Diary, Sep/Oct 1662 | Page 8

found
him with some friends at breakfast, which I eat with him, and so we
crossed the water together, and in walking I told him my brother Tom's

intentions for a wife, which he would do me all favour in to Mr. Young,
whose kinswoman he do look after. We took boat again at the Falcon,
and there parted, and I to the old Swan, and so to the Change, and there
meeting Sir W. Warren did step to a tavern, and there sat and talked
about price of masts and other things, and so broke up and to my office
to see what business, and so we took water again, and at the Tower I
over to Redriffe, and there left him in the boat and walked to Deptford,
and there up and down the yard speaking with people, and so Sir W.
Pen coming out of the payhouse did single me out to tell me Sir J.
Minnes' dislike of my blinding his lights over his stairs (which indeed
is very bad) and blocking up the house of office on the leads. Which
did trouble me. So I went into the payhouse and took an occasion of
speaking with him alone, and did give him good satisfaction therein, so
as that I am well pleased and do hope now to have my closet on the
leads without any more trouble, for he do not object against my having
a door upon the leads, but that all my family should not make it a
thoroughfare, which I am contented with. So to the pay, and in the
evening home in the barge, and so to my office, and after doing some
business there to my lodgings, and so to bed.

9th. At my office betimes, and by and by we sat, and at noon Mr.
Coventry, Sir J. Minnes, Mr. Pett, and myself by water to Deptford,
where we met Sir G. C., Sir W. B., and Sir W. P. At the pay of a ship,
and we dined together on a haunch of good venison boiled, and after
dinner returned again to the office, and there met several tradesmen by
our appointment to know of them their lowest rates that they will take
for their several provisions that they sell to us, for I do resolve to know
that, and to buy no dearer, that so when we know the lowest rate, it
shall be the Treasurer's fault, and not ours, that we pay dearer. This
afternoon Sir John Minnes, Mr. Coventry, and I went into Sir John's
lodgings, where he showed us how I have blinded all his lights, and
stopped up his garden door, and other things he takes notice of that he
resolves to abridge me of, which do vex me so much that for all this
evening and all night in my bed, so great a fool I am, and little master
of my passion, that I could not sleep for the thoughts of my losing the
privilege of the leads, and other things which in themselves are small
and not worth half the trouble. The more fool am I, and must labour

against it for shame, especially I that used to preach up Epictetus's rule:
["Some things are in our power, others are not" Pepys means, "I ought
not to vex myself about what I cannot control."]
Late at my office, troubled in mind, and then to bed, but could hardly
sleep at night.
10th. Up and to my house, and there contrived a way how Sir John
Minnes shall come into the leads, and yet I save part of the closet I
hoped for, which, if it will not please him, I am a madman to be
troubled at it. To my office, and then at my house among my lazy
workmen all day. In the afternoon to the Wardrobe to speak with Mr.
Townsend, who tells me that he has spoke with Mr. Young about my
brother Tom's business, and finds that he has made enquiry of him, and
do hear him so well spoken of that he doubts not that the business will
take with ordinary endeavours. So to my brother's, and there finding
both door and hatch open, I went in and knocked 3 or 4 times, and
nobody came to me, which troubled me mightily; at last came Margaret,
who complained of Peter, who by and by came in, and I did rattle him
soundly for it. I did afterwards take occasion to talk seriously alone
with Margaret, who I find a very discreet, good woman, and tells me,
upon my demand, that her master is a very good husband, and minds
his business well, but his fault is that he has not command over his two
men, but