Come
to the Hope about one and there showed them all the ships, and had a
collacion of anchovies, gammon, &c., and after an houre's stay or more,
embarked again for home; and so to cards and other sports till we came
to Greenwich, and there Mrs. Clerke and my wife and I on shore to an
alehouse, for them to do their business, and so to the barge again,
having shown them the King's pleasure boat; and so home to the Bridge,
bringing night home with us; and it rained hard, but we got them on foot
to the Beare, and there put them into a boat, and I back to my wife in
the barge, and so to the Tower Wharf and home, being very well pleased
today with the company, especially Mrs. Pierce, who continues her
complexion as well as ever, and hath, at this day, I think, the best
complexion that ever I saw on any woman, young or old, or child either,
all days of my life. Also Mrs. Clerke's kinswoman sings very prettily,
but is very confident in it; Mrs. Clerke herself witty, but spoils all
in being so conceited and making so great a flutter with a few fine
clothes and some bad tawdry things worne with them. But the charge of
the barge lies heavy upon me, which troubles me, but it is but once, and
I may make Pierce do me some courtesy as great. Being come home, I weary
to bed with sitting. The reason of Dr. Clerke's not being here was the
King's being sicke last night and let blood, and so he durst not come
away to-day.

7th. Up, and this day begun, the first day this year, to put off my
linnen waistcoat, but it happening to be a cool day I was afraid of
taking cold, which troubles me, and is the greatest pain I have in the
world to think of my bad temper of my health. At the office all the
morning. Dined at home, to my office to prepare some things against a
Committee of Tangier this afternoon. So to White Hall, and there found
the Duke and twenty more reading their commission (of which I am, and
was also sent to, to come) for the Royall Fishery, which is very large,
and a very serious charter it is; but the company generally so ill
fitted for so serious a worke that I do much fear it will come to
little. That being done, and not being able to do any thing for lacke
of an oathe for the Governor and Assistants to take, we rose. Then our
Committee for the Tangier victualling met and did a little, and so up,
and I and Mr. Coventry walked in the garden half an hour, talking of
the business of our masts, and thence away and with Creed walk