n acquaintance of
his that did occasion impertinent discourse, that though I honour the
man, and he do declare abundance of learning and worth, yet I confess
my opinion is much lessened of him, and therefore let it be a caution
to myself not to love drink, since it has such an effect upon others of
greater worth in my own esteem. I could not avoid drinking of 5 glasses
this afternoon with him, and after I had parted with him Mr. Moore and I
to my house, and after we had eaten something to my lodgings, where the
master of the house, a very ordinary fellow, was ready to entertain
me and took me into his dining-room where his wife was, a pretty and
notable lady, too fine surely for him, and too much wit too. Here I was
forced to stay with them a good while and did drink again, there being
friends of theirs with them. At last being weary of his idle company,
I bid good-night and so to my chamber and Mr. [Moore] and I to bed,
neither of us well pleased with our afternoon's work, merely from our
being witnesses of Mr. Crumlum's weakness. This day my boy is come from
Brampton, and my wife I think the next week.

18th. At the office all the morning, and at noon Sir G. Carteret, Mr.
Coventry, and I by invitation to dinner to Sheriff Maynell's, the great
money-man; he, Alderman Backwell, and much noble and brave company,
with the privilege of their rare discourse, which is great content to me
above all other things in the world. And after a great dinner and much
discourse, we arose and took leave, and home to the business of my
office, where I thank God I take delight, and in the evening to my
lodging and to bed. Among other discourse, speaking concerning the great
charity used in Catholic countrys, Mr. Ashburnham did tell us, that this
last year, there being great want of corn in Paris, and so a collection
made for the poor, there was two pearls brought in, nobody knew from
whom (till the Queen, seeing them, knew whose they were, but did not
discover it), which were sold for 200,000 crownes.

19th. Up betimes and to my office, and at 9 o'clock, none of the rest
going, I went alone to Deptford, and there went on where they left last
night to pay Woolwich yard, and so at noon dined well, being chief
at the table, and do not see but every body begins to give me as much
respect and honour as any of the rest. After dinner to Pay again, and
so till 9 at night, my great trouble being that I was forced to begin
an ill practice of bring