10th.  Lay long, at which I am ashamed, because of so many people observing it that know not how late I sit up, and for fear of Sir W. Batten’s speaking of it to others, he having staid for me a good while.  At the office all the morning, where comes my Lord Brunkard with his patent in his hand, and delivered it to Sir J. Minnes and myself, we alone being there all the day, and at noon I in his coach with him to the ’Change, where he set me down; a modest civil person he seems to be, but wholly ignorant in the business of the Navy as possible, but I hope to make a friend of him, being a worthy man.  Thence after hearing the great newes of so many Dutchmen being brought in to Portsmouth and elsewhere, which it is expected will either put them upon present revenge or despair, I with Sir W. Rider and Cutler to dinner all alone to the Great James, where good discourse, and, I hope, occasion of getting something hereafter.  After dinner to White Hall to the Fishery, where the Duke was with us.  So home, and late at my office, writing many letters, then home to supper and to bed.  Yesterday come home, and this night I visited Sir W. Pen, who dissembles great respect and love to me, but I understand him very well.  Major Holmes is come from Guinny, and is now at Plymouth with great wealth, they say.

11th (Lord’s day).  Up and to church alone in the morning.  Dined at home, mighty pleasantly.  In the afternoon I to the French church, where much pleased with the three sisters of the parson, very handsome, especially in their noses, and sing prettily.  I heard a good sermon of the old man, touching duty to parents.  Here was Sir Samuel Morland and his lady very fine, with two footmen in new liverys (the church taking much notice of them), and going into their coach after sermon with great gazeing.  So I home, and my cozen, Mary Pepys’s husband, comes after me, and told me that out of the money he received some months since he did receive 18d. too much, and did now come and give it me, which was very pretty.  So home, and there found Mr. Andrews and his lady, a well-bred and a tolerable pretty woman, and by and by Mr. Hill and to singing, and then to supper, then to sing again, and so good night.  To prayers and tonight [bed].  It is a little strange how these Psalms of Ravenscroft after 2 or 3 times singing prove but the same again, though good.  No diversity appearing at all almost.

12th.  Up, and with Sir W. Batten by coach to White Hall, where all of us with the Duke; Mr. Coventry privately did tell me the reason of his advice against our pretences to the Prize Office (in his letter from Portsmouth), because he knew that the King and the Duke had resolved to put in some Parliament men that have deserved well, and that would needs be obliged, by putting them in.  Thence homeward, called at my bookseller’s and bespoke some books against the year’s out, and then to the ’Change, and so home to dinner, and then to the office, where