only to make the Parliament make more haste in the money matters, and perhaps it may be so, but I do not believe we have any such plot in our heads.  After them, I, with several people, among others Mr. George Montagu, whom I have not seen long, he mighty kind.  He tells me all is like to go ill, the King displeasing the House of Commons by evading their Bill for examining Accounts, and putting it into a Commission, though therein he hath left out Coventry and I and named all the rest the Parliament named, and all country Lords, not one Courtier:  this do not please them.  He tells me he finds the enmity almost over for my Lord Sandwich, and that now all is upon the Vice-Chamberlain, who bears up well and stands upon his vindication, which he seems to like well, and the others do construe well also.  Thence up to the Painted Chamber, and there heard a conference between the House of Lords and Commons about the Wine Patent; which I was exceeding glad to be at, because of my hearing exceeding good discourses, but especially from the Commons; among others, Mr. Swinfen, and a young man, one Sir Thomas Meres:  and do outdo the Lords infinitely.  So down to the Hall and to the Rose Taverne, while Doll Lane come to me, and we did ’biber a good deal de vino, et je did give elle twelve soldis para comprare elle some gans’ for a new anno’s gift . . . .  Thence to the Hall again, and with Sir W. Pen by coach to the Temple, and there ’light and eat a bit at an ordinary by, and then alone to the King’s House, and there saw “The Custome of the Country,” the second time of its being acted, wherein Knipp does the Widow well; but, of all the plays that ever I did see, the worst-having neither plot, language, nor anything in the earth that is acceptable; only Knipp sings a little song admirably.  But fully the worst play that ever I saw or I believe shall see.  So away home, much displeased for the loss of so much time, and disobliging my wife by being there without her.  So, by link, walked home, it being mighty cold but dry, yet bad walking because very slippery with the frost and treading.  Home and to my chamber to set down my journal, and then to thinking upon establishing my vows against the next year, and so to supper and to bed.

3rd.  Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning.  At noon by invitation to dinner to Sir W. Pen’s, where my Lord Bruncker, Sir W. Batten, and his lady, myself, and wife, Sir J. Minnes, and Mr. Turner and his wife.  Indifferent merry, to which I contributed the most, but a mean dinner, and in a mean manner.  In the evening a little to the office, and then to them, where I found them at cards, myself very ill with a cold (the frost continuing hard), so eat but little at supper, but very merry, and late home to bed, not much pleased with the manner of our entertainment, though to myself more civil than to any.  This day, I hear, hath been a conference between the two Houses about the Bill for examining Accounts, wherein the House of Lords their proceedings in petitioning the King for doing it by Commission is, in great heat, voted by the Commons, after the conference, unparliamentary.  The issue whereof, God knows.