Thence to Mr. Hales and there sat, and my picture almost finished, which by the word of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce (who come in accidently) is mighty like, and I am sure I am mightily pleased both in the thing and the posture.  Thence with them home a little, and so to White Hall and there met by agreement with Sir Stephen Fox and Mr. Ashburnham, and discoursed the business of our Excise tallys; the former being Treasurer of the guards, and the other Cofferer of the King’s household.  I benefitted much by their discourse.  We come to no great conclusion upon our discourse, but parted, and I home, where all things, methinks, melancholy in the absence of my wife.  This day great newes of the Swedes declaring for us against the Dutch, and, so far as that, I believe it.  After a little supper to bed.

7th.  Lay pretty long to-day, lying alone and thinking of several businesses.  So up to the office and there till noon.  Thence with my Lord Bruncker home by coach to Mrs. Williams’s, where Bab.  Allen and Dr. Charleton dined.  Bab and I sang and were mighty merry as we could be there, where the rest of the company did not overplease.  Thence took her by coach to Hales’s, and there find Mrs. Pierce and her boy and Mary.  She had done sitting the first time, and indeed her face is mighty like at first dash.  Thence took them to the cakehouse, and there called in the coach for cakes and drank, and thence I carried them to my Lord Chancellor’s new house to shew them that, and all mightily pleased, thence set each down at home, and so I home to the office, where about ten of the clock W. Hewer comes to me to tell me that he has left my wife well this morning at Bugden, which was great riding, and brings me a letter from her.  She is very well got thither, of which I am heartily glad.  After writing several letters, I home to supper and to bed.  The Parliament of which I was afraid of their calling us of the Navy to an account of the expense of money and stores and wherein we were so little ready to give them a good answer [will soon meet].  The Bishop of Munster, every body says, is coming to peace with the Dutch, we having not supplied him with the money promised him.

8th (Lord’s day).  Up, and was in great trouble how to get a passage to White Hall, it raining, and no coach to be had.  So I walked to the Old Swan, and there got a scull.  To the Duke of Yorke, where we all met to hear the debate between Sir Thomas Allen and Mr. Wayth; the former complaining of the latter’s ill usage of him at the late pay of his ship.  But a very sorry poor occasion he had for it.  The Duke did determine it with great judgement, chiding both, but encouraging Wayth to continue to be a check to all captains in any thing to the King’s right.  And, indeed, I never did see the Duke do any thing more in order, nor with more judgement than he did pass the verdict in this business.  The Court full this morning of the newes of Tom Cheffin’s death, the King’s closett-keeper.  He was