Churchyard, and so left him, and I home. This day the Commissioners of
Parliament begin to pay off the Fleet, beginning with the Hampshire, and
do it at Guildhall, for fear of going out of town into the power of the
seamen, who are highly incensed against them.

28th. Early to wait on my Lord, and after a little talk with him I took
boat at Whitehall for Redriffe, but in my way overtook Captain Cuttance
and Teddiman in a boat and so ashore with them at Queenhithe, and so to a
tavern with them to a barrel of oysters, and so away. Capt. Cuttance and
I walked from Redriffe to Deptford, where I found both Sir Williams and
Sir G. Carteret at Mr. Uthwayt's, and there we dined, and notwithstanding
my resolution, yet for want of other victualls, I did eat flesh this Lent,
but am resolved to eat as little as I can. After dinner we went to
Captain Bodilaw's, and there made sale of many old stores by the candle,
and good sport it was to see how from a small matter bid at first they
would come to double and treble the price of things. After that Sir W.
Pen and I and my Lady Batten and her daughter by land to Redriffe, staying
a little at halfway house, and when we came to take boat, found Sir
George, &c., to have staid with the barge a great while for us, which
troubled us. Home and to bed. This month ends with two great secrets
under dispute but yet known to very few: first, Who the King will marry;
and What the meaning of this fleet is which we are now sheathing to set
out for the southward. Most think against Algier against the Turk, or to
the East Indys against the Dutch who, we hear, are setting out a great
fleet thither.

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
MARCH
1660-61