31st.  Up by five o’clock and to my office, where T. Hater and Will met me, and so we dispatched a great deal of my business as to the ordering my papers and books which were behindhand.  All the morning very busy at my office.  At noon home to dinner, and there my wife hath got me some pretty good oysters, which is very soon and the soonest, I think, I ever eat any.  After dinner I up to hear my boy play upon a lute, which I have this day borrowed of Mr. Hunt; and indeed the boy would, with little practice, play very well upon the lute, which pleases me well.  So by coach to the Tangier Committee, and there have another small business by which I may get a little small matter of money.  Staid but little there, and so home and to my office, where late casting up my monthly accounts, and, blessed be God! find myself worth L1020, which is still the most I ever was worth.  So home and to bed.  Prince Rupert I hear this day is to go to command this fleete going to Guinny against the Dutch.  I doubt few will be pleased with his going, being accounted an unhappy’ man.  My mind at good rest, only my father’s troubles with Dr. Pepys and my brother Tom’s creditors in general do trouble me.  I have got a new boy that understands musique well, as coming to me from the King’s Chappell, and I hope will prove a good boy, and my wife and I are upon having a woman, which for her content I am contented to venture upon the charge of again, and she is one that our’ Will finds out for us, and understands a little musique, and I think will please us well, only her friends live too near us.  Pretty well in health, since I left off wearing of a gowne within doors all day, and then go out with my legs into the cold, which brought me daily pain.

Diaryof Samuel Pepys. 
September
1664

Sept. 1st.  A sad rainy night, up and to the office, where busy all the morning.  At noon to the ’Change and thence brought Mr. Pierce, the Surgeon, and Creed, and dined very merry and handsomely; but my wife not being well of those she not with us; and we cut up the great cake Moorcocke lately sent us, which is very good.  They gone I to my office, and there very busy till late at night, and so home to supper and to bed.

2nd.  Up very betimes and walked (my boy with me) to Mr. Cole’s, and after long waiting below, he being under the barber’s hands, I spoke with him, and he did give me much hopes of getting my debt that my brother owed me, and also that things would go well with my father.  But going to his attorney’s, that he directed me to, they tell me both that though I could bring my father to a confession of a judgment, yet he knowing that there are specialties out against him he is bound to plead his knowledge of them to me before he pays me, or else he must do it in his own wrong.  I took a great deal of pains this morning in the thorough understanding hereof, and hope that I know the truth of our case, though it be