Diary, Aug/Sep 1660 | Page 6

I was up Will came home pretty well again, he
having been only weary with riding, which he is not used to.

6th. This morning at the office, and, that being done, home to dinner all
alone, my wife being ill in pain a-bed, which I was troubled at, and not
a little impatient. After dinner to Whitehall at the Privy Seal all the
afternoon, and at night with Mr. Man to Mr. Rawlinson's in Fenchurch
Street, where we staid till eleven o'clock at night. So home and to bed,
my wife being all this day in great pain. This night Mr. Man offered me
L1000 for my office of Clerk of the Acts, which made my mouth water;
but yet I dare not take it till I speak with my Lord to have his consent.

7th. This morning to Whitehall to the Privy Seal, and took Mr. Moore
and myself and dined at my Lord's with Mr. Sheply. While I was at
dinner in come Sam. Hartlibb and his brother-in-law, now knighted by
the King, to request my promise of a ship for them to Holland, which I
had promised to get for them. After dinner to the Privy Seal all the

afternoon. At night, meeting Sam. Hartlibb, he took me by coach to
Kensington, to my Lord of Holland's; I staid in the coach while he went
in about his business. He staying long I left the coach and walked back
again before on foot (a very pleasant walk) to Kensington, where I
drank and staid very long waiting for him. At last he came, and after
drinking at the inn we went towards Westminster. Here I endeavoured
to have looked out Jane that formerly lived at Dr. Williams' at
Cambridge, whom I had long thought to live at present here, but I
found myself in an error, meeting one in the place where I expected to
have found her, but she proved not she though very like her. We went
to the Bullhead, where he and I sat and drank till 11 at night, and so
home on foot. Found my wife pretty well again, and so to bed.

8th. We met at the office, and after that to dinner at home, and from
thence with my wife by water to Catan Sterpin, with whom and her
mistress Pye we sat discoursing of Kate's marriage to Mons. Petit, her
mistress and I giving the best advice we could for her to suspend her
marriage till Mons. Petit had got some place that may be able to
maintain her, and not for him to live upon the portion that she shall
bring him. From thence to Mr. Butler's to see his daughters, the first
time that ever we made a visit to them. We found them very pretty, and
Coll. Dillon there, a very merry and witty companion, but methinks
they live in a gaudy but very poor condition. From thence, my wife and
I intending to see Mrs. Blackburne, who had been a day or two again to
see my wife, but my wife was not in condition to be seen, but she not
being at home my wife went to her mother's and I to the Privy Seal. At
night from the Privy Seal, Mr. Woodson and Mr. Jennings and I to the
Sun Tavern till it was late, and from thence to my Lord's, where my
wife was come from Mrs. Blackburne's to me, and after I had done
some business with my Lord, she and I went to Mrs. Hunt's, who would
needs have us to lie at her house to-night, she being with my wife so
late at my Lord's with us, and would not let us go home to-night. We
lay there all night very pleasantly and at ease . . . . [One is curious as to
Pepy's remarks, here and in many other places, that the Wheatly
censors out with his puritanical periods . . . D.W.]

9th. Left my wife at Mrs. Hunt's and I to my Lord's, and from thence

with judge Advocate Fowler, Mr. Creed, and Mr. Sheply to the Rhenish
Wine-house, and Captain Hayward of the Plymouth, who is now
ordered to carry my Lord Winchelsea, Embassador to Constantinople.
We were very merry, and judge Advocate did give Captain Hayward
his Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy. Thence to my office of Privy
Seal, and, having signed some things there, with Mr. Moore and Dean
Fuller to the Leg in King Street, and, sending for my wife, we dined
there very merry, and after dinner, parted. After dinner with my wife to
Mrs. Blackburne to visit her. She being within I left my wife there, and
I to the Privy Seal, where I despatch some