ought as good a service to the Emperour as beating the Turke
almost, for had they conquered they would have been as troublesome to
him.

[The fact is, the Germans were beaten by the Turks, and the French
won the battle for them.--B.]

10th. Up, and, being ready, abroad to do several small businesses, among
others to find out one to engrave my tables upon my new sliding rule
with silver plates, it being so small that Browne that made it cannot
get one to do it. So I find out Cocker, the famous writing-master, and
get him to do it, and I set an hour by him to see him design it all; and
strange it is to see him with his natural eyes to cut so small at his
first designing it, and read it all over, without any missing, when for
my life I could not, with my best skill, read one word or letter of it;
but it is use. But he says that the best light for his life to do a very
small thing by (contrary to Chaucer's words to the Sun, "that he should
lend his light to them that small seals grave"), it should be by an
artificial light of a candle, set to advantage, as he could do it.
I find the fellow, by his discourse, very ingenuous; and among other
things, a great admirer and well read in all our English poets, and
undertakes to judge of them all, and that not impertinently. Well
pleased with his company and better with his judgement upon my Rule, I
left him and home, whither Mr. Deane by agreement came to me and dined
with me, and by chance Gunner Batters's wife. After dinner Deane and I
[had] great discourse again about my Lord Chancellor's timber, out of
which I wish I may get well. Thence I to Cocker's again, and sat by him
with good discourse again for an hour or two, and then left him, and
by agreement with Captain Silas Taylor (my old acquaintance at the
Exchequer) to the Post Officer to hear some instrument musique of Mr.
Berchenshaw's before my Lord Brunkard and Sir Robert Murray. I must
confess, whether it be that I hear it but seldom, or that really voice
is better, but so it is that I found no pleasure at all in it, and
methought two voyces were worth twenty of it. So home to my office a
while, and then to supper and to bed.

11th. Up, and through pain, to my great grief forced to wear my gowne
to keep my legs warm. At the office all the morning, and there a high
dispute against Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen about the breadth of canvas
again, they being for the making of it narrower, I and Mr. Coventry and
Si