found him not in a humour to talk, and so after a few ordinary words, my
Lord not talking in the manner as he uses to do; I took leave, and spent
some time with W. Howe again, and told him how I could not do what I had
so great a mind and resolution to do, but that I thought it would be as
well to do it in writing, which he approves of, and so I took leave of
him, and by coach home, my mind being full of it, and in pain concerning
it. So to my office busy very late, the nights running on faster than
one thinks, and so to supper and to bed.

13th. Up and to my office, busy all the morning with Commissioner
Pett; at noon I to the Exchange, and meeting Shales, he and I to the
Coffee-house and there talked of our victualling matters, which I fear
will come to little. However I will go on and carry it as far as I can.
So home to dinner where I expected Commissioner Pett, and had a good
dinner, but he came not. After dinner came my perriwigg-maker, and
brings me a second periwigg, made of my own haire, which comes to 21s.
6d. more than the worth of my own haire, so that they both come to L4
1s. 6d., which he sayth will serve me two years, but I fear it. He being
gone, I to my office, and put on my new shagg purple gowne, with gold
buttons and loop lace, I being a little fearful of taking cold and of
pain coming upon me. Here I staid making an end of a troublesome letter,
but to my advantage, against Sir W. Batten, giving Sir G. Carteret an
account of our late great contract with Sir W. Warren for masts, wherein
I am sure I did the King L600 service. That done home to my wife to take
a clyster, which I did, and it wrought very well and brought a great
deal of wind, which I perceive is all that do trouble me. After that,
about 9 or 10 o'clock, to supper in my wife's chamber, and then about 12
to bed.

14th. Up and to the office, where we sat, and after we had almost
done, Sir W. Batten desired to have the room cleared, and there he did
acquaint the board how he was obliged to answer to something lately said
which did reflect upon the Comptroller and him, and to that purpose
told how the bargain for Winter's timber did not prove so bad as I had
reported to the board it would. After he had done I cleared the matter
that I did not mention the business as a thing designed by me against
them, but was led to it by Sir J. Minnes, and that I said nothing but
what I was told by Mayers the surveyor as much as by Deane upon whom
they l