to me. Then home and till 12 at night about my month's accounts, wherein
I have just kept within compass, this having been a spending month. So
my people being all abed I put myself to bed very sleepy. All the newes
now is what will become of the Dutch business, whether warr or peace.
We all seem to desire it, as thinking ourselves to have advantages at
present over them; for my part I dread it. The Parliament promises to
assist the King with lives and fortunes, and he receives it with thanks
and promises to demand satisfaction of the Dutch. My poor Lady Sandwich
is fallen sick three days since of the meazles. My Lord Digby's business
is hushed up, and nothing made of it; he is gone, and the discourse
quite ended. Never more quiet in my family all the days of my life than
now, there being only my wife and I and Besse and the little girl Susan,
the best wenches to our content that we can ever expect.

MAY 1664

May 1st (Lord's day). Lay long in bed. Went not to church, but staid at
home to examine my last night's accounts, which I find right, and that
I am L908 creditor in the world, the same I was last month. Dined, and
after dinner down by water with my wife and Besse with great pleasure
as low as Greenwich and so back, playing as it were leisurely upon the
water to Deptford, where I landed and sent my wife up higher to land
below Half-way house. I to the King's yard and there spoke about several
businesses with the officers, and so with Mr. Wayth consulting about
canvas, to Half-way house where my wife was, and after eating there we
broke and walked home before quite dark. So to supper, prayers, and to
bed.

2nd. Lay pretty long in bed. So up and by water to St. James's, and
there attended the Duke with Sir W. Batten and Sir J. Minnes, and having
done our work with him walked to Westminster Hall, and after walking
there and talking of business met Mr. Rawlinson and by coach to the
'Change, where I did some business, and home to dinner, and presently by
coach to the King's Play-house to see "The Labyrinth," but, coming too
soon, walked to my Lord's to hear how my Lady do, who is pretty well;
at least past all fear. There by Captain Ferrers meeting with an
opportunity of my Lord's coach, to carry us to the Parke anon, we
directed it to come to the play-house door; and so we walked, my wife
and I and Madamoiselle. I paid for her going in, and there saw "The
Labyrinth," the poorest play, methinks, that ever I saw,