to come to her to-morrow,
but my wife being to go to a christening tomorrow, she came to do her
head up to-night. So a while to my office, and then to supper and to
bed.

8th. Up and to the office, where busy all the morning. At noon dined at
home, and I by water down to Woolwich by a galley, and back again in the
evening. All haste made in setting out this Guinny fleete, but yet not
such as will ever do the King's business if we come to a warr. My wife
this afternoon being very well dressed by her new woman, Mary Mercer,
a decayed merchant's daughter that our Will helps us to, did go to the
christening of Mrs. Mills, the parson's wife's child, where she never
was before. After I was come home Mr. Povey came to me and took me out
to supper to Mr. Bland's, who is making now all haste to be gone for
Tangier. Here pretty merry, and good discourse, fain to admire the
knowledge and experience of Mrs. Bland, who I think as good a merchant
as her husband. I went home and there find Mercer, whose person I like
well, and I think will do well, at least I hope so. So to my office a
while and then to bed.

9th. Up, and to put things in order against dinner. I out and bought
several things, among others, a dozen of silver salts; home, and to the
office, where some of us met a little, and then home, and at noon comes
my company, namely, Anthony and Will Joyce and their wives, my aunt
James newly come out of Wales, and my cozen Sarah Gyles. Her husband did
not come, and by her I did understand afterwards, that it was because he
was not yet able to pay me the 40s. she had borrowed a year ago of me.

[Pepys would have been more proud of his cousin had he anticipated
her husband's becoming a knight, for she was probably the same
person whose burial is recorded in the register of St. Helen's,
Bishopsgate, September 4th, 1704: "Dame Sarah Gyles, widow, relict
of Sir John Gyles."--B.]

I was as merry as I could, giving them a good dinner; but W. Joyce did
so talk, that he made every body else dumb, but only laugh at him. I
forgot there was Mr. Harman and his wife, my aunt, a very good harmlesse
woman. All their talke is of her and my two she-cozen Joyces and Will's
little boy Will (who was also here to-day), down to Brampton to my
father's next week, which will be trouble and charge to them, but
however my father and mother desire to see them, and so let them. They
eyed mightily my great cupboard of plate, I thi