turned to great content and love, and I hope that after a little
forgetting our late differences, and being a while absent one from
another, we shall come to agree as well as ever. So to Sir W. Pen's to
visit him, and finding him alone, sent for my wife, who is in her
riding-suit, to see him, which she hath not done these many months I
think. By and by in comes Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten, and so we sat
talking. Among other things, Sir J. Minnes brought many fine expressions
of Chaucer, which he doats on mightily, and without doubt he is a very
fine poet.

[Pepys continued through life an admirer of Chaucer, and we have the
authority of Dryden himself for saying that we owe his character of
the Good Parson to Pepys's recommendation.]

Sir W. Pen continues lame of the gout, that he cannot rise from his chair.
So after staying an hour with him, we went home and to supper, and so to
prayers and bed.

15th. Up betimes, and anon my wife rose and did give me her keys, and put
other things in order and herself against going this morning into the
country. I was forced to go to Thames Street and strike up a bargain for
some tarr, to prevent being abused therein by Hill, who was with me this
morning, and is mightily surprised that I should tell him what I can have
the same tarr with his for. Thence home, but finding my wife gone, I took
coach and after her to her inn, where I am troubled to see her forced to
sit in the back of the coach, though pleased to see her company none but
women and one parson; she I find is troubled at all, and I seemed to make
a promise to get a horse and ride after them; and so, kissing her often,
and Ashwell once, I bid them adieu. So home by coach, and thence by water
to Deptford to the Trinity House, where I came a little late; but I found