and past
ten o'clock) went into her house and did what I would. But I was not a
little fearfull of what she told me but now, which is, that her servant
was dead of the plague, that her coming to me yesterday was the first
day of her coming forth, and that she had new whitened the house all
below stairs, but that above stairs they are not so fit for me to go up
to, they being not so. So I parted thence, with a very good will, but
very civil, and away to the waterside, and sent for a pint of sacke
and so home, drank what I would and gave the waterman the rest; and so
adieu. Home about twelve at night, and so to bed, finding most of my
people gone to bed. In my way home I called on a fisherman and bought
three eeles, which cost me three shillings.

14th. Up, and to the office, and there sat all the morning. At noon
dined at home, and thence with my wife and father to Hales's, and there
looked only on my father's picture (which is mighty like); and so away
to White Hall to a committee for Tangier, where the Duke of York was,
and Sir W. Coventry, and a very full committee; and instead of having
a very prejudiced meeting, they did, though indeed inclined against
Yeabsly, yield to the greatest part of his account, so as to allow of
his demands to the value of L7,000 and more, and only give time for him
to make good his pretence to the rest; which was mighty joy to me: and
so we rose up. But I must observe the force of money, which did make my
Lord Ashly to argue and behave himself in the business with the greatest
friendship, and yet with all the discretion imaginable; and [it] will be
a business of admonition and instruction to me concerning him (and other
men, too, for aught I know) as long as I live. Thence took Creed with
some kind of violence and some hard words between us to St. James's, to
have found out Sir W. Coventry to have signed the order for his payment
among others that did stay on purpose to do it (and which is strange
among the rest my Lord Ashly, who did cause Creed to write it presently
and kept two or three of them with him by cunning to stay and sign it),
but Creed's ill nature (though never so well bribed, as it hath lately
in this case by twenty pieces) will not be overcome from his usual
delays. Thence failing of meeting Sir W. Coventry I took leave of Creed
(very good friends) and away home, and there took out my father, wife,
sister, and Mercer our grand Tour in the evening, and made it ten at
night