I was troubled all this day with Mr. Cooke, being
willing to do him good, but my mind is so taken up with my own business
that I cannot.

24th. To White Hall, where I did acquaint Mr. Watkins with my being
sworn into the Privy Seal, at which he was much troubled, but put it up
and did offer me a kinsman of his to be my clerk, which I did give him
some hope of, though I never intend it. In the afternoon I spent much
time in walking in White Hall Court with Mr. Bickerstaffe, who was very
glad of my Lord's being sworn, because of his business with his
brother Baron, which is referred to my Lord Chancellor, and to be ended
to-morrow. Baron had got a grant beyond sea, to come in before the
reversionary of the Privy Seal. This afternoon Mr. Mathews came to me,
to get a certificate of my Lord's and my being sworn, which I put in
some forwardness, and so home and to bed.

25th. In the morning at the office, and after that down to Whitehall,
where I met with Mr. Creed, and with him and a Welsh schoolmaster, a
good scholar but a very pedagogue, to the ordinary at the Leg in King
Street.' I got my certificate of my Lord's and my being sworn. This
morning my Lord took leave of the House of Commons, and had the thanks
of the House for his great services to his country. In the afternoon
(but this is a mistake, for it was yesterday in the afternoon) Monsieur
L'Impertinent and I met and I took him to the Sun and drank with him,
and in the evening going away we met his mother and sisters and father
coming from the Gatehouse; where they lodge, where I did the first time
salute them all, and very pretty Madame Frances--[Frances Butler, the
beauty.]--is indeed. After that very late home and called in Tower
Street, and there at a barber's was trimmed the first time. Home and to
bed.

26th. Early to White Hall, thinking to have a meeting of my Lord and the
principal officers, but my Lord could not, it being the day that he
was to go and be admitted in the House of Lords, his patent being done,
which he presented upon his knees to the Speaker; and so it was read in
the House, and he took his place. I at the Privy Seal Office with Mr.
Hooker, who brought me acquainted with Mr. Crofts of the Signet, and
I invited them to a dish of meat at the Leg in King Street, and so we
dined there and I paid for all and had very good light given me as to my
employment there. Afterwards to Mr. Pierces, where I should have dined
but I could not, but found M