And so after a little at the office to bed. This night late coming in my
coach, coming up Ludgate Hill, I saw two gallants and their footmen taking
a pretty wench, which I have much eyed, lately set up shop upon the hill,
a seller of riband and gloves. They seek to drag her by some force, but
the wench went, and I believe had her turn served, but, God forgive me!
what thoughts and wishes I had of being in their place. In Covent Garden
to-night, going to fetch home my wife, I stopped at the great
Coffee-house' there, where I never was before; where Dryden the poet (I
knew at Cambridge), and all the wits of the town, and Harris the player,
and Mr. Hoole of our College. And had I had time then, or could at ether
times, it will be good coming thither, for there, I perceive, is very
witty and pleasant discourse. But I could not tarry, and as it was late,
they were all ready to go away.

4th. Up and to the office, where after a while sitting, I left the board
upon pretence of serious business, and by coach to Paul's School, where I
heard some good speeches of the boys that were to be elected this year.
Thence by and by with Mr. Pullen and Barnes (a great Non-Conformist) with
several others of my old acquaintance to the Nag's Head Taverne, and there
did give them a bottle of sacke, and away again and I to the School, and
up to hear the upper form examined; and there was kept by very many of the
Mercers, Clutterbucke, a Barker, Harrington, and others; and with great
respect used by them all, and had a noble dinner. Here they tell me, that
in Dr. Colett's will he says that he would have a Master found for the
School that hath good skill in Latin, and (if it could be) one that had
some knowledge of the Greeke; so little was Greeke known here at that
time. Dr. Wilkins and one Mr. Smallwood, Posers. After great pleasure
there, and specially to Mr. Crumlum, so often to tell of my being a
benefactor to the School, I to my bookseller's and there spent an hour
looking over Theatrum Urbium and Flandria illustrata, with excellent cuts,