nding their
time worse, and this I owe to my building, that do not admit of her
undertaking any thing of work, because the house has been and is still
so dirty. I to my office, and there sat all the morning and dined with
discontent with my wife at noon, and so to my office, and there this
afternoon we had our first meeting upon our commission of inspecting
the Chest, and there met Sir J. Minnes, Sir Francis Clerke, Mr. Heath,
Atturney of the Dutchy, Mr. Prinn, Sir W. Rider, Captn. Cocke, and
myself. Our first work to read over the Institution, which is a decree
in Chancery in the year 1617, upon an inquisition made at Rochester
about that time into the revenues of the Chest, which had then, from the
year 1588 or 1590, by the advice of the Lord High Admiral and principal
officers then being, by consent of the seamen, been settled, paying
sixpence per month, according to their wages then, which was then but
10s. which is now 24s. We adjourned to a fortnight hence. So broke up,
and I to see Sir W. Pen, who is now pretty well, but lies in bed still;
he cannot rise to stand. Then to my office late, and this afternoon my
wife in her discontent sent me a letter, which I am in a quandary what
to do, whether to read it or not, but I purpose not, but to burn it
before her face, that I may put a stop to more of this nature. But
I must think of some way, either to find her some body to keep her
company, or to set her to work, and by employment to take up her
thoughts and time. After doing what I had to do I went home to supper,
and there was very sullen to my wife, and so went to bed and to sleep
(though with much ado, my mind being troubled) without speaking one word
to her.

14th. She begun to talk in the morning and to be friends, believing
all this while that. I had read her letter, which I perceive by her
discourse was full of good counsel, and relating the reason of her
desiring a woman, and how little charge she did intend it to be to me,
so I begun and argued it as full and plain to her, and she to reason
it highly to me, to put her away, and take one of the Bowyers if I did
dislike her, that I did resolve when the house is ready she shall try
her for a while; the truth is, I having a mind to have her come for her
musique and dancing. So up and about my papers all the morning, and her
brother coming I did tell him my mind plain, who did assure me that they
were both of the sisters very humble and very poor, and that she th