Sam's diary covers the period 1660 to 1669 . Although he did not make an entry every day his writings cover a significant part of the English reformation period . The political and social life of the period is recalled here in minute detail .

Sept 15 ^th 1660 To the office, and after dinner by water to White Hall, where I found the King gone this morning by five of the clock to see a Dutch pleasure-boat below bridge, where he dines and my Lord with him, The King do tire all his people that are about him with early rising since he come.

18th. Captain Ferrers took me and Creed to the Cockpitt play, the first that I have had time to see since my coming from sea, "The Loyall Subject," [A Tragi-comedy by Beaumont and Fletcher.] where one Kinaston, a boy, acted the Duke's sister, but made the loveliest lady that ever I saw in my life. [Edward Kynaston, engaged by Sir W. Davenant in 1660, to perform the principal female characters: he afterwards assumed the male ones in the first parts of tragedy, and continued on the stage till the end of King William's reign, The period of his death is not known.]

Sept 20th. This afternoon at the Privy Seale, where reckoning with Mr. Moore, he had got 100l. for me together, which I was glad of, guessing that the profit of this month would come to 100l. With W. Hewer by coach to Worcester House, where I light, sending him home with the 100l. that I received to-day. Here I staid, and saw my Lord Chancellor come into his Great Hall, where wonderful how much company there was to expect him. Before he would begin any business, he took my papers of the state of the debts of the fleet, and there viewed them before all the people, and did give me his advice privately how to order things, to get as much money as we can of the Parliament.

Sept 21st. I met Mr. Crewe and dined with him, where there dined one Mr. Hickeman, an Oxford man, who spoke very much against the height of the now old clergy, for putting out many of the religious fellows of Colleges, and inveighing against them for their being drunk. It being post-night, I wrote to my Lord to give him notice that all things are well; that General Monk is made Lieutenant of Ireland, which my Lord Roberts (made Deputy) do not like of, to be Deputy to any man but the king himself. [John, second Lord Robartes, advanced to the dignity of Earl of Radnor, 1679. Ob. 1685.]

Sept.22nd. In the House, after the Committee was up, I met with Mr. G. Montagu, and joyed him in his entrance (this being his 3rd day) for Dover. Here he made me sit all alone in the House, none but he and I, half an hour, discoursing how there was like to be many factions at Court between Marquis Ormond, [James, afterwards created Duke of Ormond, and K.G. and twice Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.] General Monk, and the Lord Roberts, about the business of Ireland; as there is already between the two Houses about the Act of Indemnity; and in the House of Commons, between the Episcopalian and Presbyterian men.

Tartuffe gave the guard at the gate a letter . As he made to walk through the open gate . Hearing voices he turned to his left only to see her ! . Passing the time of day with a man in Mulberry velvet he could overhear the man complimenting her and his heart raced in his chest . Quickly he passed through the gate wishing to put as much space between them as possible . The apartment door creaked open stiff with months of neglect. Allthough the furnishings were covered in cloths the air in the rooms was fusty . Tartuffe pulled the cloth from a cabinet in the corner and his mind was filled with images of a scene months earlier when the Comte de Chiverny had sent his ruffians to take possesion of the rooms and their contents. He was curious as to why his furniture , hangings , and pictures remained.

Moving to the window he could watch the scene he had watched earlier . She was still there and so was the popinjay in Mulberry velvet , Tartuffe continued to watch the one he called Columbine her look still grave behind a mask of etiquette . Should he send her a note? Had she recognized him ? Would she still want him ? . All these questions clamoured inside his head . Perhaps he should write to her at least to explain his absence for so long. He sighed ,