hem. Here Mrs. Pierce tells me
that the two Marshalls at the King's house are Stephen Marshall's,
the great Presbyterian's daughters: and that Nelly and Beck Marshall,
falling out the other day, the latter called the other my Lord
Buckhurst's whore. Nell answered then, "I was but one man's whore,
though I was brought up in a bawdy-house to fill strong waters to the
guests; and you are a whore to three or four, though a Presbyter's
praying daughter!" which was very pretty. Mrs. Pierce is still very
pretty, but paints red on her face, which makes me hate her, that I
thank God I take no pleasure in her at all more. After much mirth and
good company at dinner, I to the office and left them, and Pendleton
also, who come in to see my wife and talk of dancing, and there I at the
office all the afternoon very busy, and did much business, with my great
content to see it go off of hand, and so home, my eyes spent, to supper
and to bed.

27th (Lord's day). Up, and to my office, there, with W. Hewer, to
dictate a long letter to the Duke of York, about the bad state of the
office, it being a work I do think fit for the office to do, though it
be to no purpose but for their vindication in these bad times; for I
do now learn many things tending to our safety which I did not wholly
forget before, but do find the fruits of, and would I had practised them
more, as, among other things, to be sure to let our answers to orders
bear date presently after their date, that we may be found quick in our
execution. This did us great good the other day before the Parliament.
All the morning at this, at noon home to dinner, with my own family
alone. After dinner, I down to Deptford, the first time that I went to
look upon "The Maybolt," which the King hath given me, and there she
is; and I did meet with Mr. Uthwayte, who do tell me that there are new
sails ordered to be delivered her, and a cable, which I did not speak of
at all to him. So, thereupon, I told him I would not be my own hindrance
so much as to take her into my custody before she had them, which was
all I said to him, but desired him to take a strict inventory of her,
that I might not be cheated by the master nor the company, when they
come to understand that the vessel is gone away, which he hath promised
me, and so away back again home, reading all the way the book of the
collection of oaths in the several offices of this nation, which is
worth a man's reading, and so away home, and t