ad a little thoughtfull how to behave
myself in the business of the victualling, which I think will be prudence
to offer my service in doing something in passing the pursers' accounts,
thereby to serve the King, get honour to myself, and confirm me in my
place in the victualling, which at present yields not work enough to
deserve my wages.

26th. Up, and walked all the way (it being a most fine frost), to White
Hall, to Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and thence with him up to the Duke of
York, where among other things at our meeting I did offer my assistance to
Sir J. Minnes to do the business of his office, relating to the Pursers'
accounts, which was well accepted by the Duke of York, and I think I have
and shall do myself good in it, if it be taken, for it will confirm me in
the business of the victualling office, which I do now very little for.
Thence home, carrying a barrel of oysters with me. Anon comes Mr. John
Andrews and his wife by invitation from Bow to dine with me, and young
Batelier and his wife with her great belly, which has spoiled her looks
mightily already. Here was also Mercer and Creed, whom I met coming home,
who tells me of a most bitter lampoone now out against the Court and the
management of State from head to foot, mighty witty and mighty severe. By
and by to dinner, a very good one, and merry. After dinner I put the
women into a coach, and they to the Duke's house, to a play which was
acted, "The--------." It was indifferently done, but was not pleased with
the song, Gosnell not singing, but a new wench, that sings naughtily.
Thence home, all by coach, and there Mr. Andrews to the vyall, who plays
most excellently on it, which I did not know before. Then to dance, here
being Pembleton come, by my wife's direction, and a fiddler; and we got,
also, the elder Batelier to-night, and Nan Wright, and mighty merry we
were, and I danced; and so till twelve at night, and to supper, and then
to cross purposes, mighty merry, and then to bed, my eyes being sore.
Creed lay here in Barker's bed.

27th. Up; and called up by the King's trumpets, which cost me 10s. So to
the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon, by invitation, my
wife, who had not been there these to months, I think, and I, to meet all
our families at Sir W. Batten's at dinner, whither neither a great dinner
for so much company nor anything good or handsome. In the middle of
dinner I rose, and my wife, and by coach to the King's