At night walked with my wife upon the leads, and so to supper and to bed.
My wife having lately a great pain in her ear, for which this night she
begins to take physique, and I have got cold and so have a great deal of
my old pain.

26th. Up and took physique, but such as to go abroad with, only to loosen
me, for I am bound. So to the office, and there all the morning sitting
till noon, and then took Commissioner Pett home to dinner with me, where
my stomach was turned when my sturgeon came to table, upon which I saw
very many little worms creeping, which I suppose was through the staleness
of the pickle. He being gone, comes Mr. Nicholson, my old fellow-student
at Magdalene, and we played three or four things upon the violin and
basse, and so parted, and I to my office till night, and there came Mr.
Shepley and Creed in order to settling some accounts of my Lord to-night,
and so to bed.

27th. Up early, not quite rid of my pain. I took more physique, and so
made myself ready to go forth. So to my Lord, who rose as soon as he
heard I was there; and in his nightgown and shirt stood talking with me
alone two hours,. I believe, concerning his greatest matters of state and
interest. Among other things, that his greatest design is, first, to get
clear of all debts to the King for the Embassy money, and then a pardon.
Then, to get his land settled; and then to, discourse and advise what is
best for him, whether to keep his sea employment longer or no. For he do
discern that the Duke would be willing to have him out, and that by
Coventry's means. And here he told me, how the terms at Argier were
wholly his; and that he did plainly tell Lawson and agree with him, that
he would have the honour of them, if they should ever be agreed to; and
that accordingly they did come over hither entitled, "Articles concluded
on by Sir J. Lawson, according to instructions received from His Royal