money will
be saved between this and the making of the peace up. But that which
troubles me most is, that we have chosen a son of Secretary Morris,
a boy never used to any business, to go Embassador [Secretary] to the
Embassy, which shows how, little we are sensible of the weight of the
business upon us. God therefore give a good end to it, for I doubt it,
and yet do much more doubt the issue of our continuing the war, for we
are in no wise fit for it, and yet it troubles me to think what Sir H.
Cholmly says, that he believes they will not give us any reparation for
what we have suffered by the war, nor put us into any better condition
than what we were in before the war, for that will be shamefull for
us. Thence parted with him and home through the dark over the ruins
by coach, with my sword drawn, to the office, where dispatched some
business; and so home to my chamber and to supper and to bed. This
morning come up to my wife's bedside, I being up dressing myself, little
Will Mercer to be her Valentine; and brought her name writ upon blue
paper in gold letters, done by himself, very pretty; and we were both
well pleased with it. But I am also this year my wife's Valentine, and
it will cost me L5; but that I must have laid out if we had not been
Valentines. So to bed.

15th. Up and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes by coach to White
Hall, where we attended upon the Duke of York to complain of the
disorders the other day among the seamen at the Pay at the Ticket
Office, and that it arises from lack of money, and that we desire,
unless better provided for with money, to have nothing more to do with
the payment of tickets, it being not our duty; and the Duke of York and
[Sir] W. Coventry did agree to it, so that I hope we shall be rid of
that trouble. This done, I moved for allowance for a house for Mr.
Turner, and got it granted. Then away to Westminster Hall, and there to
the Exchequer about my tallies, and so back to White Hall, and so with
Lord Bellasses to the Excise Office, where met by Sir H. Cholmly to
consider about our business of money there, and that done, home and to
dinner, where I hear Pegg Pen is married this day privately; no friends,
but two or three relations on his side and hers. Borrowed many things of
my kitchen for dressing their dinner. So after dinner to the office, and
there busy and did much business, and late at it. Mrs. Turner come to me
to hear how matters went; I told her of our gettin