ge,
and ours outdid it a great deale, as my book of observations tells
particularly. Here we were late, and so home together by water, and I
to my office, where late, putting things in order. Mr. Bland came this
night to me to take his leave of me, he going to Tangier, wherein I wish
him good successe. So home to supper and to bed, my mind troubled at the
businesses I have to do, that I cannot mind them as I ought to do and
get money, and more that I have neglected my frequenting and seeming
more busy publicly than I have done of late in this hurry of business,
but there is time left to recover it, and I trust in God I shall.

4th. Up and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and this
morning Sir W. Pen went to Chatham to look: after the ships now going
out thence, and particularly that wherein the Duke and himself go. He
took Sir G. Ascue with: him, whom, I believe, he hath brought into play.
At noon to the 'Change and thence home, where I found my aunt James
and the two she joyces. They dined and were merry with us. Thence
after dinner to a play, to see "The Generall;" which is so dull and so
ill-acted, that I think it is the worst. I ever saw or heard in all my
days. I happened to sit near; to Sir Charles Sidly; who I find a very
witty man, and he did at every line take notice of the dullness of
the poet and badness of the action, that most pertinently; which I
was mightily taken with; and among others where by Altemire's command
Clarimont, the Generall, is commanded to rescue his Rivall, whom she
loved, Lucidor, he, after a great deal of demurre, broke out; "Well,
I'le save my Rivall and make her confess, that I deserve, while he do
but possesse." "Why, what, pox," says Sir Charles Sydly, "would he
have him have more, or what is there more to be had of a woman than the
possessing her?" Thence-setting all them at home, I home with my wife
and Mercer, vexed at my losing my time and above 20s. in money, and
neglecting my business to see so bad a play. To-morrow they told us
should be acted, or the day after, a new play, called "The Parson's
Dreame," acted all by women. So to my office, and there did business;
and so home to supper and to bed.

5th. Up betimes and to my office, and thence by coach to New Bridewell
to meet with Mr. Poyntz to discourse with him (being Master of the
Workhouse there) about making of Bewpers for us. But he was not within;
however his clerke did lead me up and down through all the hou