Diary, Jan/Feb 1663/64 | Page 7

ledgers to see in what manner they were kept, and indeed it was in
an extraordinary good method, and such as (at least out of design to
keep them employed) I do persuade Sir J. Minnes to go upon, which
will at least do as much good it may be to keep them for want of
something to do from envying those that do something. Thence calling
to see whether Mrs. Turner was returned, which she is, and I spoke one
word only to her, and away again by coach home and to my office,
where late, and then home to supper and bed.

8th. Up and all the morning at my office and with Sir J. Minnes,
directing him and Mr. Turner about keeping of their books according to
yesterday's work, wherein I shall make them work enough. At noon to
the 'Change, and there long, and from thence by appointment took
Luellin, Mount, and W. Symons, and Mr. Pierce, the chirurgeon, home
to dinner with me and were merry. But, Lord! to hear how W. Symons
do commend and look sadly and then talk bawdily and merrily, though
his wife was dead but the other day, would make a dogg laugh. After
dinner I did go in further part of kindness to Luellin for his kindness
about Deering's L50 which he procured me the other day of him. We
spent all the afternoon together and then they to cards with my wife,
who this day put on her Indian blue gowne which is very pretty, where
I left them for an hour, and to my office, and then to them again, and by
and by they went away at night, and so I again to my office to perfect a
letter to Mr. Coventry about Department Treasurers, wherein I please
myself and hope to give him content and do the King service therein.
So having done, I home and to teach my wife a new lesson in the
globes, and to supper, and to bed. We had great pleasure this afternoon;
among other things, to talk of our old passages together in Cromwell's
time; and how W. Symons did make me laugh and wonder to-day when
he told me how he had made shift to keep in, in good esteem and
employment, through eight governments in one year (the dear 1659,
which were indeed, and he did name them all), and then failed unhappy

in the ninth, viz. that of the King's coming in. He made good to me the
story which Luellin did tell me the other day, of his wife upon her
death-bed; how she dreamt of her uncle Scobell, and did foretell, from
some discourse she had with him, that she should die four days thence,
and not sooner, and did all along say so, and did so. Upon the 'Change a
great talke there was of one Mr. Tryan, an old man, a merchant in
Lyme-Streete, robbed last night (his man and mayde being gone out
after he was a-bed), and gagged and robbed of L1050 in money and
about L4000 in jewells, which he had in his house as security for
money. It is believed by many circumstances that his man is guilty of
confederacy, by their ready going to his secret till in his desk, wherein
the key of his cash-chest lay.

9th. Up (my underlip being mightily swelled, I know not how but by
overrubbing it, it itching) and to the office, where we sat all the
morning, and at noon I home to dinner, and by discourse with my wife
thought upon inviting my Lord Sandwich to a dinner shortly. It will
cost me at least ten or twelve pounds; but, however, some arguments of
prudence I have, which however I shall think again upon before I
proceed to that expence. After dinner by coach I carried my wife and
Jane to Westminster, leaving her at Mr. Hunt's, and I to Westminster
Hall, and there visited Mrs. Lane, and by appointment went out and
met her at the Trumpet, Mrs. Hare's, but the room being damp we went
to the Bell tavern, and there I had her company, but could not do as I
used to do (yet nothing but what was honest) . . . . . So I to talk about
her having Hawley, she told me flatly no, she could not love him. I
took occasion to enquire of Howlett's daughter, with whom I have a
mind to meet a little to see what mettle the young wench is made of,
being very pretty, but she tells me she is already betrothed to Mrs.
Michell's son, and she in discourse tells me more, that Mrs. Michell
herself had a daughter before marriage, which is now near