and Navy, and did give in our account of the twenty-five ships. Col. Birch
was very impertinent and troublesome. But at last we did agree to fit the
accounts of our ships more perfectly for their view within a few days,
that they might see what a trouble it is to do what they desire. From
thence Sir Williams both going by water home, I took Mr. Wayte to the
Rhenish winehouse, and drank with him and so parted. Thence to Mr. Crew's
and spoke with Mr. Moore about the business of paying off Baron our share
of the dividend. So on foot home, by the way buying a hat band and other
things for my mourning to-morrow. So home and to bed. This day I heard
that the Duke of York, upon the news of the death of his brother
yesterday, came hither by post last night.

19th (Office day). I put on my mourning and went to the office. At noon
thinking to have found my wife in hers, I found that the tailor had failed
her, at which I was vexed because of an invitation that we have to a
dinner this day, but after having waited till past one o'clock I went, and
left her to put on some other clothes and come after me to the Mitre
tavern in Wood-street (a house of the greatest note in London), where I
met W. Symons, and D. Scobell, and their wives, Mr. Samford, Luellin,
Chetwind, one Mr. Vivion, and Mr. White,

[According to Noble, Jeremiah White married Lady Frances Cromwell's
waiting-woman, in Oliver's lifetime, and they lived together fifty
years. Lady Frances had two husbands, Mr. Robert Rich and Sir John
Russell of Chippenham, the last of whom she survived fifty-two years
dying 1721-22 The story is, that Oliver found White on his knees to
Frances Cromwell, and that, to save himself, he pretended to have
been soliciting her interest with her waiting-woman, whom Oliver
compelled him to marry. (Noble's "Life of Cromwell," vol. ii.
pp. 151, 152.) White was born in 1629 and died 1707.]