White Hall to a Committee of Tangier, but did little. So home again and
to Sir W. Pen, who, among other things of haste in this new order for
ships, is ordered to be gone presently to Portsmouth to look after the
work there. I staid to discourse with him, and so home to supper, where
upon a fine couple of pigeons, a good supper; and here I met a pretty
cabinet sent me by Mr. Shales, which I give my wife, the first of that
sort of goods I ever had yet, and very conveniently it comes for her
closett. I staid up late finding out the private boxes, but could not do
some of them, and so to bed, afraid that I have been too bold to-day in
venturing in the cold. This day I begun to drink butter-milke and whey,
and I hope to find great good by it.

19th. Up, and it being very rayny weather, which makes it cooler than it
was, by coach to Charing Cross with Sir W. Pen, who is going to Portsmouth
this day, and left him going to St. James's to take leave of the Duke, and
I to White Hall to a Committee of Tangier; where God forgive how our
Report of my Lord Peterborough's accounts was read over and agreed to by
the Lords, without one of them understanding it! And had it been what it
would, it had gone: and, besides, not one thing touching the King's profit
in it minded or hit upon. Thence by coach home again, and all the morning
at the office, sat, and all the afternoon till 9 at night, being fallen
again to business, and I hope my health will give me leave to follow it.
So home to supper and to bed, finding myself pretty well. A pretty good
stool, which I impute to my whey to-day, and broke wind also.

20th. Up and to my office, whither by and by comes Mr. Cholmely, and
staying till the rest of the company come he told me how Mr. Edward
Montagu is turned out of the Court, not [to] return again. His fault, I
perceive, was his pride, and most of all his affecting to seem great with
the Queene and it seems indeed had more of her eare than any body else,