moved it very weightily and neatly, yet I had rather it had been spared
now. But to see how he do rant, and pretend to sway all the City in the
Court of Aldermen, and says plainly that they cannot do, nor will he
suffer them to do, any thing but what he pleases; nor is there any officer
of the City but of his putting in; nor any man that could have kept the
City for the King thus well and long but him. And if the country can be
preserved, he will undertake that the City shall not dare to stir again.
When I am confident there is no man almost in the City cares a turd for
him, nor hath he brains to outwit any ordinary tradesman. So home and
wrote a letter to Commissioner Pett to Chatham by all means to compose the
business between Major Holmes and Cooper his master, and so to bed.

18th. Wake betimes and talk a while with my wife about a wench that she
has hired yesterday, which I would have enquired of before she comes, she
having lived in great families, and so up and to my office, where all the
morning, and at noon home to dinner. After dinner by water to Redriffe,
my wife and Ashwell with me, and so walked and left them at Halfway house;
I to Deptford, where up and down the store-houses, and on board two or
three ships now getting ready to go to sea, and so back, and find my wife
walking in the way. So home again, merry with our Ashwell, who is a merry
jade, and so awhile to my office, and then home to supper, and to bed.
This day my tryangle, which was put in tune yesterday, did please me very
well, Ashwell playing upon it pretty well.

19th. Up betimes and to Woolwich all alone by water, where took the
officers most abed. I walked and enquired how all matters and businesses
go, and by and by to the Clerk of the Cheque's house, and there eat some
of his good Jamaica brawne, and so walked to Greenwich. Part of the way
Deane walking with me; talking of the pride and corruption of most of his
fellow officers of the yard, and which I believe to be true. So to