Thence ashamed at myself for this
losse of time, yet not able to leave it, I to the office, where my Lord
Bruncker come; and he and I had a little fray, he being, I find, a very
peevish man, if he be denied what he expects, and very simple in his
argument in this business (about signing a warrant for paying Sir Thos.
Allen L1000 out of the groats); but we were pretty good friends before
we parted, and so we broke up and I to the writing my letters by the
post, and so home to supper and to bed.

13th. Up, being called up by my wife's brother, for whom I have got
a commission from the Duke of Yorke for Muster-Master of one of the
divisions, of which Harman is Rere-Admirall, of which I am glad as well
as he. After I had acquainted him with it, and discoursed a little of
it, I went forth and took him with me by coach to the Duke of Albemarle,
who being not up, I took a walk with Balty into the Parke, and to the
Queene's Chappell, it being Good Friday, where people were all upon
their knees very silent; but, it seems, no masse this day. So back and
waited on the Duke and received some commands of his, and so by coach to
Mr. Hales's, where it is pretty strange to see that his second doing, I
mean the second time of her sitting, is less like Mrs. Pierce than
the first, and yet I am confident will be most like her, for he is so
curious that I do not see how it is possible for him to mistake. Here
he and I presently resolved of going to White Hall, to spend an houre
in the galleries there among the pictures, and we did so to my great
satisfaction, he shewing me the difference in the payntings, and when I
come more and more to distinguish and observe the workmanship, I do
not find so many good things as I thought there was, but yet great
difference between the works of some and others; and, while my head and
judgment was full of these, I would go back again to his house to
see his pictures, and indeed, though, I think, at first sight some
difference do open, yet very inconsiderably but that I may judge his to
be very good pictures. Here we fell into discourse of my picture, and
I am for his putting out the Landskipp, though he says it is very well
done, yet I do judge it will be best without it, and so it shall be put
out, and be made a plain sky like my wife's picture, which will be very
noble. Thence called upon an old woman in Pannier Ally to agree for
ruling of some paper for me and she will do it pretty cheap. Here I
found h