7th.  Early to White Hall to the chappell, where by Mr. Blagrave’s means I got into his pew, and heard Dr. Creeton, the great Scotchman, preach before the King, and Duke and Duchess, upon the words of Micah:—­“Roule yourselves in dust.”  He made a most learned sermon upon the words; but, in his application, the most comical man that ever I heard in my life.  Just such a man as Hugh Peters; saying that it had been better for the poor Cavalier never to have come with the King into England again; for he that hath the impudence to deny obedience to the lawful magistrate, and to swear to the oath of allegiance, &c., was better treated now-a-days in Newgate, than a poor Royalist, that hath suffered all his life for the King, is at White Hall among his friends.  He discoursed much against a man’s lying with his wife in Lent, saying that he might be as incontinent during that time with his own wife as at another time in another man’s bed.  Thence with Mr. Moore to Whitehall and walked a little, and so to the Wardrobe to dinner, and so home to the office about business till late at night by myself, and so home and to bed.

8th.  By coach with both Sir Williams to Westminster; this being a great day there in the House to pass the business for chimney-money, which was done.  In the Hall I met with Serjeant Pierce; and he and I to drink a cup of ale at the Swan, and there he told me how my Lady Monk hath disposed of all the places which Mr. Edwd.  Montagu hoped to have had, as he was Master of the Horse to the Queen; which I am afraid will undo him, because he depended much upon the profit of what he should make by these places.  He told me, also, many more scurvy stories of him and his brother Ralph, which troubles me to hear of persons of honour as they are.  About one o’clock with both Sir Williams and another, one Sir Rich.  Branes, to the Trinity House, but came after they had dined, so we had something got ready for us.  Here Sir W. Batten was taken with a fit of coughing that lasted a great while and made him very ill, and so he went home sick upon it.  Sir W. Pen. and I to the office, whither afterward came Sir G. Carteret; and we sent for Sir Thos.  Allen, one of the Aldermen of the City, about the business of one Colonel Appesley, whom we had taken counterfeiting of bills with all our hands and the officers of the yards, so well counterfeited that I should never have mistrusted them.  We staid about this business at the office till ten at night, and at last did send him with a constable to the Counter; and did give warrants for the seizing of a complice of his, one Blinkinsopp.  So home and wrote to my father, and so to bed.

9th (Lord’s day).  Church in the morning:  dined at home, then to Church again and heard Mr. Naylor, whom I knew formerly of Keye’s College, make a most eloquent sermon.  Thence to Sir W. Batten’s to see how he did, then to walk an hour with Sir W. Pen in the garden:  then he in to supper with me at my house, and so to prayers and to bed.