ng of it very neatly, and it was very handsome and concisely done.
At noon to my Lord's with it, but found him at dinner, and some great
company with him, Mr. Edward Montagu and his brother, and Mr. Coventry,
and after dinner he went out with them, and so I lost my labour; but
dined with Mr. Moore and the people below, who after dinner fell to talk
of Portugall rings, and Captain Ferrers offered five or six to sell, and
I seeming to like a ring made of a coco-nutt with a stone done in it,
he did offer and would give it me. By and by we went to Mr. Creed's
lodging, and there got a dish or two of sweetmeats, and I seeing a very
neat leaden standish to carry papers, pen, and ink in when one travels
I also got that of him, and that done I went home by water and to finish
some of my Lord's business, and so early to bed. This day I was told
that my Lady Castlemaine (being quite fallen out with her husband) did
yesterday go away from him, with all her plate, jewels, and other best
things; and is gone to Richmond to a brother of her's; which, I am apt
to think, was a design to get out of town, that the King might come at
her the better. But strange it is how for her beauty I am willing to
construe all this to the best and to pity her wherein it is to her hurt,
though I know well enough she is a whore.

17th. To my office, and by and by to our sitting; where much business.
Mr. Coventry took his leave, being to go with the Duke over for the
Queen-Mother. I dined at home, and so to my Lord's, where I presented
him with a true state of all his accounts to last Monday, being the 14th
of July, which did please him, and to my great joy I continue in his
great esteem and opinion. I this day took a general acquittance from my
Lord to the same day. So that now I have but very few persons to deal
withall for money in the world. Home and found much business to be upon
my hands, and was late at the office writing letters by candle light,
which is rare at this time of the year, but I do it with much content
and joy, and then I do please me to see that I begin to have people
direct themselves to me in all businesses. Very late I was forced to
send for Mr. Turner, Smith, Young, about things to be sent down early
to-morrow on board the King's pleasure boat, and so to bed with my head
full of business, but well contented in mind as ever in my life.

18th. Up very early, and got a-top of my house, seeing the design of
my work, and like it very we