eral 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 it in
his own wrong. I took a great deal of pains this morning in the thorough
understanding hereof, and hope that I know the truth of our case, though
it be but bad, yet better than to run spending money and all to no
purpose. However, I will inquire a little more. Walked home, doing very
many errands by the way to my great content, and at the 'Change met
and spoke with several persons about serving us with pieces of eight at
Tangier. So home to dinner above stairs, my wife not being well of those
in bed. I dined by her bedside, but I got her to rise and abroad with
me by coach to Bartholomew Fayre, and our boy with us, and there shewed
them and myself the dancing on the ropes, and several other the best
shows; but pretty it is to see how our boy carries himself so innocently
clownish as would make one laugh. Here till late and dark, then up and
down, to buy combes for my wif