ere is in this church, more than I know
anywhere else about us. So home and to my chamber, looking over and
setting in order my papers and books, and so to supper, and then to
prayers and to bed.

26th. Up, and with Sir W. Pen to White Hall, and there with the rest did
our usual business before the Duke, and then with Sir W. Batten back
and to his house, where I by sicknesse excused my wife's coming to them
to-day. Thence I to the Coffeehouse, where much good discourse, and all
the opinion now is that the Dutch will avoid fighting with us at home,
but do all the hurte they can to us abroad; which it may be they may for
a while, but that, I think, cannot support them long. Thence to Sir W.
Batten's, where Mr. Coventry and all our families here, women and all,
and Sir R. Ford and his, and a great feast and good discourse and merry,
there all the afternoon and evening till late, only stepped in to see
my wife, then to my office to enter my day's work, and so home to bed,
where my people and wife innocently at cards very merry, and I to bed,
leaving them to their sport and blindman's buff.

27th. My people came to bed, after their sporting, at four o'clock in
the morning; I up at seven, and to Deptford and Woolwich in a gally; the
Duke calling to me out of the barge in which the King was with him going
down the river, to know whither I was going. I told him to Woolwich, but
was troubled afterward I should say no farther, being in a gally, lest
he think me too profuse in my journeys. Did several businesses, and then
back again by two o'clock to Sir J. Minnes's to dinner by appointment,
where all yesterday's company but Mr. Coventry, who could not come. Here
merry, and after an hour's chat I down to the office, where busy late,
and then home to supper and to bed. The Comet appeared again to-night,
but duskishly. I went to bed, leaving my wife and all her folks, and
Will also, too, come to make Christmas gambolls to-night.

28th. I waked in the morning about 6 o'clock and my wife not come to
bed; I lacked a pot, but there was none, and bitter cold, so was forced
to rise and piss in the chimney, and to bed again. Slept a little
longer, and then hear my people coming up, and so I rose, and my wife
to bed at eight o'clock in the morning, which vexed me a little, but I
believe there was no hurt in it all, but only mirthe, therefore took no
notice. I abroad with Sir W. Batten to the Council Chamber, where all of
us to discourse a