Diary, Jan/Feb 1661/62 | Page 9

what justice God would lay our sins upon his Son, he did make
such a sermon (among other things pleading, from God's universal
sovereignty over all his creatures, the power he has of commanding
what he would of his Son by the same rule as that he might have made
us all, and the whole world from the beginning to have been in hell,
arguing from the power the potter has over his clay), that I could have
wished he had let it alone; and speaking again, the Father is now so
satisfied by our security for our debt, that we might say at the last day
as many of us as have interest in Christ's death: Lord, we owe thee
nothing, our debt is paid. We are not beholden to, thee for anything, for
thy debt is paid to thee to the full; which methinks were very bold
words. Home to dinner, and then my wife and I on foot to see Mrs.
Turner, who continues still sick, and thence into the Old Bayly by

appointment to speak with Mrs. Norbury who lies at (it falls out) next
door to my uncle Fenner's; but as God would have it, we having no
desire to be seen by his people, he having lately married a midwife that
is old and ugly, and that hath already brought home to him a daughter
and three children, we were let in at a back door. And here she offered
me the refusall of some lands of her's at Brampton, if I have a mind to
buy, which I answered her I was not at present provided to do. She took
occasion to talk of her sister Wight's making much of the Wights, who
for namesake only my uncle do shew great kindness to, so I fear may
do us that are nearer to him a great deal of wrong, if he should die
without children, which I am sorry for. Thence to my uncle Wight's,
and there we supped and were merry, though my uncle hath lately lost
200 or 300 at sea, and I am troubled to hear that the Turks do take more
and more of our ships in the Straights, and that our merchants here in
London do daily break, and are still likely to do so. So home, and I put
in at Sir W. Batten's, where Major Holmes was, and in our discourse
and drinking I did give Sir J. Mennes' health, which he swore he would
not pledge, and called him knave and coward (upon the business of
Holmes with the Swedish ship lately), which we all and I particularly
did desire him to forbear, he being of our fraternity, which he took in
great dudgeon, and I was vexed to hear him persist in calling him so,
though I believe it to be true, but however he is to blame and I am
troubled at it. So home and to prayers, and to bed.

20th. This morning Sir Win. Batten and Pen and I did begin the
examining the Treasurer's accounts, the first time ever he had passed in
the office, which is very long, and we were all at it till noon, and then
to dinner, he providing a fine dinner for us, and we eat it at Sir W.
Batten's, where we were very merry, there being at table the Treasurer
and we three, Mr. Wayth, Ferrer, Smith, Turner, and Mr. Morrice, the
wine cooper, who this day did divide the two butts, which we four did
send for, of sherry from Cales, and mine was put into a hogshead, and
the vessel filled up with four gallons of Malaga wine, but what it will
stand us in I know not: but it is the first great quantity of wine that I
ever bought. And after dinner to the office all the afternoon till late at
night, and then home, where my aunt and uncle Wight and Mrs. Anne
Wight came to play at cards (at gleek which she taught me and my wife

last week) and so to supper, and then to cards and so good night. Then I
to my practice of musique and then at 12 o'clock to bed. This day the
workmen began to make me a sellar door out of the back yard, which
will much please me.

21st. To the finishing of the Treasurer's accounts this morning, and then
to dinner again, and were merry as yesterday, and so home, and then to
the office till night, and then home to write letters, and to practise my
composition of musique, and then to bed. We have heard nothing yet
how far the fleet hath got toward Portugall, but the wind being changed
again, we fear they are stopped,