ess with
Sir W. Pen, and (though with me an old doter) yet he told me freely how
sensible he is of Sir W. Pen's treachery in this business, and what poor
ways he has taken all along to ingratiate himself by making Mr. Turner
write out things for him and then he gives them to the Duke, and how
he directed him to give Mr. Coventry L100 for his place, but that Mr.
Coventry did give him L20 back again. All this I am pleased to hear that
his knavery is found out. Dined upon a poor Lenten dinner at home, my
wife being vexed at a fray this morning with my Lady Batten about my
boy's going thither to turn the watercock with their maydes' leave, but
my Lady was mighty high upon it and she would teach his mistress better
manners, which my wife answered aloud that she might hear, that she
could learn little manners of her. After dinner to my office, and there
we sat all the afternoon till 8 at night, and so wrote my letters by
the post and so before 9 home, which is rare with me of late, I staying
longer, but with multitude of business my head akes, and so I can stay
no longer, but home to supper and to bed.

11th. Up betimes, and to my office, walked a little in the garden with
Sir W. Batten, talking about the difference between his Lady and my wife
yesterday, and I doubt my wife is to blame. About noon had news by Mr.
Wood that Butler, our chief witness against Field, was sent by him to
New England contrary to our desire, which made me mad almost; and so
Sir J. Minnes, Sir W. Pen, and I dined together at Trinity House, and
thither sent for him to us and told him our minds, which he seemed not
to value much, but went away. I wrote and sent an express to Walthamstow
to Sir W. Pen, who is gone thither this morning, to tell him of it.
However, in the afternoon Wood sends us word that he has appointed
another to go, who shall overtake the ship in the Downes. So I was
late at the office, among other things writing to the Downes, to the
Commander-in-Chief, and putting things into the surest course I could to
help the business. So home and to bed.

12th. Up betimes and to my office all the morning with Captain Cocke
ending their account of their Riga contract for hemp. So home to dinner,
my head full of business against the office. After dinner comes my uncle
Thomas with a letter to my father, wherein, as we desire, he and his son
do order their tenants to pay their rents to us, which pleases me well.
In discourse he tells me my uncle W