her and better things
to thinke of. Thence to the office to settle my people's worke and then
home to my publique accounts of Tangier, which it is strange by meddling
with evening reckonings with Mr. Povy lately how I myself am become
intangled therein, so that after all I could do, ready to breake my head
and brains, I thought of another way, though not so perfect, yet the
only one which this account is capable of. Upon this latter I sat up
till past two in the morning and then to bed.

28th. Up, and with Creed, who come hither betimes to speake with me
about his accounts, to White Hall by water, mighty merry in discourse,
though I had been very little troubled with him, or did countenance it,
having now, blessed be God! a great deale of good business to mind to
better purpose than chatting with him. Waited on the Duke, after that
walked with Sir W. Clerke into St. James's Parke, and by and by met
with Mr. Hayes, Prince Rupert's Secretary, who are mighty, both, briske
blades, but I fear they promise themselves more than they expect. Thence
to the Cockpitt, and dined with a great deal of company at the Duke of
Albemarle's, and a bad and dirty, nasty dinner. So by coach to Hales's,
and there sat again, and it is become mighty like. Hither come my wife
and Mercer brought by Mrs. Pierce and Knipp, we were mighty merry and
the picture goes on the better for it. Thence set them down at Pierces,
and we home, where busy and at my chamber till 12 at night, and so to
bed. This night, I am told, the Queene of Portugall, the mother to our
Queene, is lately dead, and newes brought of it hither this day.

[Donna Luiza, the Queen Regent of Portugal. She was daughter of the
Duke de Medina Sidonia and widow of Juan IV. The Court wore the
deepest mourning on this occasion. The ladies were directed to wear
their hair plain, and to appear without spots on their faces, the
disfiguring fashion of patching having just been introduced.--
Strickland s Queens of England, vol. viii., p. 362.]

29th. All the morning hard at the office. At noon dined and then out to
Lumbard Streete, to look after the getting of some money that is lodged
there of mine in Viner's hands, I having no mind to have it lie there
longer. So back again and to the office, where and at home about
publique and private business and accounts till past 12 at night, and so
to bed. This day, poor Jane, my old, little Jane, came to us again, to
my