ttee, and there I
opposed Colonell Legg's estimate of supplies of provisions to be sent
to Tangier till all were ashamed of it, and he fain after all his good
husbandry and seeming ignorance and joy to have the King's money saved,
yet afterwards he discovered all his design to be to keep the furnishing
of these things to the officers of the Ordnance, but Mr. Coventry
seconded me, and between us we shall save the King some money in the
year. In one business of deales in L520, I offer to save L172, and yet
purpose getting money, to myself by it. So home and to my office, and
business being done home to supper and so to bed, my head and throat
being still out of order mightily. This night Prior of Brampton came and
paid me L40, and I find this poor painful man is the only thriving and
purchasing man in the town almost. We were told to-day of a Dutch ship
of 3 or 400 tons, where all the men were dead of the plague, and the
ship cast ashore at Gottenburgh.

25th (Lord's day). Up, and my throat being yet very sore, and, my head
out of order, we went not to church, but I spent all the morning reading
of "The Madd Lovers," a very good play, and at noon comes Harman and his
wife, whom I sent for to meet the Joyces, but they came not. It seems
Will has got a fall off his horse and broke his face. However, we were
as merry as I could in their company, and we had a good chine of beef,
but I had no taste nor stomach through my cold, and therefore little
pleased with my dinner. It raining, they sat talking with us all the
afternoon. So anon they went away; and then I to read another play, "The
Custome of the Country," which is a very poor one, methinks. Then to
supper, prayers, and bed.

26th. Up pretty well again, but my mouth very scabby, my cold being
going away, so that I was forced to wear a great black patch, but that
would not do much good, but it happens we did not go to the Duke to-day,
and so I staid at home busy all the morning. At noon, after dinner,
to the 'Change, and thence home to my office again, where busy, well
employed till 10 at night, and so home to supper and to bed, my mind
a little troubled that I have not of late kept up myself so briske in
business; but mind my ease a little too much and my family upon the
coming of Mercer and Tom. So that I have not kept company, nor appeared
very active with Mr. Coventry, but now I resolve to settle to it again,
not that I have idled all my time, but as to my ease someth