have two or three years ago made good sport with Mr. Mallard), thinking
because I had heard that she is a woman of that sort that I might there
have lit upon some lady of pleasure (for which God forgive me), but blest
be God there was none, nor anything that pleased me, but a poor little
house that she has set out as fine as she can, and for her singing which
she pretends to is only some old body songs and those sung abominably,
only she pretends to be able to sing both bass and treble, which she do
something like, but not what I thought formerly and expected now; nor do
her speaking in her belly take me now as it did then, but it may be that
is because I know it and see her mouth when she speaks, which should not
be. After I had spent a shilling there in wine I took boat with Jervas
and his wife and set them at Westminster, and it being late forbore Mrs.
Lane and went by water to the Old Swan by a boat, where I had good sport
with one of the young men about his travells as far as Voxhall, in
mockery, which yet the fellow answered me most prettily and traveller-like
unto my very good mirth. So home, and with my brother eat a bit of bread
and cheese, and so to bed, he with me. This day I received a letter from
my wife, which troubles me mightily, wherein she tells me how Ashwell did
give her the lie to her teeth, and that thereupon my wife giving her a box
on the eare, the other struck her again, and a deal of stir which troubles
me, and that my Lady has been told by my father or mother something of my
wife's carriage, which altogether vexes me, and I fear I shall find a
trouble of my wife when she comes home to get down her head again, but if
Ashwell goes I am resolved to have no more, but to live poorly and low
again for a good while, and save money and keep my wife within bounds if I
can, or else I shall bid Adieu to all content in the world. So to bed, my
mind somewhat disturbed at this, but yet I shall take care, by prudence,
to avoid the ill consequences which I fear, things not being gone too far
yet, and this height that my wife is come to being occasioned from my own
folly in giving her too much head heretofore for the year past.