he is as can be. After supper to bed.

18th. Up, and to the office, where I hear the ill news that poor
Batters, that had been born and bred a seaman, and brought up his ship
from sea but yesterday, was, going down from me to his ship, drowned in
the Thames, which is a sad fortune, and do make me afeard, and will do,
more than ever I was. At noon dined at home, and then by coach to my
Lord Bellasses, but not at home. So to Westminster Hall, where the Lords
are sitting still, I to see Mrs. Martin, who is very well, and intends
to go abroad to-morrow after her childbed. She do tell me that this
child did come is 'meme jour that it ought to hazer after my avoir ete
con elle before her marid did venir home.... Thence to the Swan, and
there I sent for Sarah, and mighty merry we were.... So to Sir Robert
Viner's about my plate, and carried home another dozen of plates, which
makes my stock of plates up 2 1/2 dozen, and at home find Mr. Thomas
Andrews, with whom I staid and talked a little and invited him to dine
with me at Christmas, and then I to the office, and there late doing
business, and so home and to bed. Sorry for poor Batters.

19th. Up, and by water down to White Hall, and there with the.Duke of
York did our usual business, but nothing but complaints of want of money
[without] success, and Sir W. Coventry's complaint of the defects of our
office (indeed Sir J. Minnes's) without any amendment, and he tells us
so plainly of the Committee of Parliament's resolution to enquire home
into all our managements that it makes me resolve to be wary, and to
do all things betimes to be ready for them. Thence going away met Mr.
Hingston the organist (my old acquaintance) in the Court, and I took him
to the Dog Taverne and got him to set me a bass to my "It is decreed,"
which I think will go well, but he commends the song not knowing the
words, but says the ayre is good, and believes the words are plainly
expressed. He is of my mind against having of 8ths unnecessarily in
composition. This did all please me mightily. Then to talk of the King's
family. He says many of the musique are ready to starve, they being five
years behindhand for their wages; nay, Evens, the famous man upon the
Harp having not his equal in the world, did the other day die for mere
want, and was fain to be buried at the almes of the parish, and carried
to his grave in the dark at night without one linke, but that Mr.
Hingston met it by chance, and did give