ed, though, I think, at first sight some
difference do open, yet very inconsiderably but that I may judge his to
be very good pictures. Here we fell into discourse of my picture, and
I am for his putting out the Landskipp, though he says it is very well
done, yet I do judge it will be best without it, and so it shall be put
out, and be made a plain sky like my wife's picture, which will be very
noble. Thence called upon an old woman in Pannier Ally to agree for
ruling of some paper for me and she will do it pretty cheap. Here I
found her have a very comely black mayde to her servant, which I liked
very well. So home to dinner and to see my joiner do the bench upon my
leads to my great content. After dinner I abroad to carry paper to my
old woman, and so to Westminster Hall, and there beyond my intention or
design did see and speak with Betty Howlett, at her father's still, and
it seems they carry her to her own house to begin the world with her
young husband on Monday next, Easter Monday. I please myself with the
thoughts of her neighbourhood, for I love the girl mightily. Thence
home, and thither comes Mr. Houblon and a brother, with whom I evened
for the charter parties of their ships for Tangier, and paid them the
third advance on their freight to full satisfaction, and so, they being
gone, comes Creed and with him till past one in the morning, evening his
accounts till my head aked and I was fit for nothing, however, coming at
last luckily to see through and settle all to my mind, it did please me
mightily, and so with my mind at rest to bed, and he with me and hard to
sleep.

14th. Up about seven and finished our papers, he and I, and I delivered
him tallys and some money and so away I to the office, where we sat all
the morning. At noon dined at home and Creed with me, then parted, and I
to the office, and anon called thence by Sir H. Cholmley and he and I to
my chamber, and there settled our matters of accounts, and did give
him tallys and money to clear him, and so he being gone and all these
accounts cleared I shall be even with the King, so as to make a very
clear and short account in a very few days, which pleases me very well.
Here he and I discoursed a great while about Tangier, and he do convince
me, as things are now ordered by my Lord Bellasses and will be by
Norwood (men that do only mind themselves), the garrison will never come
to any thing, and he proposes his owne being governor, which in truth I
do