25th (Lady day).  This morning came workmen to begin the making of me a new pair of stairs up out of my parler, which, with other work that I have to do, I doubt will keep me this two months and so long I shall be all in dirt; but the work do please me very well.  To the office, and there all the morning, dined at home, and after dinner comes Mr. Salisbury to see me, and shewed me a face or two of his paynting, and indeed I perceive that he will be a great master.  I took him to Whitehall with me by water, but he would not by any means be moved to go through bridge, and so we were fain to go round by the Old Swan.  To my Lord’s and there I shewed him the King’s picture, which he intends to copy out in little.  After that I and Captain Ferrers to Salisbury Court by water, and saw part of the “Queene’s Maske.”  Then I to Mrs. Turner, and there staid talking late.  The.  Turner being in a great chafe, about being disappointed of a room to stand in at the Coronacion.  Then to my father’s, and there staid talking with my mother and him late about my dinner to-morrow.  So homewards and took up a boy that had a lanthorn, that was picking up of rags, and got him to light me home, and had great discourse with him how he could get sometimes three or four bushells of rags in a day, and got 3d. a bushell for them, and many other discourses, what and how many ways there are for poor children to get their livings honestly.  So home and I to bed at 12 o’clock at night, being pleased well with the work that my workmen have begun to-day.

26th.  Up early to do business in my study.  This is my great day that three years ago I was cut of the stone, and, blessed be God, I do yet find myself very free from pain again.  All this morning I staid at home looking after my workmen to my great content about my stairs, and at noon by coach to my father’s, where Mrs. Turner, The.  Joyce, Mr. Morrice, Mr. Armiger, Mr. Pierce, the surgeon, and his wife, my father and mother, and myself and my wife.  Very merry at dinner; among other things, because Mrs. Turner and her company eat no flesh at all this Lent, and I had a great deal of good flesh which made their mouths water.  After dinner Mrs. Pierce and her husband and I and my wife to Salisbury Court, where coming late he and she light of Col.  Boone that made room for them, and I and my wife sat in the pit, and there met with Mr. Lewes and Tom Whitton, and saw “The Bondman” done to admiration.  So home by coach, and after a view of what the workmen had done to-day I went to bed.

27th.  Up early to see my workmen at work.  My brother Tom comes to me, and among other things I looked over my old clothes and did give him a suit of black stuff clothes and a hat and some shoes.  At the office all the morning, where Sir G. Carteret comes, and there I did get him to promise me some money upon a bill of exchange, whereby I shall secure myself of L60 which otherwise I should not know how to get.  At noon I found my stairs quite broke