n, and there sat and talked about price of masts and other
things, and so broke up and to my office to see what business, and so
we took water again, and at the Tower I over to Redriffe, and there left
him in the boat and walked to Deptford, and there up and down the yard
speaking with people, and so Sir W. Pen coming out of the payhouse
did single me out to tell me Sir J. Minnes' dislike of my blinding his
lights over his stairs (which indeed is very bad) and blocking up the
house of office on the leads. Which did trouble me. So I went into the
payhouse and took an occasion of speaking with him alone, and did give
him good satisfaction therein, so as that I am well pleased and do hope
now to have my closet on the leads without any more trouble, for he
do not object against my having a door upon the leads, but that all my
family should not make it a thoroughfare, which I am contented with. So
to the pay, and in the evening home in the barge, and so to my office,
and after doing some business there to my lodgings, and so to bed.

9th. At my office betimes, and by and by we sat, and at noon Mr.
Coventry, Sir J. Minnes, Mr. Pett, and myself by water to Deptford,
where we met Sir G. C., Sir W. B., and Sir W. P. At the pay of a ship,
and we dined together on a haunch of good venison boiled, and after
dinner returned again to the office, and there met several tradesmen by
our appointment to know of them their lowest rates that they will take
for their several provisions that they sell to us, for I do resolve to
know that, and to buy no dearer, that so when we know the lowest rate,
it shall be the Treasurer's fault, and not ours, that we pay dearer.
This afternoon Sir John Minnes, Mr. Coventry, and I went into Sir John's
lodgings, where he showed us how I have blinded all his lights, and
stopped up his garden door, and other things he takes notice of that
he resolves to abridge me of, which do vex me so much that for all this
evening and all night in my bed, so great a fool I am, and little master
of my passion, that I could not sleep for the thoughts of my losing the
privilege of the leads, and other things which in themselves are small
and not worth half the trouble. The more fool am I, and must labour
against it for shame, especially I that used to preach up Epictetus's
rule:

["Some things are in our power, others are not" Pepys means,
"I ought not to vex myself about what I cannot control."]

Late at my office