Then Mrs. The. and I, and a gentleman that dined there and his daughter, a
perfect handsome young and very tall lady that lately came out of the
country, and Mr. Thatcher the Virginall Maister to Bishopsgate Street, and
there saw the new Harpsicon made for Mrs. The. We offered L12, they
demanded L14. The Master not being at home, we could make no bargain, so
parted for to-night. So all by coach to my house, where I found my
Valentine with my wife, and here they drank, and then went away. Then I
sat and talked with my Valentine and my wife a good while, and then saw
her home, and went to Sir W. Batten to the Dolphin, where Mr. Newborne,
&c., were, and there after a quart or two of wine, we home, and I to bed
. . . .

27th. At the office all the morning, that done I walked in the garden
with little Captain Murford, where he and I had some discourse concerning
the Light-House again, and I think I shall appear in the business, he
promising me that if I can bring it about, it will be worth L100 per
annum. Then came into the garden to me young Mr. Powell and Mr. Hooke
that I once knew at Cambridge, and I took them in and gave them a bottle
of wine, and so parted. Then I called for a dish of fish, which we had
for dinner, this being the first day of Lent; and I do intend to try
whether I can keep it or no. My father dined with me and did show me a
letter from my brother John, wherein he tells us that he is chosen
Schollar of the house,' which do please me much, because I do perceive now
it must chiefly come from his merit and not the power of his Tutor, Dr.
Widdrington, who is now quite out of interest there and hath put over his
pupils to Mr. Pepper, a young Fellow of the College. With my father to
Mr. Rawlinson's, where we met my uncle Wight, and after a pint or two
away. I walked with my father (who gave me an account of the great
falling out between my uncle Fenner and his son Will) as far as Paul's