absurd, saw “Henry the Fifth” well done by the Duke’s people, and in most excellent habits, all new vests, being put on but this night.  But I sat so high and far off, that I missed most of the words, and sat with a wind coming into my back and neck, which did much trouble me.  The play continued till twelve at night; and then up, and a most horrid cold night it was, and frosty, and moonshine.  But the worst was, I had left my cloak at Sir G. Carteret’s, and they being abed I was forced to go home without it.  So by chance got a coach and to the Golden Lion Taverne in the Strand, and there drank some mulled sack, and so home, where find my poor wife staying for me, and then to bed mighty cold.

29th.  Up, called up with newes from Sir W. Batten that Hogg hath brought in two prizes more:  and so I thither, and hear the particulars, which are good; one of them, if prize, being worth L4,000:  for which God be thanked!  Then to the office, and have the newes brought us of Captain Robinson’s coming with his fleete from Gottenburgh:  dispersed, though, by foul weather.  But he hath light of five Dutch men-of-war, and taken three, whereof one is sunk; which is very good newes to close up the year with, and most of our merchantmen already heard of to be safely come home, though after long lookings-for, and now to several ports, as they could make them.  At noon home to dinner, where Balty is and now well recovered.  Then to the office to do business, and at night, it being very cold, home to my chamber, and there late writing, but my left eye still very sore.  I write by spectacles all this night, then to supper and to bed.  This day’s good news making me very lively, only the arrears of much business on my hands and my accounts to be settled for the whole year past do lie as a weight on my mind.

30th (Lord’s day).  Lay long, however up and to church, where Mills made a good sermon.  Here was a collection for the sexton; but it come into my head why we should be more bold in making the collection while the psalm is singing, than in the sermon or prayer.  Home, and, without any strangers, to dinner, and then all the afternoon and evening in my chamber preparing all my accounts in good condition against to-morrow, to state them for the whole year past, to which God give me a good issue when I come to close them!  So to supper and to bed.

31st.  Rising this day with a full design to mind nothing else but to make up my accounts for the year past, I did take money, and walk forth to several places in the towne as far as the New Exchange, to pay all my debts, it being still a very great frost and good walking.  I staid at the Fleece Tavern in Covent Garden while my boy Tom went to W. Joyce’s to pay what I owed for candles there.  Thence to the New Exchange to clear my wife’s score, and so going back again I met Doll Lane (Mrs. Martin’s sister), with another young woman of the Hall, one Scott, and took them to the Half Moon Taverne and