always. But I could not get my feast to be kept to-day as it used to be,
because of my wife's being ill and other disorders by my servants being
out of order. This morning came a new cook-maid at L4 per annum, the
first time I ever did give so much, but we hope it will be nothing lost by
keeping a good cook. She did live last at my Lord Monk's house, and
indeed at dinner did get what there was very prettily ready and neat for
me, which did please me much. This morning my uncle Thomas was with me
according to agreement, and I paid him the L50, which was against my heart
to part with, and yet I must be contented; I used him very kindly, and I
desire to continue so voyd of any discontent as to my estate, that I may
follow my business the better. At the Change I met him again, with intent
to have met with my uncle Wight to have made peace with him, with whom by
my long absence I fear I shall have a difference, but he was not there, so
we missed. All the afternoon sat at the office about business till 9 or
10 at night, and so dispatch business and home to supper and to bed. My
maid Susan went away to-day, I giving her something for her lodging and
diet somewhere else a while that I might have room for my new maid.

27th. Up betimes and at my office all the morning, at noon to the
Exchange, and there by appointment met my uncles Thomas and Wight, and
from thence with them to a tavern, and there paid my uncle Wight three
pieces of gold for himself, my aunt, and their son that is dead, left by
my uncle Robert, and read over our agreement with my uncle Thomas and the
state of our debts and legacies, and so good friendship I think is made up
between us all, only we have the worst of it in having so much money to
pay. Thence I to the Exchequer again, and thence with Creed into Fleet
Street, and calling at several places about business; in passing, at the
Hercules pillars he and I dined though late, and thence with one that we
found there, a friend of Captain Ferrers I used to meet at the playhouse,
they would have gone to some gameing house, but I would not but parted,