to my office, where we sat till noon, and then I to
dinner with Sir W. Pen, and while we were at it coming my wife to the
office, and so I sent for her up, and after dinner we took coach and
to the Duke's playhouse, where we saw "The Duchess of Malfy" well
performed, but Betterton and Ianthe to admiration. That being done,
home again, by coach, and my wife's chamber got ready for her to lie in
to-night, but my business did call me to my office, so that staying late
I did not lie with her at home, but at my lodgings. Strange to see how
easily my mind do revert to its former practice of loving plays and
wine, having given myself a liberty to them but these two days; but this
night I have again bound myself to Christmas next, in which I desire
God to bless me and preserve me, for under God I find it to be the best
course that ever I could take to bring myself to mind my business.
I have also made up this evening my monthly ballance, and find that,
notwithstanding the loss of L30 to be paid to the loyall and necessitous
cavaliers by act of Parliament,

[Two acts were passed in 1662 for this purpose, viz., 13 and 14 Car.
II. cap. 8: "An act for distribution of threescore thousand pounds
amongst the truly loyal and indigent commission officers, and for
assessing of offices and distributing the monies thereby raised for
their further supply;" and cap. 9, "An act for the relief of poor
and maimed officers and soldiers who have faithfully served his
Majesty and his royal father in the late wars."]

yet I am worth about L680, for which the Lord God be praised. My
condition at present is this:--I have long been building, and my house
to my great content is now almost done. But yet not so but that I shall
have dirt, which troubles me too, for my wife has been in the country at
Brampton these two months, and is now come home a week or two before
the house is ready for her. My mind is somewhat troubled about my best
chamber, which I question whether I shall be able to keep or no. I am
also troubled for the journey which I must needs take suddenly to
the Court at Brampton, but most of all for that I am not provided to
understand my business, having not minded it a great while, and at the
best shall be able but to make a bad matter of it, but God, I hope, will
guide all to the best, and I am resolved to-morrow to fall hard to it.
I pray God help me therein, for my father and mother and all our
well