all in a sweat and fearful of getting cold. To my study at my office, and
thither came Mr. Moore to me and walked till it was quite dark. Then I
wrote a letter to my Lord Privy Seale as from my Lord for Mr.-------to be
sworn directly by deputy to my Lord, he denying to swear him as deputy
together with me. So that I am now clear of it, and the profit is now
come to be so little that I am not displeased at my getting off so well.
He being gone I to my study and read, and so to eat a bit of bread and
cheese and so to bed. I hear most of the Presbyters took their leaves
to-day, and that the City is much dissatisfied with it. I pray God keep
peace among us, and make the Bishops careful of bringing in good men in
their rooms, or else all will fly a-pieces; for bad ones will not [go]
down with the City.

18th. Up very early, and up upon my house to see how work goes on, which
do please me very well. So about seven o'clock took horse and rode to
Bowe, and there staid at the King's Head, and eat a breakfast of eggs till
Mr. Deane of Woolwich came to me, and he and I rid into Waltham Forest,
and there we saw many trees of the King's a-hewing; and he showed me the
whole mystery of off square,

[Off-square is evidently a mistake, in the shorthand MS., for half
square.]

wherein the King is abused in the timber that he buys, which I shall with
much pleasure be able to correct. After we had been a good while in the
wood, we rode to Illford, and there, while dinner was getting ready, he
and I practised measuring of the tables and other things till I did
understand measuring of timber and board very well. So to dinner and by
and by, being sent for, comes Mr. Cooper, our officer in the Forest, and
did give me an account of things there, and how the country is backward to