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.

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