9th.  Lay very long in bed for fear of my pain, and then rose and went to stool (after my wife’s way, who by all means would have me sit long and upright) very well, and being ready to the office.  From thence I was called by and by to my wife, she not being well.  So to her, and found her in great pain. . . . . .  So by and by to my office again, and then abroad to look out a cradle to burn charcoal in at my office, and I found one to my mind in Newgate Market, and so meeting Hoby’s man in the street, I spoke to him to serve it in to the office for the King.  So home to dinner, and after talk with my wife, she in bed and pain all day, I to my office most of the evening, and then home to my wife.  This day Mrs. Russell did give my wife a very fine St. George, in alabaster, which will set out my wife’s closett mightily.  This evening at the office, after I had wrote my day’s passages, there came to me my cozen Angier of Cambridge, poor man, making his moan, and obtained of me that I would send his son to sea as a Reformado, which I will take care to do.  But to see how apt every man is to forget friendship in time of adversity.  How glad was I when he was gone, for fear he should ask me to be bond for him, or to borrow money of me.

10th.  Up, pretty well, the weather being become pretty warm again, and to the office, where we sat all the morning, and I confess having received so lately a token from Mrs. Russell, I did find myself concerned for our not buying some tallow of her (which she bought on purpose yesterday most unadvisedly to her great losse upon confidence of putting it off to us).  So hard it is for a man not to be warped against his duty and master’s interest that receives any bribe or present, though not as a bribe, from any body else.  But she must be contented, and I to do her a good turn when I can without wrong to the King’s service.  Then home to dinner (and did drink a glass of wine and beer, the more for joy that this is the shortest day in the year,—­[Old Style]—­which is a pleasant consideration) with my wife.  She in bed but pretty well, and having a messenger from my brother, that he is not well nor stirs out of doors, I went forth to see him, and found him below, he has not been well, but is not ill.  I found him taking order for the distribution of Mrs. Ramsey’s coals, a thing my father for many years did, and now he after him, which I was glad to see, as also to hear that Mr. Wheatly begins to look after him.  I hope it is about his daughter.  Thence to St. Paul’s Church Yard, to my bookseller’s, and having gained this day in the office by my stationer’s bill to the King about 40s. or L3, I did here sit two or three hours calling for twenty books to lay this money out upon, and found myself at a great losse where to choose, and do see how my nature would gladly return to laying out money in this trade.  I could not tell whether to lay out my money for books of pleasure, as plays, which my nature was most earnest