Diary, Aug/Sep 1666 | Page 9

to get a nap of an hour this afternoon after dinner. So home and to bed.

10th. Up and to my chamber; there did some business and then to my
office, and towards noon by water to the Exchequer about my Tangier
order, and thence back again and to the Exchange, where little newes
but what is in the book, and, among other things, of a man sent up for
by the King and Council for saying that Sir W. Coventry did give
intelligence to the Dutch of all our matters here. I met with Colvill, and
he and I did agree about his lending me L1000 upon a tally of L1000
for Tangier. Thence to Sympson, the joyner, and I am mightily pleased
with what I see of my presses for my books, which he is making for me.
So homeward, and hear in Fanchurch-streete, that now the mayde also
is dead at Mr. Rawlinson's; so that there are three dead in all, the wife,
a man- servant, and mayde-servant. Home to dinner, where sister Balty
dined with us, and met a letter come to me from him. He is well at
Harwich, going to the fleete. After dinner to the office, and anon with
my wife and sister abroad, left them in Paternoster Row, while Creed,
who was with me at the office, and I to Westminster; and leaving him
in the Strand, I to my Lord Chancellor's, and did very little business,
and so away home by water, with more and more pleasure, I every time

reading over my Lord Bacon's "Faber Fortunae." So home, and there
did little business, and then walked an hour talking of sundry things in
the garden, and find him a cunning knave, as I always observed him to
be, and so home to supper, and to bed. Pleased that this day I find, if I
please, I can have all my money in that I have out of my hands, but I
am at a loss whether to take it in or no, and pleased also to hear of Mrs.
Barbara Sheldon's good fortune, who is like to have Mr. Wood's son,
the mast- maker, a very rich man, and to be married speedily, she being
already mighty fine upon it.

11th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon home
to dinner, where mighty pleased at my wife's beginnings of a little
Virgin's head. To the office and did much business, and then to Mr.
Colvill's, and with him did come to an agreement about my L2600
assignment on the Exchequer, which I had of Sir W. Warren; and, to
my great joy, I think I shall get above L100 by it, but I must leave it to
be finished on Monday. Thence to the office, and there did the
remainder of my business, and so home to supper and to bed. This
afternoon I hear as if we had landed some men upon the Dutch coasts,
but I believe it is but a foolery either in the report or the attempt.

12th (Lord's day). Up and to my chamber, where busy all the morning,
and my thoughts very much upon the manner of my removal of my
closett things the next weeke into my present musique room, if I find I
can spare or get money to furnish it. By and by comes Reeves, by
appointment, but did not bring the glasses and things I expected for our
discourse and my information to-day, but we have agreed on it for next
Sunday. By and by, in comes Betty Michell and her husband, and so to
dinner, I mightily pleased with their company. We passed the whole
day talking with them, but without any pleasure, but only her being
there. In the evening, all parted, and I and my wife up to her closett to
consider how to order that the next summer, if we live to it; and then
down to my chamber at night to examine her kitchen accounts, and
there I took occasion to fall out with her for her buying a laced
handkercher and pinner without my leave. Though the thing is not
much, yet I would not permit her begin to do so, lest worse should
follow. From this we began both to be angry, and so continued till bed,

and did not sleep friends.

13th. Up, without being friends with my wife, nor great enemies, being
both quiet and silent. So out to Colvill's, but he not being come to town
yet, I to Paul's Church-yarde, to treat with a bookbinder, to come and
gild the backs of all my books, to make them handsome, to stand in my
new presses, when they come. So back again