to bed, my mind being a little disquieted about Sir W. Batten's
dispute to-day, though this afternoon I did speak with his man Norman at
last, and told him the reason of my claim.

13th. Up early, and to my office, where people come to me about
business, and by and by we met on purpose to enquire into the business
of the flag-makers, where I am the person that do chiefly manage the
business against them on the King's part; and I do find it the greatest
cheat that I have yet found; they having eightpence per yard allowed
them by pretence of a contract, where no such thing appears; and it is
threepence more than was formerly paid, and than I now offer the Board
to have them done. We did not fully end it, but refer it to another
time. At noon Commr. Pett and I by water to Greenwich, and on board the
pleasure-boats to see what they wanted, they being ordered to sea, and
very pretty things I still find them, and so on shore and at the Shipp
had a bit of meat and dined, there waiting upon us a barber of Mr.
Pett's acquaintance that plays very well upon the viollin. Thence to
Lambeth; and there saw the little pleasure-boat in building by the
King, my Lord Brunkard, and the virtuosoes of the town, according to new
lines, which Mr. Pett cries up mightily, but how it will prove we shall
soon see. So by water home, and busy at my study late, drawing a letter
to the yards of reprehension and direction for the board to sign, in
which I took great pains. So home and to bed.

14th. Up early and to look on my works, and find my house to go on
apace. So to my office to prepare business, and then we met and sat till
noon, and then Commissioner Pett and I being invited, went by Sir John
Winter's coach sent for us, to the Mitre, in Fenchurch street, to a
venison-pasty; where I found him a very worthy man; and good discourse.
Most of which was concerning the Forest of Dean, and the timber there,
and iron-workes with their great antiquity, and the vast heaps of
cinders which they find, and are now of great value, being necessary for
the making of iron at this day; and without which they cannot work: with
the age of many trees there left at a great fall in Edward the Third's
time, by the name of forbid-trees, which at this day are called vorbid
trees. Thence to my office about business till late, and so home and to
bed.

15th. Up very early, and up about seeing how my work proceeds, and am
pretty well pleased therewith; especially my wife'