re all the morning; at noon home to
dinner, and then to the office again in the afternoon, and there all day
very busy till night, and then, having done much business, home to supper,
and so to bed. This afternoon come home Sir J. Minnes, who has been down,
but with little purpose, to pay the ships below at the Nore. This evening,
having done my letters, I did write out the heads of what I had prepared
to speak to the King the other day at my Lord Treasurer's, which I do
think convenient to keep by me for future use. The weather is now grown
warm again, after much cold; and it is observable that within these eight
days I did see smoke remaining, coming out of some cellars, from the late
great fire, now above six months since. There was this day at the office
(as he is most days) Sir W. Warren, against whom I did manifestly plead,
and heartily too, God forgive me! But the reason is because I do find
that he do now wholly rely almost upon my Lord Bruncker, though I confess
I have no greater ground of my leaving him than the confidence which I
perceive he hath got in my Lord Bruncker, whose seeming favours only do
obtain of him as much compensation as, I believe (for he do know well the
way of using his bounties), as mine more real. Besides, my Lord and I
being become antagonistic, I do not think it safe for me to trust myself
in the hands of one whom I know to be a knave, and using all means to
become gracious there.
17th (Lord's day). Up betime with my wife, and by coach with Sir W. Pen
and Sir Thomas Allen to White Hall, there my wife and I the first time
that ever we went to my Lady Jemimah's chamber at Sir Edward Carteret's
lodgings. I confess I have been much to blame and much ashamed of our not
visiting her sooner, but better now than never. Here we took her before
she was up, which I was sorry for, so only saw her, and away to chapel,
leaving further visit till after sermon. I put my wife into the pew
below, but it was pretty to see, myself being but in a plain band, and
every way else ordinary, how the verger took me for her man, I think, and
I was fain to tell him she was a kinswoman of my Lord Sandwich's, he
saying that none under knights-baronets' ladies are to go into that pew.
So she being there, I to the Duke of York's lodging, where in his
dressing-chamber he talking of his journey to-morrow or next day to
Harwich, to prepare some fortifications there; so that we are wholly upon
the defensive part
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