me, did tell me he did see
there was a design of bringing another man in his room, and took notice
of my sorting myself with others, and that we did business by ourselves
without him. Part of which is true, but I denied, and truly, any design
of doing him any such wrong as that. He told me he did not say it
particularly of me, but he was confident there was somebody intended
to be brought in, nay, that the trayne was laid before Sir W. Pen went,
which I was glad to hear him say. Upon the whole I see he perceives
himself tottering, and that he is suspected, and would be kind to me,
but I do my business in the office and neglect him. At night writing
in my study a mouse ran over my table, which I shut up fast under my
shelf's upon my table till to-morrow, and so home and to bed.

7th. Up by four o'clock and to my office, and by and by Mr. Cooper
comes and to our modell, which pleases me more and more. At this till
8 o'clock, and so we sat in the office and staid all the morning, my
interest still growing, for which God be praised. This morning I got
unexpectedly the Reserve for Mr. Cooper to be maister of, which was only
by taking an opportune time to motion [it], which is one good effect of
my being constant at the office, that nothing passes without me; and I
have the choice of my own time to propose anything I would have. Dined
at home, and to the office again at my business all the afternoon till
night, and so to supper and to bed. It being become a pleasure to me
now-a-days to follow my business, and the greatest part may be imputed
to my drinking no wine, and going to no plays.

8th. Up by four o'clock in the morning, and at five by water to
Woolwich, there to see the manner of tarring, and all the morning
looking to see the several proceedings in making of cordage, and other
things relating to that sort of works, much to my satisfaction. At noon
came Mr. Coventry on purpose from Hampton Court to see the same, and
dined with Mr. Falconer, and after dinner to several experiments of
Hemp, and particularly some Milan hemp that is brought over ready
dressed. Thence we walked talking, very good discourse all the way to
Greenwich, and I do find most excellent discourse from him. Among other
things, his rule of suspecting every man that proposes any thing to him
to be a knave; or, at least, to have some ends of his own in it. Being
led thereto by the story of Sir John Millicent, that would have had a
patent from King Jame