Diary, January 1666/67 | Page 8

so as I do wonder at his parts and the unhappiness of his
speaking. Thence home by coach and to the office, and then home to
supper, Mercer and her sister there, and to cards, and then to bed. Mr.
Cowling did this day in the House-lobby tell me of the many
complaints among people against Mr. Townsend in the Wardrobe, and

advises me to think of my Lord Sandwich's concernment there under
his care. He did also tell me upon my demanding it, that he do believe
there are some things on foot for a peace between France and us, but
that we shall be foiled in it.

10th. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon home and, there
being business to do in the afternoon, took my Lord Bruncker home
with me, who dined with me. His discourse and mine about the bad
performances of the Controller's and Surveyor's places by the hands
they are now in, and the shame to the service and loss the King suffers
by it. Then after dinner to the office, where we and some of the chief of
the Trinity House met to examine the occasion of the loss of The Prince
Royall, the master and mates being examined, which I took and keep,
and so broke up, and I to my letters by the post, and so home and to
supper with my mind at pretty good ease, being entered upon minding
my business, and so to bed. This noon Mrs. Burroughs come to me
about business, whom I did baiser . . . .

11th. Up, being troubled at my being found abed a-days by all sorts of
people, I having got a trick of sitting up later than I need, never supping,
or very seldom, before 12 at night. Then to the office, there busy all the
morning, and among other things comes Sir W. Warren and walked
with me awhile, whose discourse I love, he being a very wise man and
full of good counsel, and his own practices for wisdom much to be
observed, and among other things he tells me how he is fallen in with
my Lord Bruncker, who has promised him most particular inward
friendship and yet not to appear at the board to do so, and he tells me
how my Lord Bruncker should take notice of the two flaggons he saw
at my house at dinner, at my late feast, and merrily, yet I know
enviously, said, I could not come honestly by them. This I am glad to
hear, though vexed to see his ignoble soul, but I shall beware of him,
and yet it is fit he should see I am no mean fellow, but can live in the
world, and have something. At noon home to dinner, and then to the
office with my people and very busy, and did dispatch to my great
satisfaction abundance of business, and do resolve, by the grace of God,
to stick to it till I have cleared my heart of most things wherein I am in
arrear in public and private matters. At night, home to supper and to

bed. This day ill news of my father's being very ill of his old grief the
rupture, which troubles me.

12th. Up, still lying long in bed; then to the office, where sat very long.
Then home to dinner, and so to the office again, mighty busy, and did
to the joy of my soul dispatch much business, which do make my heart
light, and will enable me to recover all the ground I have lost (if I have
by my late minding my pleasures lost any) and assert myself. So home
to supper, and then to read a little in Moore's "Antidote against
Atheisme," a pretty book, and so to bed.

13th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, where young Lowther come to
church with Sir W. Pen and his Lady and daughter, and my wife tells
me that either they are married or the match is quite perfected, which I
am apt to believe, because all the peoples' eyes in the church were
much fixed upon them. At noon sent for Mercer, who dined with us,
and very merry, and so I, after dinner, walked to the Old Swan,
thinking to have got a boat to White Hall, but could not, nor was there
anybody at home at Michell's, where I thought to have sat with her . . . .
So home, to church, a dull sermon, and then home at my chamber all
the evening. So to supper and to bed.

14th. Up, and to the office, where busy getting beforehand with my
business as fast as I can. At noon home to