arties for their ships, and did acquaint
me that they had paid my messenger, whom I sent this afternoon for it,
L200 for my friendship in the business, which pleases me mightily. They
being gone I forth late to Sir H. Viner's to take a receipt of them
for the L200 lodged for me there with them, and so back home, and after
supper to bed.

6th. Up betimes and did much business before office time. Then to the
office and there till noon and so home to dinner and to the office again
till night. In the evening being at Sir W. Batten's, stepped in (for I
have not used to go thither a good while), I find my Lord Bruncker and
Mrs. Williams, and they would of their own accord, though I had never
obliged them (nor my wife neither) with one visit for many of theirs, go
see my house and my wife; which I showed them and made them welcome with
wine and China oranges (now a great rarity since the war, none to be
had). There being also Captain Cocke and Mrs. Turner, who had never been
in my house since I come to the office before, and Mrs. Carcasse, wife
of Mr. Carcasses. My house happened to be mighty clean, and did me great
honour, and they mightily pleased with it. They gone I to the office and
did some business, and then home to supper and to bed. My mind
troubled through a doubtfulness of my having incurred Sir W. Coventry's
displeasure by not having waited on him since his coming to towne, which
is a mighty faulte and that I can bear the fear of the bad effects of
till I have been with him, which shall be to-morrow, God willing. So to
bed.

7th. Up betimes, and to St. James's, thinking Mr. Coventry had lain
there; but he do not, but at White Hall; so thither I went and had as
good a time as heart could wish, and after an houre in his chamber about
publique business he and I walked up, and the Duke being gone abroad we
walked an houre in the Matted Gallery: he of himself begun to discourse
of the unhappy differences between him and my Lord of Sandwich, and from
the beginning to the end did run through all passages wherein my Lord
hath, at any time, gathered any dissatisfaction, and cleared himself to
me most honourably; and in truth, I do believe he do as he says. I did
afterwards purge myself of all partiality in the business of Sir G.
Carteret, (whose story Sir W. Coventry did also run over,) that I do
mind the King's interest, notwithstanding my relation to him; all
which he declares he firmly believes, and assures me he hath t