o
sell their bills at 15 per cent. loss in the Navy; and, lastly, that
they are in a very angry pettish mood at present, and not likely to be
better.

15th. Up betimes, and after talking with my father awhile, I to my
office, and there hard at it till almost noon, and then went down the
river with Maynes, the purveyor, to show a ship's lading of Norway
goods, and called at Sir W. Warren's yard, and so home to dinner. After
dinner up with my wife and Ashwell a little to the Tryangle, and so I
down to Deptford by land about looking out a couple of catches fitted
to be speedily set forth in answer to a letter of Mr. Coventry's to
me. Which done, I walked back again, all the way reading of my book of
Timber measure, comparing it with my new Sliding Rule brought home this
morning with great pleasure. Taking boat again I went to Shishe's yard,
but he being newly gone out towards Deptford I followed him thither
again, and there seeing him I went with him and pitched upon a couple,
and so by water home, it being late, past 8 at night, the wind cold, and
I a little weary. So home to my office, then to supper and bed.

16th. Up betimes and to my office, met to pass Mr. Pitt's (anon Sir J.
Lawson's Secretary and Deputy Treasurer) accounts for the voyage last to
the Streights, wherein the demands are strangely irregular, and I dare
not oppose it alone for making an enemy and do no good, but only bring a
review upon my Lord Sandwich, but God knows it troubles my heart to see
it, and to see the Comptroller, whose duty it is, to make no more matter
of it. At noon home for an hour to dinner, and so to the office public
and private till late at night, so home to supper and bed with my
father.

17th. Up by five o'clock as I have long done and to my office all the
morning, at noon home to dinner with my father with us. Our dinner, it
being Good Friday, was only sugarsopps and fish; the only time that
we have had a Lenten dinner all this Lent. This morning Mr. Hunt, the
instrument maker, brought me home a Basse Viall to see whether I like
it, which I do not very well, besides I am under a doubt whether I had
best buy one yet or no, because of spoiling my present mind and love to
business. After dinner my father and I walked into the city a little,
and parted and to Paul's Church Yard, to cause the title of my English
"Mare Clausum"

[Selden's work was highly esteemed, and Charles I. made an order in
council that a copy shoul