Sir W. Pen, like a false rogue, shrinking
out of the collar, Sir J. Minnes, afoot, being easily led either way, and
Sir W. Batten, a malicious fellow that is not able to defend any thing, so
that the whole odium must fall on me, which I will therefore beware how I
manage that I may not get enemies to no purpose. It vexes me to see with
what a company I am mixed, but then it pleases me to see that I am
reckoned the chief mover among them, as they do, confess and esteem me in
every thing. Thence to the office, and did business, and then by coach to
St. James's again, but [Sir] W. Coventry not within, so I wrote something
to him, and then straight back again and to Sir W. Batten's, and there
talked with him and [Sir] J. Minnes, who are mighty hot in Carcasses
business, but their judgment's not to be trusted. However, I will go
through with it, or otherwise we shall be all slaves to my Lord Bruncker
and his man's impudence. So to the office a little, and then home to
supper and to bed, after hearing my wife sing, who is manifestly come to
be more musical in her eare than ever I thought she could have been made,
which rejoices me to the heart, for I take great delight now to hear her
sing.

8th. Up pretty betimes and out of doors, and in Fen Church street met Mr.
Lovett going with a picture to me, but I could not stand to discourse or
see it, but on to the next hackney coach and so to Sir W. Coventry, where
he and I alone a while discoursing of some businesses of the office, and
then up to the Duke of York to his chamber with my fellow brethren who are
come, and so did our usual weekly business, which was but little to-day,
and I was glad that the business of Carcasse was not mentioned because our
report was not ready, but I am resolved it shall against the next coming
to the Duke of York. Here was discourse about a way of paying our old
creditors which did please me, there being hopes of getting them
comprehended within the 11 months Tax, and this did give occasion for Sir
G. Carteret's and my going to Sir Robert Long to discourse it, who do
agree that now the King's Council do say that they may be included in the
Act, which do make me very glad, not so much for the sake of the poor men
as for the King, for it would have been a ruin to him and his service not
to have had a way to have paid the debt. There parted with Sir G. Carteret
and into Westminster Hall, where I met with Sir H. Cholmly, and he and I
to Sir Ph. Warwi