and did give my advice to take him home again, which I think he will do in
prudence rather than put him upon learning the way of being worse. So
home, and from home to Major Hart, who is just going out of town
to-morrow, and made much of me, and did give me the oaths of supremacy and
allegiance, that I may be capable of my arrears. So home again, where my
wife tells me what she has bought to-day, namely, a bed and furniture for
her chamber, with which very well pleased I went to bed.

3d. With Sir W. Batten and Pen by water to White Hall, where a meeting of
the Dukes of York and Albemarle, my Lord Sandwich and all the principal
officers, about the Winter Guard, but we determined of nothing. To my
Lord's, who sent a great iron chest to White Hall; and I saw it carried,
into the King's closet, where I saw most incomparable pictures. Among the
rest a book open upon a desk, which I durst have sworn was a reall book,
and back again to my Lord, and dined all alone with him, who do treat me
with a great deal of respect; and after dinner did discourse an hour with
me, and advise about some way to get himself some money to make up for all
his great expenses, saying that he believed that he might have any thing
that he would ask of the King. This day Mr. Sheply and all my Lord's
goods came from sea, some of them laid of the Wardrobe and some brought to
my Lord's house. From thence to our office, where we met and did
business, and so home and spent the evening looking upon the painters that
are at work in my house. This day I heard the Duke speak of a great
design that he and my Lord of Pembroke have, and a great many others, of
sending a venture to some parts of Africa to dig for gold ore there. They
intend to admit as many as will venture their money, and so make
themselves a company. L250 is the lowest share for every man. But I do
not find that my Lord do much like it. At night Dr. Fairbrother (for so
he is lately made of the Civil Law) brought home my wife by coach, it
being rainy weather, she having been abroad today to buy more furniture