and most of their talk was about the news from Scotland,
that the Bishop of Galloway was besieged in his house by some woman, and
had like to have been outraged, but I know not how he was secured;
which is bad news, and looks just as it did in the beginning of the late
troubles. From thence they talked of rebellion; and I perceive they make
it their great maxime to be sure to master the City of London, whatever
comes of it or from it. After that to some other discourse, and,
among other things, talking of the way of ordinaries, that it is very
convenient, because a man knows what he hath to pay: one did wish that,
among many bad, we could learn two good things of France, which were
that we would not think it below the gentleman, or person of honour at a
tavern, to bargain for his meat before he eats it; and next, to take no
servant without certificate from some friend or gentleman of his good
behaviour and abilities. Hence with Creed into St. James's Park, and
there walked all the afternoon, and thence on foot home, and after a
little while at my office walked in the garden with my wife, and so home
to supper, and after prayers to bed. My brother Tom supped with me,
and should have brought my aunt Ellen with him; she was not free to go
abroad.

11th. Up betimes, and by water to Woolwich on board the Royall James,
to see in what dispatch she is to be carried about to Chatham. So to the
yard a little, and thence on foot to Greenwich, where going I was set
upon by a great dogg, who got hold of my garters, and might have done me
hurt; but, Lord, to see in what a maze I was, that, having a sword
about me, I never thought of it, or had the heart to make use of it, but
might, for want of that courage, have been worried. Took water there and
home, and both coming and going did con my lesson on my Ruler to measure
timber, which I think I can well undertake now to do. At home there
being Pembleton I danced, and I think shall come on to do something in a
little time, and after dinner by coach with Sir W. Pen (setting down his
daughter at Clerkenwell), to St. James's, where we attended the Duke of
York: and, among other things, Sir G. Carteret and I had a great dispute
about the different value of the pieces of eight rated by Mr. Creed
at 4s. and 5d., and by Pitts at 4s. and 9d., which was the greatest
husbandry to the King? he persisting that the greatest sum was; which is
as ridiculous a piece of ignorance as could be imagined. H