there drank some burnt wine with them, without more pleasure, and so away home by coach, and there to dinner, and then to my accounts, wherein, at last, I find them clear and right; but, to my great discontent, do find that my gettings this year have been L573 less than my last:  it being this year in all but L2,986; whereas, the last, I got L3,560.  And then again my spendings this year have exceeded my spendings the last by L644:  my whole spendings last year being but L509; whereas this year, it appears, I have spent L1154, which is a sum not fit to be said that ever I should spend in one year, before I am master of a better estate than I am.  Yet, blessed be God! and I pray God make me thankful for it, I do find myself worth in money, all good, above L6,200; which is above L1800 more than I was the last year.  This, I trust in God, will make me thankfull for what I have, and carefull to make up by care next year what by my negligence and prodigality I have lost and spent this year.  The doing of this, and entering of it fair, with the sorting of all my expenses, to see how and in what points I have exceeded, did make it late work, till my eyes become very sore and ill, and then did give over, and supper, and to bed.  Thus ends this year of publick wonder and mischief to this nation, and, therefore, generally wished by all people to have an end.  Myself and family well, having four mayds and one clerk, Tom, in my house, and my brother, now with me, to spend time in order to his preferment.  Our healths all well, only my eyes with overworking them are sore as candlelight comes to them, and not else; publick matters in a most sad condition; seamen discouraged for want of pay, and are become not to be governed:  nor, as matters are now, can any fleete go out next year.  Our enemies, French and Dutch, great, and grow more by our poverty.  The Parliament backward in raising, because jealous of the spending of the money; the City less and less likely to be built again, every body settling elsewhere, and nobody encouraged to trade.  A sad, vicious, negligent Court, and all sober men there fearful of the ruin of the whole kingdom this next year; from which, good God deliver us!  One thing I reckon remarkable in my owne condition is, that I am come to abound in good plate, so as at all entertainments to be served wholly with silver plates, having two dozen and a half.

     ETEXT editor’s bookmarks: 

     Being five years behindhand for their wages (court musicians)
     But fit she should live where he hath a mind
     Gladder to have just now received it (than a promise)
     Most homely widow, but young, and pretty rich, and good natured
     No Parliament can, as he says, be kept long good
     Peace with France, which, as a Presbyterian, he do not like
     That I may have nothing by me but what is worth keeping
     Weary of the following of my pleasure

     ETEXT editor’s bookmarks, PEPY’S diary, 1966 N.S., Complete: