to make clean, but the poor boy was in a pitifull taking and pickle; but I basted my rogue soundly.  Thence to my Lord’s lodging, and Creed to his, for his papers against the Committee.  I found my Lord within, and he and I went out through the garden towards the Duke’s chamber, to sit upon the Tangier matters; but a lady called to my Lord out of my Lady Castlemaine’s lodging, telling him that the King was there and would speak with him.  My Lord could not tell what to bid me say at the Committee to excuse his absence, but that he was with the King; nor would suffer me to go into the Privy Garden (which is now a through-passage, and common), but bid me to go through some other way, which I did; so that I see he is a servant of the King’s pleasures too, as well as business.  So I went to the Committee, where we spent all this night attending to Sir J. Lawson’s description of Tangier and the place for the Mole,

[The construction of this Mole or breakwater turned out a very costly undertaking.  In April, 1663, it was found that the charge for one year’s work was L13,000.  In March, 1665, L36,000 had been spent upon it.  The wind and sea exerted a very destructive influence over this structure, although it was very strongly built, and Colonel Norwood reported in 1668 that a breach had been made in the Mole, which cost a considerable sum to repair.]

of which he brought a very pretty draught.  Concerning the making of the Mole, Mr. Cholmely did also discourse very well, having had some experience in it.  Being broke up, I home by coach to Mr. Bland’s, and there discoursed about sending away of the merchant ship which hangs so long on hand for Tangier.  So to my Lady Batten’s, and sat with her awhile, Sir W. Batten being gone out of town; but I did it out of design to get some oranges for my feast to-morrow of her, which I did.  So home, and found my wife’s new gown come home, and she mightily pleased with it.  But I appeared very angry that there were no more things got ready against to-morrow’s feast, and in that passion sat up long, and went discontented to bed.

13th.  So my poor wife rose by five o’clock in the morning, before day, and went to market and bought fowls and many other things for dinner, with which I was highly pleased, and the chine of beef was down also before six o’clock, and my own jack, of which I was doubtfull, do carry it very well.  Things being put in order, and the cook come, I went to the office, where we sat till noon and then broke up, and I home, whither by and by comes Dr. Clerke and his lady, his sister, and a she-cozen, and Mr. Pierce and his wife, which was all my guests.  I had for them, after oysters, at first course, a hash of rabbits, a lamb, and a rare chine of beef.  Next a great dish of roasted fowl, cost me about 30s., and a tart, and then fruit and cheese.  My dinner was noble and enough.  I had my house mighty clean and neat; my room below with a good fire