ried
him and my wife to Whitefriars, and myself to Puddlewharf, to
the Wardrobe, to Mr. Townsend, who went with me to Backwell, the
goldsmith's, and there we chose L100 worth of plate for my Lord to give
Secretary Nicholas. Back and staid at my father's, and so home to bed.

27th. With my Lord to the Duke, where he spoke to Mr. Coventry to
despatch my business of the Acts, in which place every body gives me
joy, as if I were in it, which God send.

[The letters patent, dated July 13th, 12 Charles II., recite and
revoke letters patent of February 16th, 14 Charles I., whereby the
office of Clerk of the Ships had been given to Dennis Fleming and
Thomas Barlow, or the survivor. D. F. was then dead, but T. B.
living, and Samuel Pepys was appointed in his room, at a salary of
L33 6s. 8d. per annum, with 3s. 4d. for each day employed in
travelling, and L6 per annum for boathire, and all fees due. This
salary was only the ancient "fee out of the Exchequer," which had
been attached to the office for more than a century. Pepys's salary
had been previously fixed at L350 a year.]

Dined with my Lord and all the officers of his regiment, who invited my
Lord and his friends, as many as he would bring, to dinner, at the Swan,
at Dowgate, a poor house and ill dressed, but very good fish and plenty.
Here Mr. Symons, the Surgeon, told me how he was likely to lose his
estate that he had bought, at which I was not a little pleased. To
Westminster, and with Mr. Howe by coach to the Speaker's, where my Lord
supped with the King, but I could not get in. So back again, and after
a song or two in my chamber in the dark, which do (now that the bed is
out) sound very well, I went home and to bed.

28th. My brother Tom came to me with patterns to choose for a suit.
I paid him all to this day, and did give him L10 upon account. To Mr.
Coventry, who told me that he would do me all right in my business. To
Sir G. Downing, the first visit I have made him since he came. He is
so stingy a fellow I care not to see him; I quite cleared myself of his
office, and did give him liberty to take any body in. Hawly and he are
parted too, he is going to serve Sir Thos. Ingram. I went also this
morning to see Mrs. Pierce, the chirurgeon['s wife]. I found her in bed
in her house in Margaret churchyard. Her husband returned to sea. I did
invite her to go to dinner with me and my wife to-day. After all this to