he did lie of old, and there we drank, and from thence to W. Symons where
we found him abroad, but she, like a good lady, within, and there we did
eat some nettle porrige, which was made on purpose to-day for some of
their coming, and was very good. With her we sat a good while, merry in
discourse, and so away, Luellin and I to my Lord's, and there dined. He
told me one of the prettiest stories, how Mr. Blurton, his friend that was
with him at my house three or four days ago, did go with him the same day
from my house to the Fleet tavern by Guildhall, and there (by some
pretence) got the mistress of the house into their company, and by and by
Luellin calling him Doctor she thought that he really was so, and did
privately discover her disease to him, which was only some ordinary
infirmity belonging to women, and he proffering her physic, she desired
him to come some day and bring it, which he did. After dinner by water to
the office, and there Sir W. Pen and I met and did business all the
afternoon, and then I got him to my house and eat a lobster together, and
so to bed.

26th (Shrove Tuesday). I left my wife in bed, being indisposed . . . I
to Mrs. Turner's, who I found busy with The. and Joyce making of things
ready for fritters, so to Mr. Crew's and there delivered Cotgrave's
Dictionary' to my Lady Jemimah, and then with Mr. Moore to my coz Tom
Pepys, but he being out of town I spoke with his lady, though not of the
business I went about, which was to borrow L1000 for my Lord. Back to
Mrs. Turner's, where several friends, all strangers to me but Mr. Armiger,
dined. Very merry and the best fritters that ever I eat in my life.
After that looked out at window; saw the flinging at cocks.

[The cruel custom of throwing at cocks on Shrove Tuesday is of
considerable antiquity. It is shown in the first print of Hogarth's
"Four Stages of Cruelty."]