gammon, &c., and after an houre's stay or more, embarked again for home;
and so to cards and other sports till we came to Greenwich, and there Mrs.
Clerke and my wife and I on shore to an alehouse, for them to do their
business, and so to the barge again, having shown them the King's pleasure
boat; and so home to the Bridge, bringing night home with us; and it
rained hard, but we got them on foot to the Beare, and there put them into
a boat, and I back to my wife in the barge, and so to the Tower Wharf and
home, being very well pleased today with the company, especially Mrs.
Pierce, who continues her complexion as well as ever, and hath, at this
day, I think, the best complexion that ever I saw on any woman, young or
old, or child either, all days of my life. Also Mrs. Clerke's kinswoman
sings very prettily, but is very confident in it; Mrs. Clerke herself
witty, but spoils all in being so conceited and making so great a flutter
with a few fine clothes and some bad tawdry things worne with them. But
the charge of the barge lies heavy upon me, which troubles me, but it is
but once, and I may make Pierce do me some courtesy as great. Being come
home, I weary to bed with sitting. The reason of Dr. Clerke's not being
here was the King's being sicke last night and let blood, and so he durst
not come away to-day.

7th. Up, and this day begun, the first day this year, to put off my
linnen waistcoat, but it happening to be a cool day I was afraid of taking
cold, which troubles me, and is the greatest pain I have in the world to
think of my bad temper of my health. At the office all the morning.
Dined at home, to my office to prepare some things against a Committee of
Tangier this afternoon. So to White Hall, and there found the Duke and
twenty more reading their commission (of which I am, and was also sent to,
to come) for the Royall Fishery, which is very large, and a very serious
charter it is; but the company generally so ill fitted for so serious a
worke that I do much fear it will come to little. That being done, and