te at night, and so home to supper and to bed. This morning my taylor
brought me a very tall mayde to be my cook-mayde; she asked L5, but my
wife offered her but L3 10s.--whether she will take it or no I know not
till to-morrow, but I am afeard she will be over high for us, she having
last been a chamber mayde, and holds up her head, as my little girle Su
observed.

28th. Up pretty well as to pain and wind, and to the office, where we
sat close and did much business. At noon I to the 'Change, and thence
to Mr. Cutler's, where I heard Sir W. Rider was, where I found them at
dinner and dined with them, he having yesterday and to-day a fit of a
pain like the gout, the first time he ever had it. A good dinner. Good
discourse, Sir W. Rider especially much fearing the issue of a Dutch
warr, wherein I very highly commend him. Thence home, and at the
office a while, and then with Mr. Deane to a second lesson upon my
Shipwrightry, wherein I go on with great pleasure. He being gone I to
the office late, and so home to supper and to bed. But, Lord! to see
how my very going to the 'Change, and being without my gowne, presently
brought me wind and pain, till I came home and was well again; but I am
come to such a pass that I shall not know what to do with myself, but
I am apt to think that it is only my legs that I take cold in from my
having so long worn a gowne constantly.

29th (Whitsunday. King's Birth and Restauration day). Up, and having
received a letter last night desiring it from Mr. Coventry, I walked
to St. James's, and there he and I did long discourse together of the
business of the office, and the warr with the Dutch; and he seemed to
argue mightily with the little reason that there is for all this. For
first, as to the wrong we pretend they have done us: that of the East
Indys, for their not delivering of Poleron, it is not yet known whether
they have failed or no; that of their hindering the Leopard cannot
amount to above L3,000 if true; that of the Guinny Company, all they had
done us did not amount to above L200 or L300 he told me truly; and that
now, from what Holmes, without any commission, hath done in taking an
island and two forts, hath set us much in debt to them; and he believes
that Holmes will have been so puffed up with this, that he by this time
hath been enforced with more strength than he had then, hath, I say,
done a great deale more wrong to them. He do, as to the effect of the
warr, tell me clearly