Bridges. "Oh!" says he,
"there is a very good man. If you must reform

[Reform, i.e. disband. See "Memoirs of Sir John Reresby,"
September 2nd, 1651. "A great many younger brothers and reformed
officers of the King's army depended upon him for their meat and
drink." So reformado, a discharged or disbanded officer.--M. B.]

two of them, be sure let him command the troop that is left." Thence
home, and there came presently to me Mr. Young and Whistler, who find
that I have quite overcome them in their business of flags, and now they
come to intreat my favour, but I will be even with them. So late to
my office and there till past one in the morning making up my month's
accounts, and find that my expense this month in clothes has kept me
from laying up anything; but I am no worse, but a little better than I
was, which is L1205, a great sum, the Lord be praised for it! So home
to bed, with my mind full of content therein, and vexed for my being so
angry in bad words to my wife to-night, she not giving me a good account
of her layings out to my mind to-night. This day I hear young Mr.
Stanly, a brave young [gentleman], that went out with young Jermin,
with Prince Rupert, is already dead of the small-pox, at Portsmouth. All
preparations against the Dutch; and the Duke of Yorke fitting himself
with all speed, to go to the fleete which is hastening for him; being
now resolved to go in the Charles.

NOVEMBER 1664

November 1st. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning, at noon
(my wife being invited to my Lady Sandwich's) all alone dined at home
upon a good goose with Mr. Wayth, discussing of business. Thence I
to the Committee of the Fishery, and there we sat with several good
discourses and some bad and simple ones, and with great disorder, and
yet by the men of businesse of the towne. But my report in the
business of the collections is mightily commended and will get me some
reputation, and indeed is the only thing looks like a thing well done
since we sat. Then with Mr. Parham to the tavern, but I drank no wine,
only he did give me another barrel of oysters, and he brought one Major
Greene, an able fishmonger, and good discourse to my information. So
home and late at business at my office. Then to supper and to bed.

2nd. Up betimes, and down with Mr. Castle to Redriffe, and there walked
to Deptford to view a parcel of brave knees--[Knees of timber]--of
his, which indeed are very goo