d had a very good dinner, and after dinner to my office, and
there till late busy. Among other things Captain Taylor came to me about
his bill for freight, and besides that I found him contented that I have
the L30 I got, he do offer me to give me L6 to take the getting of the
bill paid upon me, which I am ready to do, but I am loath to have it
said that I ever did it. However, I will do him the service to get it
paid if I can and stand to his courtesy what he will give me. Late to
supper home, and to my great joy I have by my wife's good advice almost
brought myself by going often and leisurely to the stool that I am come
almost to have my natural course of stool as well as ever, which I pray
God continue to me.

12th. Up and to the office where all the morning, and among other things
got Sir G. Carteret to put his letters to Captain Taylor's bill by which
I am in hopes to get L5, which joys my heart. We had this morning a
great dispute between Mr. Gauden, Victualler of the Navy, and Sir J.
Lawson, and the rest of the Commanders going against Argier, about their
fish and keeping of Lent; which Mr. Gauden so much insists upon to have
it observed, as being the only thing that makes up the loss of his dear
bargain all the rest of the year. At noon went home and there I found
that one Abrahall, who strikes in for the serving of the King with Ship
chandlery ware, has sent my wife a Japan gowne, which pleases her very
well and me also, it coming very opportune, but I know not how to carry
myself to him, I being already obliged so far to Mrs. Russell, so that I
am in both their pays. To the Exchange, where I had sent Luellin word
I would come to him, and thence brought him home to dinner with me. He
tells me that W. Symon's wife is dead, for which I am sorry, she being
a good woman, and tells me an odde story of her saying before her death,
being in good sense, that there stood her uncle Scobell. Then he began
to tell me that Mr. Deering had been with him to desire him to speak to
me that if I would get him off with these goods upon his hands, he would
give me 50 pieces, and further that if I would stand his friend to helpe
him to the benefit of his patent as the King's merchant, he could spare
me L200 per annum out of his profits. I was glad to hear both of these,
but answered him no further than that as I would not by any thing be
bribed to be unjust in my dealings,

[Edward Dering was granted, August, 1660, "the offic