imes as these I am at a great loss, having not confidence, no
alcune ready wit. So home and to the office, where late, and then home
to supper and bed. This evening Mrs. Turner come to my office, and did
walk an hour with me in the garden, telling me stories how Sir
Edward Spragge hath lately made love to our neighbour, a widow, Mrs.
Hollworthy, who is a woman of estate, and wit and spirit, and do contemn
him the most, and sent him away with the greatest scorn in the world;
she tells me also odd stories how the parish talks of Sir W. Pen's
family, how poorly they clothe their daughter so soon after marriage,
and do say that Mr. Lowther was married once before, and some such
thing there hath been, whatever the bottom of it is. But to think of the
clatter they make with his coach, and his owne fine cloathes, and yet
how meanly they live within doors, and nastily, and borrowing everything
of neighbours is a most shitten thing.
2nd. Up, and to the office, where all the morning sitting, and much
troubled, but little business done for want of money, which makes me
mighty melancholy. At noon home to dinner, and Mr. Deane with me, who
hath promised me a very fine draught of the Rupert, which he will make
purposely for me with great perfection, which I will make one of the
beautifullest things that ever was seen of the kind in the world, she
being a ship that will deserve it. Then to the office, where all the
afternoon very busy, and in the evening weary home and there to sing,
but vexed with the unreadiness of the girle's voice to learn the latter
part of my song, though I confess it is very hard, half notes. So to
supper and to bed.
3rd. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall to Sir W. Coventry's
chamber, and there did receive the Duke's order for Balty's receiving of
the contingent money to be paymaster of it, and it pleases me the more
for that it is but L1500, which will be but a little sum for to try his
ability and honesty in the disposing of, and so I am the willinger to
trust and pass my word for him therein. By and by up to the Duke of
York, where our usual business, and among other things I read two most
dismal letters of the straits we are in (from Collonell Middleton and
Commissioner Taylor) that ever were writ in the world, so as the Duke
of York would have them to shew the King, and to every demand of money,
whereof we proposed many and very pressing ones, Sir G. Carteret could
make no answer but no money, wh
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