to dinner, there being Collonel Williams and much
other company, and a noble dinner. But having before got my Lord's
warrant for travelling to-day, there being a proclamation read yesterday
against it at Huntingdon, at which I am very glad, I took leave, leaving
them at dinner, and walked alone to my father's, and there, after a
word or two to my father and mother, my wife and I mounted, and, with
my father's boy, upon a horse I borrowed of Captain Ferrers, we rode to
Bigglesworth by the help of a couple of countrymen, that led us through
the very long and dangerous waters, because of the ditches on each
side, though it begun to be very dark, and there we had a good breast of
mutton roasted for us, and supped, and to bed.

21st. Up very betimes by break of day, and got my wife up, whom the
thought of this day's long journey do discourage; and after eating
something, and changing of a piece of gold to pay the reckoning, we
mounted, and through Baldwicke, where a fayre is kept to-day, and a
great one for cheese and other such commodities, and so to Hatfield, it
being most curious weather from the time we set out to our getting home,
and here we dined, and my wife being very weary, and believing that it
would be hard to get her home to-night, and a great charge to keep her
longer abroad, I took the opportunity of an empty coach that was to go
to London, and left her to come in it to London, for half-a-crown, and
so I and the boy home as fast as we could drive, and it was even night
before we got home. So that I account it very good fortune that we took
this course, being myself very weary, much more would my wife have been.
At home found all very well and my house in good order. To see Sir W.
Pen, who is pretty well, and Sir J. Minnes, who is a little lame on one
foot, and the rest gone to Chatham, viz.: Sir G. Carteret and Sir W.
Batten, who has in my absence inveighed against my contract the other
day for Warren's masts, in which he is a knave, and I shall find matter
of tryumph, but it vexes me a little. So home, and by and by comes my
wife by coach well home, and having got a good fowl ready for supper
against her coming, we eat heartily, and so with great content and ease
to our own bed, there nothing appearing so to our content as to be at
our own home, after being abroad awhile.

22nd. I up, well refreshed after my journey, and to my office and there
set some things in order, and then Sir W. Pen and I met and held