Diary, Jan/Feb 1663/64 | Page 6

to bed
with my mind at rest.

5th. Up and to our office, where we sat all the morning, where my head
being willing to take in all business whatever, I am afraid I shall over
clogg myself with it. But however, it is my desire to do my duty and
shall the willinger bear it. At noon home and to the 'Change, where I
met with Luellin, who went off with me and parted to meet again at the
Coffeehouse, but missed. So home and found him there, and Mr.
Barrow came to speak with me, so they both dined with me alone, my
wife not being ready, and after dinner I up in my chamber with Barrow
to discourse about matters of the yard with him, and his design of
leaving the place, which I am sorry for, and will prevent if I can. He
being gone then Luellin did give me the L50 from Mr. Deering, which
he do give me for my pains in his business and what I may hereafter
take for him, though there is not the least word or deed I have yet been
guilty of in his behalf but what I am sure has been to the King's
advantage and the profit of the service, nor ever will. And for this
money I never did condition with him or expected a farthing at the time
when I did do him the service, nor have given any receipt for it, it being
brought me by Luellin, nor do purpose to give him any thanks for it,
but will wherein I can faithfully endeavour to see him have the

privilege of his Patent as the King's merchant. I did give Luellin two
pieces in gold for a pair of gloves for his kindness herein. Then he
being gone, I to my office, where busy till late at night, that through my
room being over confounded in business I could stay there no longer,
but went home, and after a little supper to bed.

6th (Twelfth day). Up and to my office, where very busy all the
morning, being indeed over loaded with it through my own desire of
doing all I can. At noon to the 'Change, but did little, and so home to
dinner with my poor wife, and after dinner read a lecture to her in
Geography, which she takes very prettily and with great pleasure to her
and me to teach her, and so to the office again, where as busy as ever in
my life, one thing after another, and answering people's business,
particularly drawing up things about Mr. Wood's masts, which I expect
to have a quarrel about with Sir W. Batten before it be ended, but I care
not. At night home to my wife, to supper, discourse, prayers, and to bed.
This morning I began a practice which I find by the ease I do it with
that I shall continue, it saving me money and time; that is, to trimme
myself with a razer: which pleases me mightily.

7th. Up, putting on my best clothes and to the office, where all the
morning we sat busy, among other things upon Mr. Wood's
performance of his contract for masts, wherein I was mightily
concerned, but I think was found all along in the right, and shall have
my desire in it to the King's advantage. At noon, all of us to dinner to
Sir W. Pen's, where a very handsome dinner, Sir J. Lawson among
others, and his lady and his daughter, a very pretty lady and of good
deportment, with looking upon whom I was greatly pleased, the rest of
the company of the women were all of our own house, of no
satisfaction or pleasure at all. My wife was not there, being not well
enough, nor had any great mind. But to see how Sir W. Pen imitates me
in everything, even in his having his chimney piece in his dining room
the same with that in my wife's closett, and in every thing else I
perceive wherein he can. But to see again how he was out in one
compliment: he lets alone drinking any of the ladies' healths that were
there, my Lady Batten and Lawson, till he had begun with my Lady
Carteret, who was absent, and that was well enough, and then Mr.

Coventry's mistresse, at which he was ashamed, and would not have
had him have drunk it, at least before the ladies present, but his policy,
as he thought, was such that he would do it. After dinner by coach with
Sir G. Carteret and Sir J. Minnes by appointment to Auditor Beale's in
Salisbury Court, and there we did with great content look over some
old