e we and several other
Wardrobe-men dined. We had a venison pasty, and other good plain and
handsome dishes; the mistress of the house a pretty, well-carriaged
woman, and a fine hand she hath; and her maid a pretty brown lass. But
I do find my nature ready to run back to my old course of drinking
wine and staying from my business, and yet, thank God, I was not
fully contented with it, but did stay at little ease, and after dinner
hastened home by water, and so to my office till late at night. In the
evening Mr. Hayward came to me to advise with me about the business of
the Chest, which I have now a mind to put in practice, though I know it
will vex Sir W. Batten, which is one of the ends (God forgive me) that I
have in it. So home, and eat a bit, and to bed.

21st. Up early, and to my office, and by and by we sat all the morning.
At noon, though I was invited to my uncle Fenner's to dinner to a haunch
of venison I sent him yesterday, yet I did not go, but chose to go to
Mr. Rawlinson's, where my uncle Wight and my aunt, and some neighbour
couples were at a very good venison pasty. Hither came, after we were
set down, a most pretty young lady (only her hands were not white nor
handsome), which pleased me well, and I found her to be sister to Mrs.
Anne Wight that comes to my uncle Wight's. We were good company, and
had a very pretty dinner. And after dinner some talk, I with my aunt
and this young lady about their being [at] Epsom, from whence they came
to-day, and so home and to my office, and there doing business till past
9 at night, and so home and to bed. But though I drank no wine to-day,
yet how easily was I of my own accord stirred up to desire my aunt and
this pretty lady (for it was for her that I did it) to carry them to
Greenwich and see the pleasure boats. But my aunt would not go, of which
since I am much glad.

22nd. About three o'clock this morning I waked with the noise of the
rayne, having never in my life heard a more violent shower; and then the
catt was lockt in the chamber, and kept a great mewing, and leapt upon
the bed, which made me I could not sleep a great while. Then to sleep,
and about five o'clock rose, and up to my office, and about 8 o'clock
went down to Deptford, and there with Mr. Davis did look over most of
his stores; by the same token in the great storehouse, while Captain
Badily was talking to us, one from a trap-door above let fall unawares
a coyle of cable, that it was 10,000 to on