... but whether I shall grow
better upon it I cannot tell. Dined at home at noon, my wife and house
in the dirtiest pickle that ever she and it was in almost, but in order,
I hope, this night to be very clean. To the office all the afternoon
upon victualling business, and late at it, so after I wrote by the post
to my father, I home. This evening Mr. Hollyard sends me an electuary
to take (a walnut quantity of it) going to bed, which I did. 'Tis true I
slept well, and rose in a little ease in the morning.

11th (Lord's day). And was mightily pleased to see my house clean and in
good condition, but something coming into my wife's head, and mine, to
be done more about bringing the green bed into our chamber, which is
handsomer than the red one, though not of the colour of our hangings, my
wife forebore to make herself clean to-day, but continued in a sluttish
condition till to-morrow. I after the old passe, all the day within
doors,.... the effect of my electuary last night, and the greatest of my
pain I find to come by my straining.... For all this I eat with a very
good stomach, and as much as I use to do, and so I did this noon, and
staid at home discoursing and doing things in my chamber, altering
chairs in my chamber, and set them above in the red room, they being
Turkey work, and so put their green covers upon those that were above,
not so handsome. At night fell to reading in the Church History of
Fuller's, and particularly Cranmer's letter to Queen Elizabeth, which
pleases me mightily for his zeal, obedience, and boldness in a cause of
religion. After supper to bed as I use to be, in pain.....

12th. Up (though slept well) and made some water in the morning [as] I
used to do, and a little pain returned to me, and some fears, but being
forced to go to the Duke at St. James's, I took coach and in my way
called upon Mr. Hollyard and had his advice to take a glyster. At St.
James's we attended the Duke all of us. And there, after my discourse,
Mr. Coventry of his own accord begun to tell the Duke how he found that
discourse abroad did run to his prejudice about the fees that he took,
and how he sold places and other things; wherein he desired to appeal to
his Highness, whether he did any thing more than what his predecessors
did, and appealed to us all. So Sir G. Carteret did answer that some
fees were heretofore taken, but what he knows not; only that selling
of places never was nor ought to be countenanced. So Mr. C