Diary, May 1667 | Page 8

me, and when
he come home I enquired, he tells me he went to see his mother. I send
him back to her to send me some token that he was with her. So there
come a man with him back of good fashion. He says he saw him with
her, which pacified me, but I did soundly threaten him before him, and
so to dinner, and then had a little scolding with my wife for not being
fine enough to go to the christening to-day, which she excused by being
ill, as she was indeed, and cried, but I was in an ill humour and
ashamed, indeed, that she should not go dressed. However, friends by
and by, and we went by water to Michell's, and there his little house
full of his father and mothers and the kindred, hardly any else, and
mighty merry in this innocent company, and Betty mighty pretty in bed,
but, her head akeing, not very merry, but the company mighty merry,
and I with them, and so the child was christened; my wife, his father,
and her mother, the witnesses, and the child's name Elizabeth. So we
had gloves and wine and wafers, very pretty, and talked and tattled, and
so we away by water and up with the tide, she and I and Barker, as high
as Barne Eimes, it being a fine evening, and back again to pass the
bridges at standing water between 9 and 10 at might, and then home
and to supper, and then to bed with much pleasure. This day Sir W.
Coventry tells me the Dutch fleete shot some shot, four or five hundred,
into Burnt-Island in the Frith, but without any hurt; and so are gone.

6th. Up and angry with my mayds for letting in watermen, and I know
not who, anybody that they are acquainted with, into my kitchen to talk
and prate with them, which I will not endure. Then out and by coach to
my Lord Treasurer's, who continues still very ill, then to Sir Ph.
Warwicke's house, and there did a little business about my Tangier
tallies, and so to Westminster Hall, and there to the Exchequer to
consult about some way of getting our poor Creditors of the Navy (who
served in their goods before the late Session of Parliament) paid out of
the 11 months tax, which seems to relate only for goods to be then
served in, and I think I have found out a way to bring them into the Act,
which, if it do, I shall think a good service done. Thence by coach
home with Captain Cocke, in our way talking of my Lord Bruncker and
his Lady, who are mighty angry with us all of the office, about
Carcasse's business, but especially with me, and in great confidence he
bids me have a care of him, for he hath said that he would wound me
with the person where my greatest interest is. I suppose he means Sir W.
Coventry, and therefore I will beware of him, and am glad, though
vexed to hear it. So home to dinner, where Creed come, whom I vexed
devilishly with telling him a wise man, and good friend of his and mine,
did say that he lately went into the country to Hinchingbroke; and, at
his coming to town again, hath shifted his lodgings, only to avoid
paying to the Poll Bill, which is so true that he blushed, and could not
in words deny it, but the fellow did think to have not had it discovered.
He is so devilish a subtle false rogue, that I am really weary and afeard
of his company, and therefore after dinner left him in the house, and to
my office, where busy all the afternoon despatching much business,
and in the evening to Sir R. Viner's to adjust accounts there, and so
home, where some of our old Navy creditors come to me by my
direction to consider of what I have invented for their help as I have
said in the morning, and like it mighty well, and so I to the office,
where busy late, then home to supper and sing with my wife, who do
begin to give me real pleasure with her singing, and so to bed.

7th. Up betimes, and by coach to St. James's; but there find Sir W.
Coventry gone out betimes this morning, on horseback, with the King
and Duke of York, to Putney-heath,--to run some horses, and so back

again to the office, where some witnesses from Chatham which I sent
for are come up, and do give shrewd testimonies against Carcasse,
which put my Lord into a new flame, and he and I to high words, and
so broke