Diary, January 1668/69 | Page 7

begun mighty upon us, as if we had no power of directing
them, but they, us. Thence back presently home, to dinner, where I
discern my wife to have been in pain about where I have been, but said
nothing to me, but I believe did send W. Hewer to seek me, but I take
no notice of it, but am vexed. So to dinner with my people, and then to
the Office, where all the afternoon, and did much business, and at it late,
and so home to supper, and to bed. This day, meeting Mr. Pierce at
White Hall, he tells me that his boy hath a great mind to see me, and is
going to school again; and Dr. Clerke, being by, do tell me that he is a
fine boy; but I durst not answer anything, because I durst not invite him
to my house, for fear of my wife; and therefore, to my great trouble,
was forced to neglect that discourse. But here Mr. Pierce, I asking him
whither he was going, told me as a great secret that he was going to his
master's mistress, Mrs. Churchill, with some physic; meaning for the
pox I suppose, or else that she is got with child. This evening I
observed my wife mighty dull, and I myself was not mighty fond,
because of some hard words she did give me at noon, out of a jealousy
at my being abroad this morning, which, God knows, it was upon the
business of the Office unexpectedly: but I to bed, not thinking but she
would come after me. But waking by and by out of a slumber, which I
usually fall into presently after my coming into the bed, I found she did
not prepare to come to bed, but got fresh candles, and more wood for
her fire, it being mighty cold, too. At this being troubled, I after a while
prayed her to come to bed, all my people being gone to bed; so, after an
hour or two, she silent, and I now and then praying her to come to bed,
she fell out into a fury, that I was a rogue, and false to her. But yet I did
perceive that she was to seek what to say, only she invented, I believe,
a business that I was seen in a hackney coach with the glasses up with
Deb., but could not tell the time, nor was sure I was he. I did, as I might

truly, deny it, and was mightily troubled, but all would not serve. At
last, about one o'clock, she come to my side of the bed, and drew my
curtaine open, and with the tongs red hot at the ends, made as if she did
design to pinch me with them, at which, in dismay, I rose up, and with
a few words she laid them down; and did by little and, little, very sillily,
let all the discourse fall; and about two, but with much seeming
difficulty, come to bed, and there lay well all night, and long in bed
talking together, with much pleasure, it being, I know, nothing but her
doubt of my going out yesterday, without telling her of my going,
which did vex her, poor wretch! last night, and I cannot blame her
jealousy, though it do vex me to the heart.

13th. So up and by coach to Sir W. Coventry's, but he gone out, so I to
White Hall, and thence walked out into the Park, all in the snow, with
the Duke of York and the rest, and so home, after visiting my Lady
Peterborough, and there by invitation find Mr. Povy, and there was also
Talbot Pepys, newly come from Impington, and dined with me; and
after dinner and a little talk with Povy about publick matters, he gone,
and I and my wife and Talbot towards the Temple, and there to the
King's playhouse, and there saw, I think, "The Maiden Queene," and so
home and to supper and read, and to bed. This day come home the
instrument I have so long longed for, the Parallelogram.

14th. Up and to the office, where all the morning busy, and so home to
dinner, where Goodgroome with us, and after dinner a song, and then to
the office, where busy till night, and then home to work there with W.
Hewer to get ready some Tangier papers against to-morrow, and so to
supper and to bed.

15th. Up, and by coach to Sir W. Coventry, where with him a good
while in his chamber, talking of one thing or another; among others, he
told me of the great factions at Court at this day, even to the sober