things in order and herself against going this morning into
the country. I was forced to go to Thames Street and strike up a bargain
for some tarr, to prevent being abused therein by Hill, who was with me
this morning, and is mightily surprised that I should tell him what I
can have the same tarr with his for. Thence home, but finding my wife
gone, I took coach and after her to her inn, where I am troubled to see
her forced to sit in the back of the coach, though pleased to see her
company none but women and one parson; she I find is troubled at all,
and I seemed to make a promise to get a horse and ride after them; and
so, kissing her often, and Ashwell once, I bid them adieu. So home by
coach, and thence by water to Deptford to the Trinity House, where I
came a little late; but I found them reading their charter, which they
did like fools, only reading here and there a bit, whereas they ought to
do it all, every word, and then proceeded to the election of a maister,
which was Sir W. Batten, without any control, who made a heavy, short
speech to them, moving them to give thanks to the late Maister for his
pains, which he said was very great, and giving them thanks for their
choice of him, wherein he would serve them to the best of his power.
Then to the choice of their assistants and wardens, and so rose. I might
have received 2s. 6d. as a younger Brother, but I directed one of the
servants of the House to receive it and keep it. Thence to church, where
Dr. Britton preached a sermon full of words against the Nonconformists,
but no great matter in it, nor proper for the day at all. His text was,
"With one mind and one mouth give glory to God, the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ." That done, by water, I in the barge with the Maister,
to the Trinity House at London; where, among others, I found my Lords
Sandwich and Craven, and my cousin Roger Pepys, and Sir Wm. Wheeler.
Anon we sat down to dinner, which was very great, as they always have.
Great variety of talk. Mr. Prin, among many, had a pretty tale of one
that brought in a bill in parliament for the empowering him to dispose
his land to such children as he should have that should bear the name of
his wife. It was in Queen Elizabeth's time. One replied that there are
many species of creatures where the male gives the denomination to both
sexes, as swan and woodcock, but not above one where the female do, and
that is a goose. Both at and after dinner we had great discours