19th.  Up in very good health in every respect, only my late fever got by my pain do break out about my mouth.  So to the office, where all the morning sitting.  Full of wants of money, and much stores to buy, for to replenish the stores, and no money to do it with, nor anybody to trust us without it.  So at noon home to dinner, Balty and his wife with us.  By and by Balty takes his leave of us, he going away just now towards the fleete, where he will pass through one great engagement more before he be two days older, I believe.  I to the office, where busy all the afternoon, late, and then home, and, after some pleasant discourse to my wife, to bed.  After I was in bed I had a letter from Sir W. Coventry that tells me that the fleete is sailed this morning; God send us good newes of them!

20th.  Up, and finding by a letter late last night that the fleete is gone, and that Sir W. Pen is ordered to go down to Sheernesse, and finding him ready to go to St. James’s this morning, I was willing to go with him to see how things go,

[Sir William Penn’s instructions from the Duke of York directing him to embark on his Majesty’s yacht “Henrietta,” and to see to the manning of such ships has had been left behind by the fleet, dated on this day, 20th July, is printed in Penn’s “Memorials of Sir W. Penn,” vol. ii., p. 406.]

and so with him thither (but no discourse with the Duke), but to White Hall, and there the Duke of York did bid Sir W. Pen to stay to discourse with him and the King about business of the fleete, which troubled me a little, but it was only out of envy, for which I blame myself, having no reason to expect to be called to advise in a matter I understand not.  So I away to Lovett’s, there to see how my picture goes on to be varnished (a fine Crucifix),

     [This picture occasioned Pepys trouble long afterwards, having been
     brought as evidence that he was a Papist (see “Life,” vol. i., p.
     xxxiii).]

which will be very fine; and here I saw some fine prints, brought from France by Sir Thomas Crew, who is lately returned.  So home, calling at the stationer’s for some paper fit to varnish, and in my way home met with Lovett, to whom I gave it, and he did present me with a varnished staffe, very fine and light to walk with.  So home and to dinner, there coming young Mrs. Daniel and her sister Sarah, and dined with us; and old Mr. Hawly, whose condition pities me, he being forced to turne under parish-clerke at St. Gyles’s, I think at the other end of the towne.  Thence I to the office, where busy all the afternoon, and in the evening with Sir W. Pen, walking with whom in the garden I am of late mighty great, and it is wisdom to continue myself so, for he is of all the men of the office at present most manifestly usefull and best thought of.  He and I supped together upon the seat in the garden, and thence, he gone, my wife and Mercer come and walked and sang late, and then home to bed.