ng that I shall hardly ever come to understand them thoroughly
again, as I used to do my accounts when I was at home.

21st. At the office all the morning. At noon all of us dined at Captain
Cocke's at a good chine of beef, and other good meat; but, being all
frost-bitten, was most of it unroast; but very merry, and a good dish of
fowle we dressed ourselves. Mr. Evelyn there, in very good humour. All
the afternoon till night pleasant, and then I took my leave of them and
to the office, where I wrote my letters, and away home, my head full of
business and some trouble for my letting my accounts go so far that I
have made an oathe this night for the drinking no wine, &c., on such
penalties till I have passed my accounts and cleared all. Coming home
and going to bed, the boy tells me his sister Daniel has provided me a
supper of little birds killed by her husband, and I made her sup with
me, and after supper were alone a great while, and I had the pleasure of
her lips, she being a pretty woman, and one whom a great belly becomes
as well as ever I saw any. She gone, I to bed. This day I was come to by
Mrs. Burrows, of Westminster, Lieutenant Burrows (lately dead) his wife,
a most pretty woman and my old acquaintance; I had a kiss or two of her,
and a most modest woman she is.

22nd. Up betimes and to my Lord Bruncker to consider the late
instructions sent us for the method of our signing bills hereafter and
paying them. By and by, by agreement, comes Sir J. Minnes and Sir W.
Batten, and then to read them publicly and consider of putting them in
execution. About this all the morning, and, it appearing necessary for
the Controller to have another Clerke, I recommended Poynter to him,
which he accepts, and I by that means rid of one that I fear would not
have been fit for my turne, though he writes very well. At noon comes
Mr. Hill to towne, and finds me out here, and brings Mr. Houbland, who
met him here. So I was compelled to leave my Lord and his dinner and
company, and with them to the Beare, and dined with them and their
brothers, of which Hill had his and the other two of his, and mighty
merry and very fine company they are, and I glad to see them. After
dinner I forced to take leave of them by being called upon by Mr.
Andrews, I having sent for him, and by a fine glosse did bring him to
desire tallys for what orders I have to pay him and his company for
Tangier victualls, and I by that means cleared to myself L210 comin