will be most like her, for he is so curious that I
do not see how it is possible for him to mistake.
Here he and I presently resolved of going to White
Hall, to spend an houre in the galleries there among
the pictures, and we did so to my great satisfaction,
he shewing me the difference in the payntings, and
when I come more and more to distinguish and observe
the workmanship, I do not find so many good things
as I thought there was, but yet great difference between
the works of some and others; and, while my head and
judgment was full of these, I would go back again
to his house to see his pictures, and indeed, though,
I think, at first sight some difference do open, yet
very inconsiderably but that I may judge his to be
very good pictures. Here we fell into discourse
of my picture, and I am for his putting out the Landskipp,
though he says it is very well done, yet I do judge
it will be best without it, and so it shall be put
out, and be made a plain sky like my wife’s picture,
which will be very noble. Thence called upon
an old woman in Pannier Ally to agree for ruling of
some paper for me and she will do it pretty cheap.
Here I found her have a very comely black mayde to
her servant, which I liked very well. So home
to dinner and to see my joiner do the bench upon my
leads to my great content. After dinner I abroad
to carry paper to my old woman, and so to Westminster
Hall, and there beyond my intention or design did
see and speak with Betty Howlett, at her father’s
still, and it seems they carry her to her own house
to begin the world with her young husband on Monday
next, Easter Monday. I please myself with the
thoughts of her neighbourhood, for I love the girl
mightily. Thence home, and thither comes Mr.
Houblon and a brother, with whom I evened for the charter
parties of their ships for Tangier, and paid them the
third advance on their freight to full satisfaction,
and so, they being gone, comes Creed and with him
till past one in the morning, evening his accounts
till my head aked and I was fit for nothing, however,
coming at last luckily to see through and settle all
to my mind, it did please me mightily, and so with
my mind at rest to bed, and he with me and hard to
sleep.
14th. Up about seven and finished our papers,
he and I, and I delivered him tallys and some money
and so away I to the office, where we sat all the
morning. At noon dined at home and Creed with
me, then parted, and I to the office, and anon called
thence by Sir H. Cholmley and he and I to my chamber,
and there settled our matters of accounts, and did
give him tallys and money to clear him, and so he
being gone and all these accounts cleared I shall
be even with the King, so as to make a very clear and
short account in a very few days, which pleases me
very well. Here he and I discoursed a great while
about Tangier, and he do convince me, as things are
now ordered by my Lord Bellasses and will be by Norwood
(men that do only mind themselves), the garrison will
never come to any thing, and he proposes his owne
being governor, which in truth I do think will do very
well, and that he will bring it to something.
He gone I to my office, where to write letters late,
and then home and looked over a little more my papers
of accounts lately passed, and so to bed.