which methinks were very bold words. Home to dinner, and then my wife and
I on foot to see Mrs. Turner, who continues still sick, and thence into
the Old Bayly by appointment to speak with Mrs. Norbury who lies at (it
falls out) next door to my uncle Fenner's; but as God would have it, we
having no desire to be seen by his people, he having lately married a
midwife that is old and ugly, and that hath already brought home to him a
daughter and three children, we were let in at a back door. And here she
offered me the refusall of some lands of her's at Brampton, if I have a
mind to buy, which I answered her I was not at present provided to do.
She took occasion to talk of her sister Wight's making much of the Wights,
who for namesake only my uncle do shew great kindness to, so I fear may do
us that are nearer to him a great deal of wrong, if he should die without
children, which I am sorry for. Thence to my uncle Wight's, and there we
supped and were merry, though my uncle hath lately lost 200 or 300 at sea,
and I am troubled to hear that the Turks do take more and more of our
ships in the Straights, and that our merchants here in London do daily
break, and are still likely to do so. So home, and I put in at Sir W.
Batten's, where Major Holmes was, and in our discourse and drinking I did
give Sir J. Mennes' health, which he swore he would not pledge, and called
him knave and coward (upon the business of Holmes with the Swedish ship
lately), which we all and I particularly did desire him to forbear, he
being of our fraternity, which he took in great dudgeon, and I was vexed
to hear him persist in calling him so, though I believe it to be true, but
however he is to blame and I am troubled at it. So home and to prayers,
and to bed.

20th. This morning Sir Win. Batten and Pen and I did begin the examining
the Treasurer's accounts, the first time ever he had passed in the office,
which is very long, and we were all at it till noon, and then to dinner,
he providing a fine dinner for us, and we eat it at Sir W. Batten's, where