Diary, May/Jun 1663 | Page 5

was ever made any man; and the next, I
remember I told my wife, I believe would be a pound of candles, or a
shoulder of mutton; but the fellow do it in kindness, and is one I am
beholden to. So to bed very weary, and a little galled for lack of riding,
praying to God for a good journey to my father, of whom I am afeard,
he being so lately ill of his pain.

2nd. Being weary last night, I slept till almost seven o'clock, a thing I
have not done many a day. So up and to my office (being come to some
angry words with my wife about neglecting the keeping of the house
clean, I calling her beggar, and she me pricklouse, which vexed me)
and there all the morning. So to the Exchange and then home to dinner,
and very merry and well pleased with my wife, and so to the office

again, where we met extraordinary upon drawing up the debts of the
Navy to my Lord Treasurer. So rose and up to Sir W. Pen to drink a
glass of bad syder in his new far low dining room, which is very noble,
and so home, where Captain Ferrers and his lady are come to see my
wife, he being to go the beginning of next week to France to sea and I
think to fetch over my young Lord Hinchinbroke. They being gone I to
my office to write letters by the post, and so home to supper and to bed.

3rd (Lord's day). Up before 5 o'clock and alone at setting my Brampton
papers to rights according to my father's and my computation and
resolution the other day to my good content, I finding that there will be
clear saved to us L50 per annum, only a debt of it may be L100. So
made myself ready and to church, where Sir W. Pen showed me the
young lady which young Dawes, that sits in the new corner-pew in the
church, hath stole away from Sir Andrew Rickard, her guardian, worth
L1000 per annum present, good land, and some money, and a very
well-bred and handsome lady: he, I doubt, but a simple fellow.
However, he got this good luck to get her, which methinks I could envy
him with all my heart. Home to dinner with my wife, who not being
very well did not dress herself but staid at home all day, and so I to
church in the afternoon and so home again, and up to teach Ashwell the
grounds of time and other things on the tryangle, and made her take out
a Psalm very well, she having a good ear and hand. And so a while to
my office, and then home to supper and prayers, to bed, my wife and I
having a little falling out because I would not leave my discourse below
with her and Ashwell to go up and talk with her alone upon something
she has to say. She reproached me but I had rather talk with any body
than her, by which I find I think she is jealous of my freedom with
Ashwell, which I must avoid giving occasion of.

4th. Up betimes and to setting my Brampton papers in order and
looking over my wardrobe against summer, and laying things in order
to send to my brother to alter. By and by took boat intending to have
gone down to Woolwich, but seeing I could not get back time enough
to dinner, I returned and home. Whither by and by the dancing-master'
came, whom standing by, seeing him instructing my wife, when he had
done with her, he would needs have me try the steps of a coranto, and

what with his desire and my wife's importunity, I did begin, and then
was obliged to give him entry-money 10s., and am become his scholler.
The truth is, I think it a thing very useful for a gentleman, and
sometimes I may have occasion of using it, and though it cost me what
I am heartily sorry it should, besides that I must by my oath give half as
much more to the poor, yet I am resolved to get it up some other way,
and then it will not be above a month or two in a year. So though it be
against my stomach yet I will try it a little while; if I see it comes to
any great inconvenience or charge I will fling it off. After I had begun
with the steps of half a coranto, which I think I shall learn well enough,
he went away, and we to dinner, and by and by out by coach, and set
my