hen Lacy could dance. Thence
to the New Exchange, to buy some things; and, among others, my wife did
give me my pair of gloves, which, by contract, she is to give me in her
L30 a-year. Here Mrs. Smith tells us of the great murder thereabouts, on
Saturday last, of one Captain Bumbridge, by one Symons, both of her
acquaintance; and hectors that were at play, and in drink: the former is
killed, and is kinsman to my Lord of Ormond, which made him speak of it
with so much passion, as I overheard him this morning, but could not make
anything of it till now, but would they would kill more of them. So home;
and there at home all the evening; and made Tom to prick down some little
conceits and notions of mine, in musique, which do mightily encourage me
to spend some more thoughts about it; for I fancy, upon good reason, that
I am in the right way of unfolding the mystery of this matter, better than
ever yet.

12th. Up, and to the Office, where, by occasion of a message from the
Treasurers that their Board found fault with Commissioner Middleton, I
went up from our Board to the Lords of the Treasury to meet our
Treasurers, and did, and there did dispute the business, it being about
the matter of paying a little money to Chatham Yard, wherein I find the
Treasurers mighty supple, and I believe we shall bring them to reason,
though they begun mighty upon us, as if we had no power of directing them,
but they, us. Thence back presently home, to dinner, where I discern my
wife to have been in pain about where I have been, but said nothing to me,
but I believe did send W. Hewer to seek me, but I take no notice of it,
but am vexed. So to dinner with my people, and then to the Office, where
all the afternoon, and did much business, and at it late, and so home to
supper, and to bed. This day, meeting Mr. Pierce at White Hall, he tells
me that his boy hath a great mind to see me, and is going to school again;
and Dr. Clerke, being by, do tell me that he is a fine boy; but I durst
not answer anything, because I durst not invite him to my house, for fear
of my wife; and therefore, to my great trouble, was forced to neglect that
discourse. But here Mr. Pierce, I asking him whither he was going, told
me as a great secret that he was going to his master's mistress, Mrs.
Churchill, with some physic; meaning for the pox I suppose, or else that
she is got with child. This evening I observed my wife mighty dull, and I
myself was not mighty f