do so carelessly.  Thence I by coach to Ratcliffe highway, to the plate-maker’s, and he has begun my Lord Sandwich’s plate very neatly, and so back again.  Coming back I met Colonell Atkins, who in other discourse did offer to give me a piece to receive of me 20 when he proves the late news of the Dutch, their drowning our men, at Guinny, and the truth is I find the generality of the world to fear that there is something of truth in it, and I do fear it too.  Thence back by coach to Sir Philip Warwicke’s; and there he did contract with me a kind of friendship and freedom of communication, wherein he assures me to make me understand the whole business of the Treasurer’s business of the Navy, that I shall know as well as Sir G. Carteret what money he hath; and will needs have me come to him sometimes, or he meet me, to discourse of things tending to the serving the King:  and I am mighty proud and happy in becoming so known to such a man.  And I hope shall pursue it.  Thence back home to the office a little tired and out of order, and then to supper and to bed.

28th:  At the office all the morning.  At noon dined at home.  After dinner my wife and I to my Lady batten’s, it being the first time my wife hath been there, I think, these two years, but I had a mind in part to take away the strangenesse, and so we did, and all very quiett and kind.  Come home, I to the taking my wife’s kitchen accounts at the latter end of the month, and there find 7s. wanting, which did occasion a very high falling out between us, I indeed too angrily insisting upon so poor a thing, and did give her very provoking high words, calling her beggar, and reproaching her friends, which she took very stomachfully and reproached me justly with mine; and I confess, being myself, I cannot see what she could have done less.  I find she is very cunning, and when she least shews it hath her wit at work; but it is an ill one, though I think not so bad but with good usage I might well bear with it, and the truth is I do find that my being over-solicitous and jealous and froward and ready to reproach her do make her worse.  However, I find that now and then a little difference do no hurte, but too much of it will make her know her force too much.  We parted after many high words very angry, and I to my office to my month’s accounts, and find myself worth L1270, for which the Lord God be praised!  So at almost 2 o’clock in the morning I home to supper and to bed, and so ends this month, with great expectation of the Hollanders coming forth, who are, it seems, very high and rather more ready than we.  God give a good issue to it!

     ETEXT editor’s bookmarks: 

     Accounts I never did see, or hope again to see in my days
     At a loss whether it will be better for me to have him die
     By his many words and no understanding, confound himself
     Church, where a most insipid young coxcomb preached
     Clean myself with warm