idle rogue, he is forced to hide himself; and W. Howe
do look after the Office, and here I did set a clerk
to look out some things for me in their books, while
W. Hewer and I to the Crowne Offices where we met with
several good things that I most wanted, and did take
short notes of the dockets, and so back to the Patent
Office, and did the like there, and by candle-light
ended. And so home, where, thinking to meet my
wife with content, after my pains all this day, I
find her in her closet, alone, in the dark, in a hot
fit of railing against me, upon some news she has this
day heard of Deb.’s living very fine, and with
black spots, and speaking ill words of her mistress,
which with good reason might vex her; and the baggage
is to blame, but, God knows, I know nothing of her,
nor what she do, nor what becomes of her, though God
knows that my devil that is within me do wish that
I could. Yet God I hope will prevent me therein,
for I dare not trust myself with it if I should know
it; but, what with my high words, and slighting it,
and then serious, I did at last bring her to very
good and kind terms, poor heart! and I was heartily
glad of it, for I do see there is no man can be happier
than myself, if I will, with her. But in her
fit she did tell me what vexed me all the night, that
this had put her upon putting off her handsome maid
and hiring another that was full of the small pox,
which did mightily vex me, though I said nothing, and
do still. So down to supper, and she to read
to me, and then with all possible kindness to bed.
13th. Up, and to the Tower, to see Sir W. Coventry,
and with him talking of business of the Navy, all
alone, an hour, he taking physic. And so away
to the Office, where all the morning, and then home
to dinner, with my people, and so to the Office again,
and there all the afternoon till night, when comes,
by mistake, my cozen Turner, and her two daughters,
which love such freaks, to eat some anchovies and ham
of bacon with me, instead of noon, at dinner, when
I expected them. But, however, I had done my
business before they come, and so was in good humour
enough to be with them, and so home to them to supper,
and pretty merry, being pleased to see Betty Turner,
which hath something mighty pretty. But that
which put me in good humour, both at noon and night,
is the fancy that I am this day made a Captain of
one of the King’s ships, Mr. Wren having this
day sent me, the Duke of York’s commission to
be Captain of “The Jerzy,” in order to
my being of a Court-martiall for examining the loss
of “The Defyance,” and other things; which
do give me occasion of much mirth, and may be of some
use to me, at least I shall get a little money by it
for the time I have it; it being designed that I must
really be a Captain to be able to sit in this Court.
They staid till about eight at night, and then away,
and my wife to read to me, and then to bed in mighty
good humour, but for my eyes.