Diary, Apr/May 1668 | Page 9

to build in Cornhill
and Lumbard Street; but he hath purchased so much there, that it looks
like a little town, and must have cost him a great deal of money.

13th. Up, and at the Office a good while, and then, my wife going
down the River to spend the day with her mother at Deptford, I abroad,
and first to the milliner's in Fenchurch Street, over against Rawlinson's,
and there, meeting both him and her in the shop, I bought a pair of
gloves, and fell to talk, and found so much freedom that I stayed there
the best part of the morning till towards noon, with great pleasure, it
being a holiday, and then against my will away and to the 'Change,
where I left W. Hewer, and I by hackney-coach to the Spittle, and heard
a piece of a dull sermon to my Lord Mayor and Aldermen, and thence
saw them all take horse and ride away, which I have not seen together
many a-day; their wives also went in their coaches; and, indeed, the
sight was mighty pleasing. Thence took occasion to go back to this
milliner's [in Fenchurch Street], whose name I now understand to be
Clerke; and there, her husband inviting me up to the balcony, to see the
sight go by to dine at Clothworker's-Hall, I did go up and there saw it
go by: and then; there being a good piece of cold roast beef upon the
tables and one Margetts, a young merchant that lodges there, and is
likely to marry a sister of hers, I staid and eat, and had much good
conversation with her, who hath the vanity to talk of her great friends
and father, one Wingate, near Welling;, that hath been a
Parliament-man. Here also was Stapely: the rope-merchant, and dined

with us; and, after spending most of the afternoon also, I away home,
and there sent for W. Hewer, and he and I by water to White Hall to
loop among other things, for Mr. May, to unbespeak his dining with me
to-morrow. But here being in the court-yard, God would have it, I spied
Deb., which made my heart and head to work, and I presently could not
refrain, but sent W. Hewer away to look for Mr. Wren (W. Hewer, I
perceive, did see her, but whether he did see me see her I know not, or
suspect my sending him away I know not, but my heart could not
hinder me), and I run after her and two women and a man, more
ordinary people, and she in her old clothes, and after hunting a little,
find them in the lobby of the chapel below stairs, and there I observed
she endeavoured to avoid me, but I did speak to her and she to me, and
did get her pour dire me ou she demeurs now, and did charge her para
say nothing of me that I had vu elle, which she did promise, and so
with my heart full of surprize and disorder I away, and meeting with Sir
H. Cholmley walked into the Park with him and back again, looking to
see if I could spy her again in the Park, but I could not. And so back to
White Hall, and then back to the Park with Mr. May, but could see her,
no more, and so with W. Hewer, who I doubt by my countenance might
see some disorder in me, we home by water, and there I find Talbot
Pepys, and Mrs. Turner, and Betty, come to invite us to dinner on
Thursday; and, after drinking, I saw them to the water-side, and so back
home through Crutched Friars, and there saw Mary Mercer, and put off
my hat to her, on the other side of the way, but it being a little darkish
she did not, I think, know me well, and so to my office to put my
papers in order, they having been removed for my closet to be made
clean, and so home to my wife, who is come home from Deptford. But,
God forgive me, I hardly know how to put on confidence enough to
speak as innocent, having had this passage to-day with Deb., though
only, God knows, by accident. But my great pain is lest God Almighty
shall suffer me to find out this girl, whom indeed I love, and with a bad
amour, but I will pray to God to give me grace to forbear it. So home to
supper, where very sparing in my discourse, not giving occasion of any
enquiry where I have been to-day, or what I have done, and so without
any trouble to-night more than my fear, we to bed.

14th. Up, and