I did to his great satisfaction
inform him in, and so to sleep.
30th. Up, and to my office about business.
At noon to dinner, and after some discourse of musique,
he and I to the office awhile, and he to get Mr. Coleman,
if he can, against night. By and by I back again
home, and there find him returned with Mr. Coleman
(his wife being ill) and Mr. Laneare, with whom with
their Lute we had excellent company and good singing
till midnight, and a good supper I did give them, but
Coleman’s voice is quite spoiled, and when he
begins to be drunk he is excellent company, but afterward
troublesome and impertinent. Laneare sings in
a melancholy method very well, and a sober man he
seems to be. They being gone, we to bed.
Captain Ferrers coming this day from my Lord is forced
to lodge here, and I put him to Mr. Hill.
31st. Up, and to the office, Captain Ferrers
going back betimes to my Lord. I to the office,
where Sir W. Batten met me, and did tell me that Captain
Cocke’s black was dead of the plague, which I
had heard of before, but took no notice. By
and by Captain Cocke come to the office, and Sir W.
Batten and I did send to him that he would either forbear
the office, or forbear going to his owne office.
However, meeting yesterday the Searchers with their
rods in their hands coming from Captain Cocke’s
house, I did overhear them say that the fellow did
not die of the plague, but he had I know been ill
a good while, and I am told that his boy Jack is also
ill. At noon home to dinner, and then to the