drinking of white wine and sugar, and eating pickled oysters, where Captain Sparling told us the best story that ever I heard, about a gentleman that persuaded a country fool to let him gut his oysters or else they would stink.  At night writing letters to London and Weymouth, for my Lord being now to sit in the House of Peers he endeavours to get Mr. Edward Montagu for Weymouth and Mr. George for Dover.  Mr. Cooke late with me in my cabin while I wrote to my wife, and drank a bottle of wine and so took leave of me on his journey and I to bed.

3d.  Waked in the morning by one who when I asked who it was, he told me one from Bridewell, which proved Captain Holland.  I rose presently to him.  He is come to get an order for the setting out of his ship, and to renew his commission.  He tells me how every man goes to the Lord Mayor to set down their names, as such as do accept of his Majesty’s pardon, and showed me a certificate under the Lord Mayor’s hand that he had done so.

At sermon in the morning; after dinner into my cabin, to cast my accounts up, and find myself to be worth near L100, for which I bless Almighty God, it being more than I hoped for so soon, being I believe not clearly worth L25 when I came to sea besides my house and goods.  Then to set my papers in order, they being increased much upon my hands through want of time to put them in order.  The ship’s company all this while at sermon.  After sermon my Lord did give me instruction to write to London about business, which done, after supper to bed.

4th.  Waked in the morning at four o’clock to give some money to Mr. Hetly, who was to go to London with the letters that I wrote yesterday night.  After he was gone I went and lay down in my gown upon my bed again an hour or two.  At last waked by a messenger come for a Post Warrant for Mr. Hetly and Mr. Creed, who stood to give so little for their horses that the men would not let them have any without a warrant, which I sent them.  All the morning getting Captain Holland’s commission done, which I did, and he at noon went away.  I took my leave of him upon the quarter-deck with a bottle of sack, my Lord being just set down to dinner.  Then he being gone I went to dinner and after dinner to my cabin to write.  This afternoon I showed my Lord my accounts, which he passed, and so I think myself to be worth near L100 now.  In the evening I made an order for Captain Sparling of the Assistance to go to Middleburgh, to fetch over some of the King’s goods.  I took the opportunity to send all my Dutch money, 70 ducatoons and 29 gold ducats to be changed, if he can, for English money, which is the first venture that ever I made, and so I have been since a little afeard of it.  After supper some music and so to bed.  This morning the King’s Proclamation against drinking, swearing, and debauchery, was read to our ships’ companies in the fleet, and indeed it gives great satisfaction to all.