row, when he pleases, and so I home, calling on the virginall
maker, buying a rest for myself to tune my tryangle, and taking one of
his people along with me to put it in tune once more, by which I learned
how to go about it myself for the time to come. So to dinner, my
wife being lazily in bed all this morning. Ashwell and I dined below
together, and a pretty girl she is, and I hope will give my wife and
myself good content, being very humble and active, my cook maid do also
dress my meat very well and neatly. So to my office all the afternoon
till night, and then home, calling at Sir W. Batten's, where was Sir
J. Minnes and Sir W. Pen, I telling them how by my letter this day from
Commissioner Pett I hear that his Stempeese

[Stemples, cross pieces which are put into a frame of woodwork to
cure and strengthen a shaft.]

he undertook for the new ship at Woolwich, which we have been so long,
to our shame, in looking for, do prove knotty and not fit for service.
Lord! how Sir J. Minnes, like a mad coxcomb, did swear and stamp,
swearing that Commissioner Pett hath still the old heart against the
King that ever he had, and that this was his envy against his brother
that was to build the ship, and all the damnable reproaches in the
world, at which I was ashamed, but said little; but, upon the whole,
I find him still a fool, led by the nose with stories told by Sir W.
Batten, whether with or without reason. So, vexed in my mind to see
things ordered so unlike gentlemen, or men of reason, I went home and to
bed.

2nd. Up by very betimes and to my office, where all the morning till
towards noon, and then by coach to Westminster Hall with Sir W. Pen, and
while he went up to the House I walked in the Hall with Mr. Pierce, the
surgeon, that I met there, talking about my business the other day with
Holmes, whom I told my mind, and did freely tell how I do depend upon my
care and diligence in my employment to bear me out against the pride
of Holmes or any man else in things that are honest, and much to that
purpose which I know he will make good use of. But he did advise me to
take as few occasions as I can of disobliging Commanders, though this is
one that every body is glad to hear that he do receive a check. By and
by the House rises and I home again with Sir W. Pen, and all the way
talking of the same business, to whom I did on purpose tell him my mind
freely, and let him see that it must be a wiser man than Holmes