21st.  Up betimes, and with my people again to work, and finished all before noon:  and then I by water to White Hall, and there did tell the Duke of York that I had done; and he hath to my great content desired me to come to him at Sunday next in the afternoon, to read it over, by which I have more time to consider and correct it.  So back home and to the ‘Change, in my way calling at Morris’, my vintner’s, where I love to see su moher, though no acquaintance accostais this day con her.  Did several things at the ’Change, and so home to dinner.  After dinner I by coach to my bookseller’s in Duck Lane, and there did spend a little time and regarder su moher, and so to St. James’s, where did a little ordinary business; and by and by comes Monsieur Colbert, the French Embassador, to make his first visit to the Duke of York, and then to the Duchess:  and I saw it:  a silly piece of ceremony, he saying only a few formal words.  A comely man, and in a black suit and cloak of silk, which is a strange fashion, now it hath been so long left off:  This day I did first see the Duke of York’s room of pictures of some Maids of Honour, done by Lilly:  good, but not like.

     [The set of portraits known as “King Charles’s Beauties,” formerly
     in Windsor Castle, but now at Hampton Court.—­B.]

Thence to Reeves’s, and bought a reading-glass, and so to my bookseller’s again, there to buy a Book of Martyrs,

     [The popular name of John Fox’s “Acts and Monuments,” first
     published in 1562-63.]

which I did agree for; and so, after seeing and beginning acquaintance con his femme, but very little, away home, and there busy very late at the correcting my great letter to the Duke of York, and so to bed.

22nd.  Up betimes, at it again with great content, and so to the Office, where all the morning, and did fall out with W. Pen about his slight performance of his office, and so home to dinner, fully satisfied that this Office must sink or the whole Service be undone.  To the office all the afternoon again, and then home to supper and to bed, my mind being pretty well at ease, my great letter being now finished to my full content; and I thank God I have opportunity of doing it, though I know it will set the Office and me by the ears for ever.  This morning Captain Cocke comes, and tells me that he is now assured that it is true, what he told me the other day, that our whole Office will be turned out, only me, which, whether he says true or no, I know not, nor am much concerned, though I should be better contented to have it thus than otherwise.  This afternoon, after I was weary in my business of the office, I went forth to the ’Change, thinking to have spoke with Captain Cocke, but he was not within.  So I home, and took London-bridge in my way; walking down Fish Street and Gracious Street, to see how very fine a descent they have now made down the hill, that it is become very easy and pleasant, and going through Leaden-Hall, it being market-day, I did see a woman catched, that had stolen a shoulder of mutton off of a butcher’s stall, and carrying it wrapt up in a cloth, in a basket.  The jade was surprised, and did not deny it, and the woman so silly, as to let her go that took it, only taking the meat.