nothing at all, but his wit most absolute.  At Somersett House he carried me in, and there I saw the Queene’s new rooms, which are most stately and nobly furnished; and there I saw her, and the Duke of Yorke and Duchesse were there.  The Duke espied me, and came to me, and talked with me a very great while about our contract this day with Sir W. Warren, and among other things did with some contempt ask whether we did except Polliards, which Sir W. Batten did yesterday (in spite, as the Duke I believe by my Lord Barkely do well enough know) among other things in writing propose.  Thence home by coach, it raining hard, and to my office, where late, then home to supper and to bed.  This night the Dutch Embassador desired and had an audience of the King.  What the issue of it was I know not.  Both sides I believe desire peace, but neither will begin, and so I believe a warr will follow.  The Prince is with his fleet at Portsmouth, and the Dutch are making all preparations for warr.

19th.  Up and to my office all the morning.  At noon dined at home; then abroad by coach to buy for the office “Herne upon the Statute of Charitable Uses,” in order to the doing something better in the Chest than we have done, for I am ashamed to see Sir W. Batten possess himself so long of so much money as he hath done.  Coming home, weighed, my two silver flaggons at Stevens’s.  They weigh 212 oz. 27 dwt., which is about L50, at 5s. per oz., and then they judge the fashion to be worth above 5s. per oz. more—­nay, some say 10s. an ounce the fashion.  But I do not believe, but yet am sorry to see that the fashion is worth so much, and the silver come to no more.  So home and to my office, where very busy late.  My wife at Mercer’s mother’s, I believe, W. Hewer with them, which I do not like, that he should ask my leave to go about business, and then to go and spend his time in sport, and leave me here busy.  To supper and to bed, my wife coming in by and by, which though I know there was no hurt in it; I do not like.

20th.  Up and to the office, where all the morning.  At noon my uncle Thomas came, dined with me, and received some money of me.  Then I to my office, where I took in with me Bagwell’s wife, and there I caressed her, and find her every day more and more coming with good words and promises of getting her husband a place, which I will do.  So we parted, and I to my Lord Sandwich at his lodgings, and after a little stay away with Mr. Cholmely to Fleete Streete; in the way he telling me that Tangier is like to be in a bad condition with this same Fitzgerald, he being a man of no honour, nor presence, nor little honesty, and endeavours:  to raise the Irish and suppress the English interest there; and offend every body, and do nothing that I hear of well, which I am sorry for.  Thence home, by the way taking two silver tumblers home, which I have bought, and so home, and there late busy at my office, and then home to supper and to bed.