Diary, Apr/May 1661 | Page 9

to do and did afterwards speak to Mr.
Moore, and he is willing. Then hearing that Mr. Barnwell was come,
with some of my Lord's little children, yesterday to town, to see the
Coronacion, I went and found them at the Goat, at Charing Cross, and
there I went and drank with them a good while, whom I found in very
good health and very merry Then to my father's, and after supper
seemed willing to go home, and my wife seeming to be so too I went

away in a discontent, but she, poor wretch, followed me as far in the
rain and dark as Fleet Bridge to fetch me back again, and so I did, and
lay with her to-night, which I have not done these eight or ten days
before.

15th. From my father's, it being a very foul morning for the King and
Lords to go to Windsor, I went to the office and there met Mr.
Coventry and Sir Robt. Slingsby, but did no business, but only appoint
to go to Deptford together tomorrow. Mr. Coventry being gone, and I
having at home laid up L200 which I had brought this morning home
from Alderman Backwell's, I went home by coach with Sir R. Slingsby
and dined with him, and had a very good dinner. His lady' seems a
good woman and very desirous they were to hear this noon by the post
how the election has gone at Newcastle, wherein he is concerned, but
the letters are not come yet. To my uncle Wight's, and after a little stay
with them he and I to Mr. Rawlinson's, and there staid all the afternoon,
it being very foul, and had a little talk with him what good I might
make of these ships that go to Portugal by venturing some money by
them, and he will give me an answer to it shortly. So home and sent for
the Barber, and after that to bed.

16th. So soon as word was brought me that Mr. Coventry was come
with the barge to the Towre, I went to him, and found him reading of
the Psalms in short hand (which he is now busy about), and had good
sport about the long marks that are made there for sentences in divinity,
which he is never like to make use of. Here he and I sat till the
Comptroller came and then we put off for Deptford, where we went on
board the King's pleasure boat that Commissioner Pett is making, and
indeed it will be a most pretty thing. From thence to Commr. Pett's
lodging, and there had a good breakfast, and in came the two Sir Wms.
from Walthamstow, and so we sat down and did a great deal of public
business about the fitting of the fleet that is now going out. That done
we went to the Globe and there had a good dinner, and by and by took
barge again and so home. By the way they would have me sing, which I
did to Mr. Coventry, who went up to Sir William Batten's, and there we
staid and talked a good while, and then broke up and I home, and then
to my father's and there lay with my wife.

17th. By land and saw the arches, which are now almost done and are
very fine, and I saw the picture of the ships and other things this
morning, set up before the East Indy House, which are well done. So to
the office, and that being done I went to dinner with Sir W. Batten, and
then home to my workmen, and saw them go on with great content to
me. Then comes Mr. Allen of Chatham, and I took him to the Mitre and
there did drink with him, and did get of him the song that pleased me so
well there the other day, "Of Shitten come Shites the beginning of
love." His daughters are to come to town to-morrow, but I know not
whether I shall see them or no. That done I went to the Dolphin by
appointment and there I met Sir Wms. both and Mr. Castle, and did eat
a barrel of oysters and two lobsters, which I did give them, and were
very merry. Here we had great talk of Mr. Warren's being knighted by
the King, and Sir W. B. seemed to be very much incensed against him.
So home.

18th. Up with my workmen and then about 9 o'clock took horse with
both the Sir Williams for Walthamstow, and there we found my Lady
and her daughters all; and a pleasant day it was, and all things else, but
that my Lady was in a bad mood, which we were