Diary, October 1666 | Page 5

of trouble in mind to think
what I shall be obliged to answer, that am neither fully fit, nor in any
measure concerned to take the shame and trouble of this office upon me,
but only from the inability and folly of the Comptroller that occasions it.
When come home I to Sir W. Pen's, to his boy, for my book, and there
find he hath it not, but delivered it to the doorekeeper of the Committee
for me. This, added to my former disquiet, made me stark mad,
considering all the nakedness of the office lay open in papers within
those covers. I could not tell in the world what to do, but was mad on
all sides, and that which made me worse Captain Cocke was there, and
he did so swear and curse at the boy that told me. So Cocke, Griffin,

and the boy with me, they to find the housekeeper of the Parliament,
Hughes, while I to Sir W. Coventry, but could hear nothing of it there.
But coming to our rendezvous at the Swan Taverne, in Ding Streete, I
find they have found the housekeeper, and the book simply locked up
in the Court. So I staid and drank, and rewarded the doore-keeper, and
away home, my heart lighter by all this, but to bed very sad
notwithstanding, in fear of what will happen to-morrow upon their
coming.

3rd. Waked betimes, mightily troubled in mind, and in the most true
trouble that I ever was in my life, saving in the business last year of the
East India prizes. So up, and with Mr. Hater and W. Hewer and Griffin
to consider of our business, and books and papers necessary for this
examination; and by and by, by eight o'clock, comes Birch, the first,
with the lists and books of accounts delivered in. He calls me to work,
and there he and I begun, when, by and by, comes Garraway,
[William Garway, elected M.P. for Chichester, March 26th, 1661, and
in 1674 he was appointed by the House to confer with Lord
Shaftesbury respecting the charge against Pepys being popishly
affected. See note to the Life, vol. i., p, xxxii, and for his character,
October 6th, 1666]
the first time I ever saw him, and Sir W. Thompson and Mr. Boscawen.
They to it, and I did make shift to answer them better than I expected.
Sir W. Batten, Lord Bruncker, [Sir] W. Pen, come in, but presently
went out; and [Sir] J. Minnes come in, and said two or three words
from the purpose, but to do hurt; and so away he went also, and left me
all the morning with them alone to stand or fall. At noon Sir W. Batten
comes to them to invite them (though fast day) to dinner, which they
did, and good company they were, but especially Garraway. Here I
have news brought me of my father's coming to town, and I presently to
him, glad to see him, poor man, he being come to town unexpectedly to
see us and the city. I could not stay with him, but after dinner to work
again, only the Committee and I, till dark night, and by that time they
cast up all the lists, and found out what the medium of men was borne
all the war, of all sorts, and ended with good peace, and much seeming
satisfaction; but I find them wise and reserved, and instructed to hit all
our blots, as among others, that we reckon the ships full manned from

the beginning. They gone, and my heart eased of a great deale of fear
and pain, and reckoning myself to come off with victory, because not
overcome in anything or much foiled, I away to Sir W. Coventry's
chamber, but he not within, then to White Hall, and there among the
ladies, and saw my Lady Castlemaine never looked so ill, nor Mrs.
Stewart neither, as in this plain, natural dress. I was not pleased with
either of them. Away, not finding [Sir] W. Coventry, and so home, and
there find my father and my brother come to towne--my father without
my expectation; but glad I am to see him. And so to supper with him,
and to work again at the office; then home, to set up all my folio books,
which are come home gilt on the backs, very handsome to the eye, and
then at midnight to bed. This night [Sir] W. Pen told me [Sir] W.
Batten swears he will have nothing to do with the Privateer if his son
do not go Lieutenant, which angers me and him; but we will be even
with him, one way or other.

4th. Up, and mighty betimes, to [Sir] W. Coventry, to