three hours with my brother Tom, telling him my mind how it is troubled
about my father's concernments, and how things would be with them all if
it should please God that I should die, and therefore desire him to be a
good husband and follow his business, which I hope he do. At noon to
dinner, and after dinner my wife began to talk of a woman again, which I
have a mind to have, and would be glad Pall might please us, but she is
quite against having her, nor have I any great mind to it, but only for
her good and to save money flung away upon a stranger. So to my office
till 9 o'clock about my navy manuscripts, and there troubled in my mind
more and more about my uncle's business from a letter come this day from
my father that tells me that all his tenants are sued by my uncle, which
will cost me some new trouble, I went home to supper and so to bed.

17th. Waked early with my mind troubled about our law matters, but it
came into my mind that [sayings] of Epictetus, which did put me to a great
deal of ease, it being a saying of great reason. Up to the office, and
there sat Mr. Coventry, Mr. Pett, new come to town, and I. I was sorry
for signing a bill and guiding Mr. Coventry to sign a bill to Mr. Creed
for his pay as Deputy Treasurer to this day, though the service ended 5 or
6 months ago, which he perceiving did blot out his name afterwards, but I
will clear myself to him from design in it. Sat till two o'clock and then
home to dinner, and Creed with me, and after dinner, to put off my mind's
trouble, I took Creed by coach and to the Duke's playhouse, where we did
see "The Five Hours" entertainment again, which indeed is a very fine
play, though, through my being out of order, it did not seem so good as at
first; but I could discern it was not any fault in the play. Thence with
him to the China alehouse, and there drank a bottle or two, and so home,
where I found my wife and her brother discoursing about Mr. Ashwell's
daughter, whom we are like to have for my wife's woman, and I hope it may
do very well, seeing there is a necessity of having one. So to the office