W. Batten's, and thither I met, and so agreed upon a way of answering my
Lord Treasurer's letter. Here I found Mr. Coventry had got a letter from
the Duke, sent us for looking into the business of the Chest, of which I
am glad. After we had done here I went home, and up among my workmen, and
found they had done a good day's work, and so to my office till late
ordering of several businesses, and so home and to bed, my mind, God be
praised, full of business, but great quiet.

26th. Up betimes and among my works and workmen, and with great pleasure
seeing them go on merrily, and a good many hands, which I perceive makes
good riddance, and so to the office, where we sat all the morning, and at
noon dined alone with Sir W. Batten, which I have not done a great while,
but his lady being out of the way I was the willinger to do it, and after
dinner he and I by water to Deptford, and there found Sir G. Carteret and
my Lady at dinner, and so we sat down and eat another dinner of venison
with them, and so we went to the payhouse, and there staid till to o'clock
at night paying off the Martin and Kinsale, being small but troublesome
ships to pay, and so in the dark by water home to the Custom House, and so
got a lanthorn to light us home, there being Mr. Morrice the wine cooper
with us, he having been at Deptford to view some of the King's casks we
have to sell. So to bed.

27th. Up and among my workmen, my work going on still very well. So to
my office all the morning, and dined again with Sir W. Batten, his Lady
being in the country. Among other stories, he told us of the Mayor of
Bristoll's reading a pass with the bottom upwards; and a barber that could
not read, that flung a letter in the kennel when one came to desire him to
read the superscription, saying, "Do you think I stand here to read
letters?" Among my workmen again, pleasing myself all the afternoon
there, and so to the office doing business till past 9 at night, and so