were admirable good discourse of all sorts, pleasant and serious. Thence
after dinner to White Hall, where the Duke being busy at the Guinny
business, the Duke of Albemarle, Sir W. Rider, Povy, Sir J. Lawson and I
to the Duke of Albemarle's lodgings, and there did some business, and so
to the Court again, and I to the Duke of York's lodgings, where the Guinny
company are choosing their assistants for the next year by ballotting.
Thence by coach with Sir J. Robinson, Lieutenant of the Tower, he set me
down at Cornhill, but, Lord! the simple discourse that all the way we
had, he magnifying his great undertakings and cares that have been upon
him for these last two years, and how he commanded the city to the content
of all parties, when the loggerhead knows nothing almost that is sense.
Thence to the Coffee-house, whither comes Sir W. Petty and Captain Grant,
and we fell in talke (besides a young gentleman, I suppose a merchant, his
name Mr. Hill, that has travelled and I perceive is a master in most sorts
of musique and other things) of musique; the universal character; art of
memory; Granger's counterfeiting of hands and other most excellent
discourses to my great content, having not been in so good company a great
while, and had I time I should covet the acquaintance of that Mr. Hill.
This morning I stood by the King arguing with a pretty Quaker woman, that
delivered to him a desire of hers in writing. The King showed her Sir J.
Minnes, as a man the fittest for her quaking religion, saying that his
beard was the stiffest thing about him, and again merrily said, looking
upon the length of her paper, that if all she desired was of that length
she might lose her desires; she modestly saying nothing till he begun
seriously to discourse with her, arguing the truth of his spirit against
hers; she replying still with these words, "O King!" and thou'd him all
along. The general talke of the towne still is of Collonell Turner, about
the robbery; who, it is thought, will be hanged. I heard the Duke of York
tell to-night, how letters are come that fifteen are condemned for the
late plot by the judges at York; and, among others, Captain Oates, against