Diary, Nov/Dec 1661 | Page 6

merry, and by discourse I found Sir J. Minnes a fine
gentleman and a very good scholler. After dinner to the Wardrobe, and
thence to Dr. Williams, who went with me (the first time that he has
been abroad a great while) to the Six Clerks Office to find me a clerk
there able to advise me in my business with Tom Trice, and after I had
heard them talk, and had given me some comfort, I went to my brother
Tom's, and took him with me to my coz. Turner at the Temple, and had
his opinion that I should not pay more than the principal L200, with
which I was much pleased, and so home.

9th. At the office all the morning. At noon Mr. Davenport, Phillips, and
Mr. Wm. Bernard and Furbisher, came by appointment and dined with
me, and we were very merry. After dinner I to the Wardrobe, and there
staid talking with my Lady all the afternoon till late at night. Among
other things my Lady did mightily urge me to lay out money upon my
wife, which I perceived was a little more earnest than ordinary, and so I
seemed to be pleased with it, and do resolve to bestow a lace upon her,

and what with this and other talk, we were exceeding merry. So home
at night.

10th (Lord's day). At our own church in the morning, where Mr. Mills
preached. Thence alone to the Wardrobe to dinner with my Lady,
where my Lady continues upon yesterday's discourse still for me to lay
out money upon my wife, which I think it is best for me to do for her
honour and my own. Last night died Archibald, my Lady's butler and
Mrs. Sarah's brother, of a dropsy, which I am troubled at. In the
afternoon went and sat with Mr. Turner in his pew at St. Gregory's,
where I hear our Queen Katherine, the first time by name as such,
publickly prayed for, and heard Dr. Buck upon "Woe unto thee,
Corazin," &c., where he started a difficulty, which he left to another
time to answer, about why God should give means of grace to those
people which he knew would not receive them, and deny to others
which he himself confesses, if they had had them, would have received
them, and they would have been effectual too. I would I could hear him
explain this, when he do come to it. Thence home to my wife, and took
her to my Aunt Wight's, and there sat a while with her (my uncle being
at Katharine hill), and so home, and I to Sir W. Batten's, where Captain
Cock was, and we sent for two bottles of Canary to the Rose, which did
do me a great deal of hurt, and did trouble me all night, and, indeed,
came home so out of order that I was loth to say prayers to-night as I
am used ever to do on Sundays, which my wife took notice of and
people of the house, which I was sorry for.

11th. To the Wardrobe, and with Mr. Townsend and Moore to the
Saracen's Head to a barrel of oysters, and so Mr. Moore and I to Tom
Trice's, with whom I did first set my hand to answer to a writt of his
this tearm. Thence to the Wardrobe to dinner, and there by appointment
met my wife, who had by my direction brought some laces for my Lady
to choose one for her. And after dinner I went away, and left my wife
and ladies together, and all their work was about this lace of hers.
Captain Ferrers and I went together, and he carried me the first time
that ever I saw any gaming house, to one, entering into
Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, at the end of Bell Yard, where strange the folly of
men to lay and lose so much money, and very glad I was to see the

manner of a gamester's life, which I see is very miserable, and poor,
and unmanly. And thence he took me to a dancing school in Fleet
Street, where we saw a company of pretty girls dance, but I do not in
myself like to have young girls exposed to so much vanity. So to the
Wardrobe, where I found my Lady had agreed upon a lace for my wife
of L6, which I seemed much glad of that it was no more, though in my
mind I think it too much, and I pray God keep me so to order myself
and my wife's expenses that no inconvenience in purse or honour
follow this my prodigality. So by coach home.

12th. At the office all the morning. Dined at home alone. So