s day putting my two
flaggons upon my table; and indeed it is a fine sight, and better than
ever I did hope to see of my owne. Mercer dined with us at table, this
being her first dinner in my house. After dinner left them and to White
Hall, where a small Tangier Committee, and so back again home, and there
my wife and Mercer and Tom and I sat till eleven at night, singing and
fiddling, and a great joy it is to see me master of so much pleasure in
my house, that it is and will be still, I hope, a constant pleasure to
me to be at home. The girle plays pretty well upon the harpsicon, but
only ordinary tunes, but hath a good hand; sings a little, but hath a
good voyce and eare. My boy, a brave boy, sings finely, and is the most
pleasant boy at present, while his ignorant boy's tricks last, that ever
I saw. So to supper, and with great pleasure to bed.

10th. Up and to the office, where we sate all the morning, and I much
troubled to think what the end of our great sluggishness will be, for we
do nothing in this office like people able to carry on a warr. We must
be put out, or other people put in. Dined at home, and then my wife and
I and Mercer to the Duke's house, and there saw "The Rivalls," which is
no excellent play, but good acting in it; especially Gosnell comes and
sings and dances finely, but, for all that, fell out of the key, so that
the musique could not play to her afterwards, and so did Harris also go
out of the tune to agree with her. Thence home and late writing letters,
and this night I received, by Will, L105, the first-fruits of my
endeavours in the late contract for victualling of Tangier, for which
God be praised! for I can with a safe conscience say that I have therein
saved the King L5000 per annum, and yet got myself a hope of L300 per
annum without the least wrong to the King. So to supper and to bed.

11th (Lord's day). Up and to church in the best manner I have gone a
good while, that is to say, with my wife, and her woman, Mercer, along
with us, and Tom, my boy, waiting on us. A dull sermon. Home, dined,
left my wife to go to church alone, and I walked in haste being late to
the Abbey at Westminster, according to promise to meet Jane Welsh, and
there wearily walked, expecting her till 6 o'clock from three, but no
Jane came, which vexed me, only part of it I spent with Mr. Blagrave
walking in the Abbey, he telling me the whole government and discipline
of White Hall Chappell, and the caution now u