4th.  Up very betimes, and walked, it being bitter cold, to Ratcliffe, to the plate-maker’s and back again.  To the office, where we sat all the morning, I, with being empty and full of ayre and wind, had some pain to-day.  Dined alone at home, my wife being gone abroad to buy some more things.  All the afternoon at the office.  William Howe come to see me, being come up with my Lord from sea:  he is grown a discreet, but very conceited fellow.  He tells me how little respectfully Sir W. Pen did carry it to my Lord onboard the Duke’s ship at sea; and that Captain Minnes, a favourite of Prince Rupert’s, do shew my Lord little respect; but that every body else esteems my Lord as they ought.  I am sorry for the folly of the latter, and vexed at the dissimulation of the former.  At night home to supper and to bed.  This day was proclaimed at the ’Change the war with Holland.

5th (Lord’s day).  Up, and Mr. Burston bringing me by order my Lord’s plates, which he has been making this week.  I did take coach and to my Lord Sandwich’s and dined with my Lord; it being the first time he hath dined at home since his coming from sea:  and a pretty odd demand it was of my Lord to my Lady before me:  “How do you, sweetheart?  How have you done all this week?” himself taking notice of it to me, that he had hardly seen her the week before.  At dinner he did use me with the greatest solemnity in the world, in carving for me, and nobody else, and calling often to my Lady to cut for me; and all the respect possible.  After dinner looked over the plates, liked them mightily, and indeed I think he is the most exact man in what he do in the world of that kind.  So home again, and there after a song or two in the evening with Mr. Hill, I to my office, and then home to supper and to bed.

6th.  Up, and with Sir J. Minnes by coach, being a most lamentable cold day as any this year, to St. James’s, and there did our business with the Duke.  Great preparations for his speedy return to sea.  I saw him try on his buff coat and hatpiece covered with black velvet.  It troubles me more to think of his venture, than of anything else in the whole warr.  Thence home to dinner, where I saw Besse go away; she having of all wenches that ever lived with us received the greatest love and kindnesse and good clothes, besides wages, and gone away with the greatest ingratitude.  I then abroad to look after my Hamaccoes, and so home, and there find our new chamber-mayde, Mary, come, which instead of handsome, as my wife spoke and still seems to reckon, is a very ordinary wench, I think, and therein was mightily disappointed.  To my office, where busy late, and then home to supper and to bed, and was troubled all this night with a pain in my left testicle, that run up presently into my left kidney and there kept akeing all night.  In great pain.