which I took great pleasure to rule the lines and to have the capitall
words wrote with red ink. So home and to supper. This evening Savill the
Paynter came and did varnish over my wife's picture and mine, and I paid
him for my little picture L3, and so am clear with him. So after supper
to bed. This day I had a letter from my father that he is got down well,
and found my mother pretty well again. So that I am vexed with all my
heart at Pall for writing to him so much concerning my mother's illness
(which I believe was not so great), so that he should be forced to hasten
down on the sudden back into the country without taking leave, or having
any pleasure here.

12th. This morning I tried on my riding cloth suit with close knees, the
first that ever I had; and I think they will be very convenient, if not
too hot to wear any other open knees after them. At the office all the
morning, where we had a full Board, viz., Sir G. Carteret, Sir John
Mennes, Sir W. Batten, Mr. Coventry, Sir W. Pen, Mr. Pett, and myself.
Among many other businesses, I did get a vote signed by all, concerning my
issuing of warrants, which they did not smell the use I intend to make of
it; but it is to plead for my clerks to have their right of giving out all
warrants, at which I am not a little pleased. But a great difference
happened between Sir G. Carteret and Mr. Coventry, about passing the
Victualler's account, and whether Sir George is to pay the Victualler his
money, or the Exchequer; Sir George claiming it to be his place to save
his threepences. It ended in anger, and I believe will come to be a
question before the King and Council. I did what I could to keep myself
unconcerned in it, having some things of my own to do before I would
appear high in anything. Thence to dinner, by Mr. Gauden's invitation, to
the Dolphin, where a good dinner; but what is to myself a great wonder;
that with ease I past the whole dinner without drinking a drop of wine.
After dinner to the office, my head full of business, and so home, and it