of use to me, though it is strange that Mr. Hollyard should never say one
word of this ulcer in all his life to me. He being gone, I to the
'Change, and thence home to dinner, and so to my office, busy till the
evening, and then by agreement came Mr. Hill and Andrews and one
Cheswicke, a maister who plays very well upon the Spinette, and we sat
singing Psalms till 9 at night, and so broke up with great pleasure, and
very good company it is, and I hope I shall now and then have their
company. They being gone, I to my office till towards twelve o'clock, and
then home and to bed. Upon the 'Change, this day, I saw how uncertain the
temper of the people is, that, from our discharging of about 200 that lay
idle, having nothing to do, upon some of our ships, which were ordered to
be fitted for service, and their works are now done, the towne do talk
that the King discharges all his men, 200 yesterday and 800 to-day, and
that now he hath got L100,000 in his hand, he values not a Dutch warr.
But I undeceived a great many, telling them how it is.

2nd. Up and to the office, where all the morning. At noon to the
'Change, and there, which is strange, I could meet with nobody that I
could invite home to my venison pasty, but only Mr. Alsopp and Mr. Lanyon,
whom I invited last night, and a friend they brought along with them. So
home and with our venison pasty we had other good meat and good discourse.
After dinner sat close to discourse about our business of the victualling
of the garrison of Tangier, taking their prices of all provisions, and I
do hope to order it so that they and I also may get something by it, which
do much please me, for I hope I may get nobly and honestly with profit to
the King. They being gone came Sir W. Warren, and he and I discoursed
long about the business of masts, and then in the evening to my office,
where late writing letters, and then home to look over some Brampton
papers, which I am under an oathe to dispatch before I spend one half
houre in any pleasure or go to bed before 12 o'clock, to which, by the