with Mr. Coventry to the
African house, and to my Lord Peterborough's business again, and then to
dinner, where, before dinner, we had the best oysters I have seen this
year, and I think as good in all respects as ever I eat in my life. I
eat a great many. Great, good company at dinner, among others Sir Martin
Noell, who told us the dispute between him, as farmer of the Additional
Duty, and the East India Company, whether callicos be linnen or no;
which he says it is, having been ever esteemed so: they say it is made
of cotton woole, and grows upon trees, not like flax or hempe. But
it was carried against the Company, though they stand out against the
verdict. Thence home and to the office, where late, and so home to
supper and to bed, and had a very pleasing and condescending answer from
my poor father to-day in answer to my angry discontentful letter to him
the other day, which pleases me mightily.

28th (Lord's day). Up and walked to Paul's; and by chance it was an
extraordinary day for the Readers of the Inns of Court and all the
Students to come to church, it being an old ceremony not used these
twenty-five years, upon the first Sunday in Lent. Abundance there was
of Students, more than there was room to seat but upon forms, and the
Church mighty full. One Hawkins preached, an Oxford man. A good sermon
upon these words: "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then
peaceable." Both before and after sermon I was most impatiently troubled
at the Quire, the worst that ever I heard. But what was extraordinary,
the Bishop of London, who sat there in a pew, made a purpose for him by
the pulpitt, do give the last blessing to the congregation; which
was, he being a comely old man, a very decent thing, methought. The
Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir J. Robinson, would needs have me by coach
home with him, and sending word home to my house I did go and dine
with him, his ordinary table being very good, and his lady a very
high-carriaged but comely big woman; I was mightily pleased with her.
His officers of his regiment dined with him. No discourse at table to
any purpose, only after dinner my Lady would needs see a boy which was
represented to her to be an innocent country boy brought up to towne a
day or two ago, and left here to the wide world, and he losing his way
fell into the Tower, which my Lady believes, and takes pity on him, and
will keep him; but though a little boy and but young, yet he tells his
tale so readily and