per
and to bed.

14th. Up, and to the office, where busy getting beforehand with my
business as fast as I can. At noon home to dinner, and presently
afterward at my office again. I understand my father is pretty well
again, blessed be God! and would have my Br[other] John comedown to him
for a little while. Busy till night, pleasing myself mightily to see what
a deal of business goes off of a man's hands when he stays by it, and
then, at night, before it was late (yet much business done) home to
supper, discourse with my wife, and to bed. Sir W. Batten tells me the
Lords do agree at last with the Commons about the word "Nuisance" in the
Irish Bill, and do desire a good correspondence between the two Houses;
and that the King do intend to prorogue them the last of this month.

15th. Up, and to the office, where busy all the morning. Here my Lord
Bruncker would have made me promise to go with him to a play this
afternoon, where Knipp acts Mrs. Weaver's great part in "The Indian
Emperour," and he says is coming on to be a great actor. But I am so fell
to my business, that I, though against my inclination, will not go. At
noon, dined with my wife and were pleasant, and then to the office, where
I got Mrs. Burroughs 'sola cum ego, and did toucher ses mamailles' . . .
She gone, I to my business and did much, and among other things
to-night we were all mightily troubled how to prevent the sale of a great
deal of hemp, and timber-deals, and other good goods to-morrow at the
candle by the Prize Office, where it will be sold for little, and we shall
be found to want the same goods and buy at extraordinary prices, and
perhaps the very same goods now sold, which is a most horrid evil and a
shame. At night home to supper and to bed with my mind mighty light to
see the fruits of my diligence in having my business go off my hand so
merrily.

16th. Up, and by coach to White Hall, and there to the Duke of York as
usual. Here Sir W. Coventry come to me aside in the Duke's chamber, to
tell that he had not answered part of a late letter of mine, because
'littera scripta manet'. About his leaving the office, he tells me, [it
is] because he finds that his business at Court will not permit him to
attend it; and then he confesses that he seldom of late could come from it
with satisfaction, and therefore would not take the King's money for
nothing. I professed my sorrow for it, and prayed the continuance of his
favour; which h