again. I perceive there is yet good hopes of peace with Guyland,--[A
Moorish usurper, who had put himself at the head of an army for the
purpose of attacking Tangier.--B.]--which is of great concernment to
Tangier. And many other things I heard which yet I understand not, and so
cannot remember. My Lord and Lord Peterborough going out to the Solicitor
General about the drawing up of this Commission, I went to Westminster
Hall with Mr. Moore, and there meeting Mr. Townsend, he would needs take
me to Fleet Street, to one Mr. Barwell, squire sadler to the King, and
there we and several other Wardrobe-men dined. We had a venison pasty,
and other good plain and handsome dishes; the mistress of the house a
pretty, well-carriaged woman, and a fine hand she hath; and her maid a
pretty brown lass. But I do find my nature ready to run back to my old
course of drinking wine and staying from my business, and yet, thank God,
I was not fully contented with it, but did stay at little ease, and after
dinner hastened home by water, and so to my office till late at night. In
the evening Mr. Hayward came to me to advise with me about the business of
the Chest, which I have now a mind to put in practice, though I know it
will vex Sir W. Batten, which is one of the ends (God forgive me) that I
have in it. So home, and eat a bit, and to bed.

21st. Up early, and to my office, and by and by we sat all the morning.
At noon, though I was invited to my uncle Fenner's to dinner to a haunch
of venison I sent him yesterday, yet I did not go, but chose to go to Mr.
Rawlinson's, where my uncle Wight and my aunt, and some neighbour couples
were at a very good venison pasty. Hither came, after we were set down, a
most pretty young lady (only her hands were not white nor handsome), which
pleased me well, and I found her to be sister to Mrs. Anne Wight that
comes to my uncle Wight's. We were good company, and had a very pretty
dinner. And after dinner some talk, I with my aunt and this young lady
about their being [at] Epsom, from whence they came to-day, and so home