carried my wife to Westminster by coach, I to the Swan, Herbert’s, and there had much of the good company of Sarah and to my wish, and then to see Mrs. Martin, who was very kind, three weeks of her month of lying in is over.  So took up my wife and home, and at my office a while, and thence to supper and to bed.  Great talk of noises of guns heard at Deale, but nothing particularly whether in earnest or not.

24th.  Up betimes, and by agreement to the Globe taverne in Fleet Street to Mr. Clerke, my sollicitor, about the business of my uncle’s accounts, and we went with one Jefferys to one of the Barons (Spelman), and there my accounts were declared and I sworn to the truth thereof to my knowledge, and so I shall after a few formalities be cleared of all.  Thence to Povy’s, and there delivered him his letters of greatest import to him that is possible, yet dropped by young Bland, just come from Tangier, upon the road by Sittingburne, taken up and sent to Mr. Pett, at Chatham.  Thus everything done by Povy is done with a fatal folly and neglect.  Then to our discourse with him, Creed, Mr. Viner, myself and Poyntz about the business of the Workehouse at Clerkenwell, and after dinner went thither and saw all the works there, and did also consult the Act concerning the business and other papers in order to our coming in to undertake it with Povy, the management of the House, but I do not think we can safely meddle with it, at least I, unless I had time to look after it myself, but the thing is very ingenious and laudable.  Thence to my Lady Sandwich’s, where my wife all this day, having kept Good Friday very strict with fasting.  Here we supped, and talked very merry.  My Lady alone with me, very earnest about Sir G. Carteret’s son, with whom I perceive they do desire my Lady Jemimah may be matched.  Thence home and to my office, and then to bed.

25th (Lady day).  Up betimes and to my office, where all the morning.  At noon dined alone with Sir W. Batten, where great discourse of Sir W. Pen, Sir W. Batten being, I perceive, quite out of love with him, thinking him too great and too high, and began to talk that the world do question his courage, upon which I told him plainly I have been told that he was articled against for it, and that Sir H. Vane was his great friend therein.  This he was, I perceive, glad to hear.  Thence to the office, and there very late, very busy, to my great content.  This afternoon of a sudden is come home Sir W. Pen from the fleete, but upon what score I know not.  Late home to supper and to bed.

26th (Lord’s day and Easter day).  Up (and with my wife, who has not been at church a month or two) to church.  At noon home to dinner, my wife and I (Mercer staying to the Sacrament) alone.  This is the day seven years which, by the blessing of God, I have survived of my being cut of the stone, and am now in very perfect good health and have long been; and though the last winter hath been as hard