o revert to its former practice of loving plays and
wine, having given myself a liberty to them but these two days; but this
night I have again bound myself to Christmas next, in which I desire
God to bless me and preserve me, for under God I find it to be the best
course that ever I could take to bring myself to mind my business.
I have also made up this evening my monthly ballance, and find that,
notwithstanding the loss of L30 to be paid to the loyall and necessitous
cavaliers by act of Parliament,

[Two acts were passed in 1662 for this purpose, viz., 13 and 14 Car.
II. cap. 8: "An act for distribution of threescore thousand pounds
amongst the truly loyal and indigent commission officers, and for
assessing of offices and distributing the monies thereby raised for
their further supply;" and cap. 9, "An act for the relief of poor
and maimed officers and soldiers who have faithfully served his
Majesty and his royal father in the late wars."]

yet I am worth about L680, for which the Lord God be praised. My
condition at present is this:--I have long been building, and my house
to my great content is now almost done. But yet not so but that I shall
have dirt, which troubles me too, for my wife has been in the country at
Brampton these two months, and is now come home a week or two before
the house is ready for her. My mind is somewhat troubled about my best
chamber, which I question whether I shall be able to keep or no. I am
also troubled for the journey which I must needs take suddenly to
the Court at Brampton, but most of all for that I am not provided to
understand my business, having not minded it a great while, and at the
best shall be able but to make a bad matter of it, but God, I hope, will
guide all to the best, and I am resolved to-morrow to fall hard to it.
I pray God help me therein, for my father and mother and all our
well-doings do depend upon my care therein. My Lord Sandwich has lately
been in the country, and very civil to my wife, and hath himself spent
some pains in drawing a plot of some alterations in our house there,
which I shall follow as I get money. As for the office, my late industry
hath been such, as I am become as high in reputation as any man there,
and good hold I have of Mr. Coventry and Sir G. Carteret, which I am
resolved, and it is necessary for me, to maintain by all fair means.
Things are all quiett, but the King poor, and no hopes almost of his