wife. And I did perceive that Mrs.
Pierce her coming so gallant, that it put the two young women quite out of
courage. When it became dark they all went away but Mr. Pierce, and W.
Joyce, and their wives and Tom, and drank a bottle of wine afterwards, so
that Will did heartily vex his father and mother by staying. At which I
and my wife were much pleased. Then they all went and I fell to writing
of two characters for Mr. Downing, and carried them to him at nine o'clock
at night, and he did not like them but corrected them, so that to-morrow I
am to do them anew. To my Lord's lodging again and sat by the great log,
it being now a very good fire, with my wife, and ate a bit and so home.
The news this day is a letter that speaks absolutely Monk's concurrence
with this Parliament, and nothing else, which yet I hardly believe. After
dinner to-day my father showed me a letter from my Uncle Robert, in
answer to my last, concerning my money which I would have out of my Coz.
Beck's' hand, wherein Beck desires it four months longer, which I know not
how to spare.

27th. Going to my office I met with Tom Newton, my old comrade, and took
him to the Crown in the Palace, and gave him his morning draft. And as he
always did, did talk very high what he would do with the Parliament, that
he would have what place he would, and that he might be one of the Clerks
to the Council if he would. Here I staid talking with him till the
offices were all shut, and then I looked in the Hall, and was told by my
bookseller, Mrs. Michell, that Mr. G. Montagu had inquired there for me.
So I went to his house, and was forced by him to dine with him, and had a
plenteous brave dinner and the greatest civility that ever I had from any
man. Thence home and so to Mrs. Jem, and played with her at cards, and
coming home again my wife told me that Mr. Hawly had been there to speak
with me, and seemed angry that I had not been at the office that day, and
she told me she was afraid that Mr. Downing may have a mind to pick some
hole in my coat. So I made haste to him, but found no such thing from
him, but he sent me to Mr. Sherwin's about getting Mr. Squib to come to
him tomorrow, and I carried him an answer. So home and fell a writing the
characters for Mr. Downing, and about nine at night Mr. Hawly came, and
after he was gone I sat up till almost twelve writing, and--wrote two of
them. In the morning up early and wrote another, my wife lying in bed a