revent its being done in a worse
manner without me relating to the Victualling business, which, as I may
order it, I think may be done and save myself something. Thence home,
and there settle to some accounts of mine in my chamber I all the
morning till dinner. My wife comes home from Woolwich, but did not dine
with me, going to dress herself against night, to go to Mrs. Pierce's to
be merry, where we are to have Knepp and Harris and other good people.
I at my accounts all the afternoon, being a little lost in them as
to reckoning interest. Anon comes down my wife, dressed in her second
mourning, with her black moyre waistcoat, and short petticoat, laced
with silver lace so basely that I could not endure to see her, and with
laced lining, which is too soon, so that I was horrid angry, and went
out of doors to the office and there staid, and would not go to our
intended meeting, which vexed me to the blood, and my wife sent twice
or thrice to me, to direct her any way to dress her, but to put on her
cloth gown, which she would not venture, which made me mad: and so in
the evening to my chamber, vexed, and to my accounts, which I ended to
my great content, and did make amends for the loss of our mirth this
night, by getting this done, which otherwise I fear I should not have
done a good while else. So to bed.

30th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning. At noon dined at
home, being without any words friends with my wife, though last night
I was very angry, and do think I did give her as much cause to be angry
with me. After dinner I walked to Arundell House, the way very dusty,
the day of meeting of the Society being changed from Wednesday
to Thursday, which I knew not before, because the Wednesday is a
Council-day, and several of the Council are of the Society, and would
come but for their attending the King at Council; where I find much
company, indeed very much company, in expectation of the Duchesse of
Newcastle, who had desired to be invited to the Society; and was, after
much debate, pro and con., it seems many being against it; and we do
believe the town will be full of ballads of it. Anon comes the Duchesse
with her women attending her; among others, the Ferabosco,2 of whom
so much talk is that her lady would bid her show her face and kill the
gallants. She is indeed black, and hath good black little eyes, but
otherwise but a very ordinary woman I do think, but they say sings well.
The Duchesse hath been a