s. she had borrowed a year ago of me.

[Pepys would have been more proud of his cousin had he anticipated
her husband's becoming a knight, for she was probably the same
person whose burial is recorded in the register of St. Helen's,
Bishopsgate, September 4th, 1704: "Dame Sarah Gyles, widow, relict
of Sir John Gyles."--B.]

I was as merry as I could, giving them a good dinner; but W. Joyce did
so talk, that he made every body else dumb, but only laugh at him. I
forgot there was Mr. Harman and his wife, my aunt, a very good harmlesse
woman. All their talke is of her and my two she-cozen Joyces and Will's
little boy Will (who was also here to-day), down to Brampton to my
father's next week, which will be trouble and charge to them, but
however my father and mother desire to see them, and so let them. They
eyed mightily my great cupboard of plate, I this day putting my two
flaggons upon my table; and indeed it is a fine sight, and better than
ever I did hope to see of my owne. Mercer dined with us at table, this
being her first dinner in my house. After dinner left them and to White
Hall, where a small Tangier Committee, and so back again home, and there
my wife and Mercer and Tom and I sat till eleven at night, singing and
fiddling, and a great joy it is to see me master of so much pleasure in
my house, that it is and will be still, I hope, a constant pleasure to
me to be at home. The girle plays pretty well upon the harpsicon, but
only ordinary tunes, but hath a good hand; sings a little, but hath a
good voyce and eare. My boy, a brave boy, sings finely, and is the most
pleasant boy at present, while his ignorant boy's tricks last, that ever
I saw. So to supper, and with great pleasure to bed.

10th. Up and to the office, where we sate all the morning, and I much
troubled to think what the end of our great sluggishness will be, for we
do nothing in this office like people able to carry on a warr. We must
be put out, or other people put in. Dined at home, and then my wife and
I and Mercer to the Duke's house, and there saw "The Rivalls," which is
no excellent play, but good acting in it; especially Gosnell comes and
sings and dances finely, but, for all that, fell out of the key, so that
the musique could not play to her afterwards, and so did Harris also go
out of the tune to agree with her. Thence home and late writing letters,
and this night I received, by Will, L105, the first-fruits of my
e