Diary, Mar/Apr 1665/66 | Page 9

business, and I offered L500, and he declares most ingenuously
that his trade is not to be trusted on, that he however needs no money,
but would have her money bestowed on her, which I like well, he
saying that he would adventure 2 or L300 with her. I like him as a most
good-natured, and discreet man, and, I believe, very cunning. We come
to this conclusion for us to meete one another the next weeke, and then
we hope to come to some end, for I did declare myself well satisfied
with the match. Thence to Hales's, where I met my wife and people;
and do find the picture, above all things, a most pretty picture, and
mighty like my wife; and I asked him his price: he says L14, and the
truth is, I think he do deserve it. Thence toward London and home, and
I to the office, where I did much, and betimes to bed, having had of late
so little sleep, and there slept

16th. Till 7 this morning. Up and all the morning about the Victualler's
business, passing his account. At noon to the 'Change, and did several
businesses, and thence to the Crowne behind the 'Change and dined
with my Lord Bruncker and Captain Cocke and Fenn, and Madam
Williams, who without question must be my Lord's wife, and else she
could not follow him wherever he goes and kisse and use him
publiquely as she do. Thence to the office, where Sir W. Pen and I
made an end of the Victualler's business, and thence abroad about
several businesses, and so in the evening back again, and anon called
on by Mr. Povy, and he and I staid together in my chamber till 12 at
night ending our reckonings and giving him tallys for all I was to pay
him and so parted, and I to make good my Journall for two or three
days, and begun it till I come to the other side, where I have scratched
so much, for, for want of sleep, I begun to write idle and from the
purpose. So forced to breake off, and to bed.--[There are several
erasures in the original MS.]

17th. Up, and to finish my Journall, which I had not sense enough the
last night to make an end of, and thence to the office, where very busy
all the morning. At noon home to dinner and presently with my wife
out to Hales's, where I am still infinitely pleased with my wife's picture.
I paid him L14 for it, and 25s. for the frame, and I think it is not a whit
too deare for so good a picture. It is not yet quite finished and dry, so as
to be fit to bring home yet. This day I begun to sit, and he will make me,
I think, a very fine picture. He promises it shall be as good as my wife's,
and I sit to have it full of shadows, and do almost break my neck
looking over my shoulder to make the posture for him to work by.
Thence home and to the office, and so home having a great cold, and so
my wife and Mrs. Barbary have very great ones, we are at a loss how
we all come by it together, so to bed, drinking butter-ale. This day my
W. Hewer comes from Portsmouth and gives me an instance of another
piece of knavery of Sir W. Pen, who wrote to Commissioner Middleton,
that it was my negligence the other day he was not acquainted, as the
board directed, with our clerks coming down to the pay. But I need no
new arguments to teach me that he is a false rogue to me and all the
world besides.

18th (Lord's day). Up and my cold better, so to church, and then home
to dinner, and so walked out to St. James's Church, thinking to have
seen faire Mrs. Butler, but could not, she not being there, nor, I believe,
lives thereabouts now. So walked to Westminster, very fine fair dry
weather, but all cry out for lack of rain. To Herbert's and drank, and
thence to Mrs. Martin's, and did what I would with her; her husband
going for some wine for us. The poor man I do think would take pains
if I can get him a purser's place, which I will endeavour. She tells me as
a secret that Betty Howlet of the Hall, my little sweetheart, that I used
to call my second wife, is married to a younger son of Mr. Michell's
(his elder brother, who should have had her, being dead this plague), at
which I am glad, and that they are to live nearer me in Thames