d Beale, and hither come Sir G. Carteret to us. We had a
good dinner, cost us L5 and 6s., whereof my share 26s., and after dinner
did discourse of our salarys and other matters, which I think now they
will allow. Thence home, and there I found our new cook-mayde Susan
come, who is recommended to us by my wife's brother, for which I like
her never the better, but being a good well-looked lass, I am willing
to try, and Jane begins to take upon her as a chamber-mayde. So to the
office, where late putting papers and my books and businesses in order,
it being very cold, and so home to supper.

11th. Up, it being a great frost upon the snow, and we sat all the
morning upon Mr. Creed's accounts, wherein I did him some service and
some disservice. At noon he dined with me, and we sat all the afternoon
together, discoursing of ways to get money, which I am now giving
myself wholly up to, and in the evening he went away and I to my office,
concluding all matters concerning our great letter so long in doing to
my Lord Treasurer, till almost one in the morning, and then home with my
mind much eased, and so to bed.

12th. From a very hard frost, when I wake, I find a very great thaw,
and my house overflown with it, which vexed me. At the office and home,
doing business all the morning. Then dined with my wife and sat talking
with her all the afternoon, and then to the office, and there examining
my copy of Mr. Holland's book till 10 at night, and so home to supper
and bed.

13th. Slept long to-day till Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten were set
out towards Portsmouth before I rose, and Sir G. Carteret came to the
office to speak with me before I was up. So I started up and down to
him. By and by we sat, Mr. Coventry and I (Sir G. Carteret being gone),
and among other things, Field and Stint did come, and received the L41
given him by the judgement against me and Harry Kem;

[Fine for the imprisonment of Field (see February 4th, 1661-62, and
October 21st, 1662).]

and we did also sign bonds in L500 to stand to the award of Mr. Porter
and Smith for the rest: which, however, I did not sign to till I got Mr.
Coventry to go up with me to Sir W. Pen; and he did promise me before
him to bear his share in what should be awarded, and both concluded that
Sir W. Batten would do no less. At noon broke up and dined with my wife,
and then to the office again, and there made an end of last night's
examination, and got my study there m