on thinking upon business.
I did by night set many things in order, which pleased me well, and puts
me upon a resolution of keeping within doors and minding my business and
the business of the office, which I pray God I may put in practice. At
night to bed.

FEBRUARY 1661-1662

February 1st. This morning within till 11 o'clock, and then with
Commissioner Pett to the office; and he staid there writing, while I and
Sir W. Pen walked in the garden talking about his business of putting
his son to Cambridge; and to that end I intend to write to-night to Dr.
Fairebrother, to give me an account of Mr. Burton of Magdalene. Thence
with Mr. Pett to the Paynter's; and he likes our pictures very well, and
so do I. Thence he and I to the Countess of Sandwich, to lead him to her
to kiss her hands: and dined with her, and told her the news (which Sir
W. Pen told me to-day) that express is come from my Lord with letters,
that by a great storm and tempest the mole of Argier is broken down, and
many of their ships sunk into the mole. So that God Almighty hath now
ended that unlucky business for us; which is very good news. After
dinner to the office, where we staid late, and so I home, and late
writing letters to my father and Dr. Fairebrother, and an angry letter
to my brother John for not writing to me, and so to bed.

2nd (Lord's day). To church in the morning, and then home and dined with
my wife, and so both of us to church again, where we had an Oxford man
give us a most impertinent sermon upon "Cast your bread upon the waters,
&c. So home to read, supper, and to prayers, and then to bed.

3rd. After musique practice I went to the office, and there with the two
Sir Williams all the morning about business, and at noon I dined with
Sir W. Batten with many friends more, it being his wedding-day, and
among other froliques, it being their third year, they had three pyes,
whereof the middlemost was made of an ovall form, in an ovall hole
within the other two, which made much mirth, and was called the
middle piece; and above all the rest, we had great striving to steal a
spooneful out of it; and I remember Mrs. Mills, the minister's wife, did
steal one for me and did give it me; and to end all, Mrs. Shippman did
fill the pye full of white wine, it holding at least a pint and a half,
and did drink it off for a health to Sir William and my Lady, it being
the greatest draft that ever I did see a woman drink in my life. Before
we ha