r, being very glad to see
my house begin to look like itself again, hoping after this is over not
to be in any dirt a great while again, but it is very handsome, and
will be more when the floors come to be of one colour. So weary to bed.
Pleased this day to see Captain Hickes come to me with a list of all
the officers of Deptford Yard, wherein he, being a high old Cavalier,
do give me an account of every one of them to their reproach in all
respects, and discovers many of their knaverys; and tells me, and so I
thank God I hear every where, that my name is up for a good husband for
the King, and a good man, for which I bless God; and that he did this by
particular direction of Mr. Coventry.

27th. Up, after much pleasant talke with my wife and a little that
vexes me, for I see that she is confirmed in it that all that I do is by
design, and that my very keeping of the house in dirt, and the doing of
this and any thing else in the house, is but to find her employment to
keep her within and from minding of her pleasure, in which, though I
am sorry to see she minds it, is true enough in a great degree. To my
office, and there we sat and despatched much business. Home and dined
with my wife well, and then up and made clean my closet of books, and
had my chamber a third time made very clean, so that it is now in a very
fine condition. Thence down to see some good plank in the river with Sir
W. Batten and back again, it being a very cold day and a cold wind. Home
again, and after seeing Sir W. Pen, to my office, and there till late
doing of business, being mightily encouraged by every body that I meet
withal upon the 'Change and every where else, that I am taken notice
of for a man that do the King's business wholly and well. For which the
Lord be praised, for I know no honour I desire more. Home to supper,
where I find my house very clean from top to bottom again to my great
content. I found a feacho (as he calls it) of fine sugar and a case of
orange-flower water come from Mr. Cocke, of Lisbon, the fruits of my
last year's service to him, which I did in great justice to the man, a
perfect stranger. He sends it me desiring that I would not let Sir J.
Minnes know it, from whom he expected to have found the service done
that he had from me, from whom he could expect nothing, and the other
failed him, and would have done I am sure to this day had not I brought
it to some end. After supper to bed.

28th. At the office betimes (i