for men sent out of the country and the countries about him to the fleete the last year; but, Lord! to see the natures of men; how this man, hearing of my name, did ask me of my country, and told me of my cozen Roger, that he was not so wise a man as his father; for that he do not agree in Parliament with his fellow burgesses and knights of the shire, whereas I know very well the reason; for he is not so high a flyer as Mr. Chichley and others, but loves the King better than any of them, and to better purpose.  But yet, he says that he is a very honest gentleman, and thence runs into a hundred stories of his own services to the King, and how he at this day brings in the taxes before anybody here thinks they are collected:  discourse very absurd to entertain a stranger with.  He being gone, and I glad of it, I home then to dinner.  After dinner with my wife by coach abroad, andset Mr. Hunt down at the Temple and her at her brother’s, and I to White Hall to meet [Sir] W. Coventry, but found him not, but met Mr. Cooling, who tells me of my Lord Duke of Buckingham’s being sent for last night, by a Serjeant at Armes, to the Tower, for treasonable practices, and that the King is infinitely angry with him, and declared him no longer one of his Council.  I know not the reason of it, or occasion.  To Westminster Hall, and there paid what I owed for books, and so by coach, took up my wife to the Exchange, and there bought things for Mrs. Pierces little daughter, my Valentine, and so to their house, where we find Knipp, who also challengeth me for her Valentine.  She looks well, sang well, and very merry we were for half an hour.  Tells me Harris is well again, having been very ill, and so we home, and I to the office; then, at night, to Sir W. Pen’s, and sat with my Lady, and the young couple (Sir William out of town) talking merrily; but they make a very sorry couple, methinks, though rich.  So late home and to bed.

28th.  Up, and there comes to me Drumbleby with a flageolet, made to suit with my former and brings me one Greeting, a master, to teach my wife.  I agree by the whole with him to teach her to take out any lesson of herself for L4.  She was not ready to begin to-day, but do to-morrow.  So I to the office, where my Lord Bruncker and I only all the morning, and did business.  At noon to the Exchange and to Sir Rob.  Viner’s about settling my accounts there.  So back home and to dinner, where Mr. Holliard dined with us, and pleasant company he is.  I love his company, and he secures me against ever having the stone again.  He gives it me, as his opinion, that the City will never be built again together, as is expected, while any restraint is laid upon them.  He hath been a great loser, and would be a builder again, but, he says, he knows not what restrictions there will be, so as it is unsafe for him to begin.  He gone, I to the office, and there busy till night doing much business, then home and to my accounts, wherein, beyond expectation, I succeeded so well as