had been dead, knowing that she was not well; but it seems she hath the meazles, and I fear the small pox, poor lady.  It grieves me mightily; for it will be a sad houre to the family should she miscarry.  Thence straight home and to the office, and in the evening comes Mr. Hill the merchant and another with him that sings well, and we sung some things, and good musique it seemed to me, only my mind too full of business to have much pleasure in it.  But I will have more of it.  They gone, and I having paid Mr. Moxon for the work he has done for the office upon the King’s globes, I to my office, where very late busy upon Captain Tayler’s bills for his masts, which I think will never off my hand.  Home to supper and to bed.

30th.  Up and all the morning at the office.  At noon to the ’Change, where, after business done, Sir W. Rider and Cutler took me to the Old James and there did give me a good dish of mackerell, the first I have seen this year, very good, and good discourse.  After dinner we fell to business about their contract for tarr, in which and in another business of Sir W. Rider’s, canvas, wherein I got him to contract with me, I held them to some terms against their wills, to the King’s advantage, which I believe they will take notice of to my credit.  Thence home, and by water by a gally down to Woolwich, and there a good while with Mr. Pett upon the new ship discoursing and learning of him.  Thence with Mr. Deane to see Mr:  Falconer, and there find him in a way to be well.  So to the water (after much discourse with great content with Mr. Deane) and home late, and so to the office, wrote to, my father among other things my continued displeasure against my brother John, so that I will give him nothing more out of my own purse, which will trouble the poor man, but however it is fit that I should take notice of my brother’s ill carriage to me.  Then home and till 12 at night about my month’s accounts, wherein I have just kept within compass, this having been a spending month.  So my people being all abed I put myself to bed very sleepy.  All the newes now is what will become of the Dutch business, whether warr or peace.  We all seem to desire it, as thinking ourselves to have advantages at present over them; for my part I dread it.  The Parliament promises to assist the King with lives and fortunes, and he receives it with thanks and promises to demand satisfaction of the Dutch.  My poor Lady Sandwich is fallen sick three days since of the meazles.  My Lord Digby’s business is hushed up, and nothing made of it; he is gone, and the discourse quite ended.  Never more quiet in my family all the days of my life than now, there being only my wife and I and Besse and the little girl Susan, the best wenches to our content that we can ever expect.

Diaryof Samuel Pepys. 
May
1664