and did my business there, and then home to
supper, and after to set some things right in my chamber, and so to bed.
This morning, before I went to the office, there come to me Mr. Young and
Whistler, flaggmakers, and with mighty earnestness did present me with,
and press me to take a box, wherein I could not guess there was less than
L100 in gold: but I do wholly refuse it, and did not at last take it. The
truth is, not thinking them safe men to receive such a gratuity from, nor
knowing any considerable courtesy that ever I did do them, but desirous to
keep myself free from their reports, and to have it in my power to say I
had refused their offer.

6th. Up, lying a little long in bed, and by water to White Hall, and
there find the Duke of York gone out, he being in haste to go to the
Parliament, and so all my Brethren were gone to the office too. So I to
Sir Ph. Warwicke's about my Tangier business, and then to Westminster
Hall, and walked up and down, and hear that the Prince do still rest well
by day and night, and out of pain; so as great hopes are conceived of him:
though I did meet Dr. Clerke and Mr. Pierce, and they do say they believe
he will not recover it, they supposing that his whole head within is eaten
by this corruption, which appeared in this piece of the inner table. Up
to the Parliament door, and there discoursed with Roger Pepys, who goes
out of town this week, the Parliament rising this week also. So down to
the Hall and there spied Betty Michell, and so I sent for burnt wine to
Mrs. Michell's, and there did drink with the two mothers, and by that
means with Betty, poor girle, whom I love with all my heart. And God
forgive me, it did make me stay longer and hover all the morning up and
down the Hall to 'busquer occasions para ambulare con elle. But ego ne
pouvoir'. So home by water and to dinner, and then to the office, where
we sat upon Denis Gawden's accounts, and before night I rose and by water
to White Hall, to attend the Council; but they sat not to-day. So to Sir
W. Coventry's chamber, and find him within, and with a letter from the
Downes in his hands, telling the loss of the St. Patricke coming from
Harwich in her way to Portsmouth; and would needs chase two ships (she
having the Malago fire-ship in company) which from English colours put up
Dutch, and he would clap on board the Vice-Admirall; and after long
dispute the Admirall comes on the other side of him, and both together
too