Diary, March 1667/68 | Page 9

is a shirke, who owns his owing me L10
for his lady two or three years ago, and yet cannot provide to pay me.
The company by and by parted, and G. Carteret and I to White Hall,
where I set him down and took his coach as far as the Temple, it
raining, and there took a hackney and home, and so had my head
combed, and then to bed.

9th. Up betimes, and anon with Sir W. Warren, who come to speak
with me, by coach to White Hall, and there met Lord Brouncker: and he
and I to the Commissioners of the Treasury, where I find them mighty
kind to me, more, I think, than was wont. And here I also met Colvill,
the goldsmith; who tells me, with great joy, how the world upon the
'Change talks of me; and how several Parliamentmen, viz., Boscawen
and Major [Lionel] Walden, of Huntingdon, who, it seems, do deal
with him, do say how bravely I did speak, and that the House was ready
to have given me thanks for it; but that, I think, is a vanity. Thence I
with Lord Brouncker, and did take up his mistress, Williams, and so to
the 'Change, only to shew myself, and did a little business there, and so
home to dinner, and then to the office busy till the evening, and then to
the Excize Office, where I find Mr. Ball in a mighty trouble that he is
to be put out of his place at Midsummer, the whole Commission being
to cease, and the truth is I think they are very fair dealing men, all of
them. Here I did do a little business, and then to rights home, and there
dispatched many papers, and so home late to supper and to bed, being
eased of a great many thoughts, and yet have a great many more to
remove as fast as I can, my mind being burdened with them, having

been so much employed upon the public business of the office in their
defence before the Parliament of late, and the further cases that do
attend it.

10th. Up, and to the office betimes, where all the morning. At noon
home to dinner with my clerks, and after dinner comes Kate Joyce, who
tells me she is putting off her house, which I am glad of, but it was
pleasant that she come on purpose to me about getting a ticket paid, and
in her way hither lost her ticket, so that she is at a great loss what to
do.--There comes in then Mrs. Mercer, the mother, the first time she
has been here since her daughter lived with us, to see my wife, and
after a little talk I left them and to the office, and thence with Sir D.
Gawden to Westminster Hall, thinking to have attended the Committee
about the Victualling business, but they did not meet, but here we met
Sir R. Brookes, who do mightily cry up my speech the other day,
saying my fellow-officers are obliged to me, as indeed they are. Thence
with Sir D. Gawden homewards, calling at Lincolne's Inn Fields: but
my Lady Jemimah was not within: and so to Newgate, where he
stopped to give directions to the jaylor about a Knight, one Sir Thomas
Halford brought in yesterday for killing one Colonel Temple, falling
out at a taverne. So thence as far as Leadenhall, and there I 'light, and
back by coach to Lincoln's Inn Fields; but my Lady was not come in,
and so I am at a great loss whether she and her brother Hinchingbroke
and sister will dine with me to-morrow or no, which vexes me. So
home; and there comes Mr. Moore to me, who tells me that he fears my
Lord Sandwich will meet with very great difficulties to go through
about the prizes, it being found that he did give orders for more than
the King's letter do justify; and then for the Act of Resumption, which
he fears will go on, and is designed only to do him hurt, which troubles
me much. He tells me he believes the Parliament will not be brought to
do anything in matters of religion, but will adhere to the Bishops. So he
gone, I up to supper, where I find W. Joyce and Harman come to see us,
and there was also Mrs. Mercer and her two daughters, and here we
were as merry as that fellow Joyce could make us with his mad talking,
after the old wont, which tired me. But I was mightily pleased with his
singing; for the rogue hath a very good eare, and a good voice. Here he
stayed till he was almost drunk, and