to the King, that he is a right Frenchman, and full of their own projects, he having a design to reform the universities, and to institute schools for the learning of all languages, to speak them naturally and not by rule, which I know will come to nothing.  From thence to my Lord’s, where I went forth by coach to Mrs. Parker’s with my Lady, and so to her house again.  From thence I took my Lord’s picture, and carried it to Mr. de Cretz to be copied.  So to White Hall, where I met Mr. Spong, and went home with him and played, and sang, and eat with him and his mother.  After supper we looked over many books, and instruments of his, especially his wooden jack in his chimney, which goes with the smoke, which indeed is very pretty.  I found him to be as ingenious and good-natured a man as ever I met with in my life, and cannot admire him enough, he being so plain and illiterate a man as he is.  From thence by coach home and to bed, which was welcome to me after a night’s absence.

24th.  I lay and slept long to-day.  Office day.  I took occasion to be angry with my wife before I rose about her putting up of half a crown of mine in a paper box, which she had forgot where she had lain it.  But we were friends again as we are always.  Then I rose to Jack Cole, who came to see me.  Then to the office, so home to dinner, where I found Captain Murford, who did put L3 into my hands for a friendship I had done him, but I would not take it, but bade him keep it till he has enough to buy my wife a necklace.  This afternoon people at work in my house to make a light in my yard into my cellar.  To White Hall, in my way met with Mr. Moore, who went back with me.  He tells me, among other things, that the Duke of York is now sorry for his lying with my Lord Chancellor’s daughter, who is now brought to bed of a boy.  From Whitehall to Mr. De Cretz, who I found about my Lord’s picture.  From thence to Mr. Lilly’s, where, not finding Mr. Spong, I went to Mr. Greatorex, where I met him, and so to an alehouse, where I bought of him a drawing-pen; and he did show me the manner of the lamp-glasses, which carry the light a great way, good to read in bed by, and I intend to have one of them.  So to Mr. Lilly’s with Mr. Spong, where well received, there being a club to-night among his friends.  Among the rest Esquire Ashmole, who I found was a very ingenious gentleman.  With him we two sang afterward in Mr. Lilly’s study.  That done, we all pared; and I home by coach, taking Mr. Booker’ with me, who did tell me a great many fooleries, which may be done by nativities, and blaming Mr. Lilly for writing to please his friends and to keep in with the times (as he did formerly to his own dishonour), and not according to the rules of art, by which he could not well err, as he had done.  I set him down at Lime-street end, and so home, where I found a box of Carpenter’s tools sent by my cozen, Thomas Pepys, which I had bespoke of him for to employ myself with sometimes.  To bed.