which I did now agree for, and did at Haward’s meet with Mr. Thacker, and heard him play on the harpsicon, so as I never heard man before, I think.  So home, it being almost night, and there find in the garden Pelling, who hath brought Tempest, Wallington, and Pelham, to sings and there had most excellent musick late, in the dark, with great pleasure.  Made them drink and eat; and so with much pleasure to bed, but above all with little Wallington.  This morning I was let blood, and did bleed about fourteen ounces, towards curing my eyes.

14th.  Up, and to my office, where sat all the morning.  At noon home to dinner, and thence all the afternoon hard at the office, we meeting about the Victualler’s new contract; and so into the garden, my Lady Pen, Mrs. Turner and her daughter, my wife and I, and there supped in the dark and were merry, and so to bed.  This day Bossc finished his copy of my picture, which I confess I do not admire, though my wife prefers him to Browne; nor do I think it like.  He do it for W. Hewer, who hath my wife’s also, which I like less.  This afternoon my Lady Pickering come to see us:  I busy, saw her not.  But how natural it is for us to slight people out of power, and for people out of power to stoop to see those that while in power they contemned!

15th.  Up, and all the morning busy at the office to my great content, attending to the settling of papers there that I may have the more rest in winter for my eyes by how much I do the more in the settling of all things in the summer by daylight.  At noon home to dinner, where is brought home the espinette I bought the other day of Haward; costs me L5.  So to St. James’s, where did our ordinary business with the Duke of York.  So to Unthanke’s to my wife, and with her and Deb. to visit Mrs. Pierce, whom I do not now so much affect, since she paints.  But stayed here a while, and understood from her how my Lady Duchesse of Monmouth is still lame, and likely always to be so, which is a sad chance for a young [lady] to get, only by trying of tricks in dancing.  So home, and there Captain Deane come and spent the evening with me, to draw some finishing lines on his fine draught of “The Resolution,” the best ship, by all report, in the world, and so to bed.  Wonderful hot all day and night, and this the first night that I remember in my life that ever I could lie with only a sheet and one rug.  So much I am now stronger than ever I remember myself, at least since before I had the stone.

16th.  Up, and to the office, where Yeabsly and Lanyon come to town and to speak with me about a matter wherein they are accused of cheating the King before the Lords’ Commissioners of Tangier, and I doubt it true, but I have no hand in it, but will serve them what I can.  All the morning at the office, and at noon dined at home, and then to the office again, where we met to finish the draft of the Victualler’s contract, and so I by water with my Lord Brouncker