o get another, yet I made use of this to get away as soon as I had
dined, and therefore out with him to the Excise Office to make a stop of
its payment, and so away to the coachmaker's and several other places,
and so away home, and there to my business at the office, and thence
home, and there my wife to read to me, and W. Hewer to set some matters
of accounts right at my chamber, to bed.

27th. Up, and with W. Hewer to see W. Coventry again, but missed him
again, by coming too late, the man of [all] the world that I am resolved
to preserve an interest in. Thence to White Hall, and there at our
usual waiting on the Duke of York; and that being done, I away to the
Exchequer, to give a stop, and take some advice about my lost tally,
wherein I shall have some remedy, with trouble, and so home, and there
find Mr. Povy, by appointment, to dine with me; where a pretty good
dinner, but for want of thought in my wife it was but slovenly dressed
up; however, much pleasant discourse with him, and some serious; and he
tells me that he would, by all means, have me get to be a Parliament-man
the next Parliament, which he believes there will be one, which I do
resolve of. By and by comes my cozen Roger, and dines with us; and,
after dinner, did seal his mortgage, wherein I do wholly rely on his
honesty, not having so much as read over what he hath given me for it,
nor minded it, but do trust to his integrity therein. They all gone, I
to the office and there a while, and then home to ease my eyes and make
my wife read to me.

28th. Up, and all the morning at the Office, where, while I was sitting,
one comes and tells me that my coach is come. So I was forced to go out,
and to Sir Richard Ford's, where I spoke to him, and he is very willing
to have it brought in, and stand there; and so I ordered it, to my great
content, it being mighty pretty, only the horses do not please me, and,
therefore, resolve to have better. At noon home to dinner, and so to the
office again all the afternoon, and did a great deal of business, and so
home to supper and to bed, with my mind at pretty good ease, having this
day presented to the Board the Duke of York's letter, which, I perceive,
troubled Sir W. Pen, he declaring himself meant in that part, that
concerned excuse by sickness; but I do not care, but am mightily glad
that it is done, and now I shall begin to be at pretty good ease in
the Office. This morning, to my great content, W. Hewer tells me