silver and gilt flaggons which Mr. Gauden did give me the other day. I do
now live very prettily at home, being most seriously, quietly, and neatly
served by my two mayds Jane and the girle Su, with both of whom I am
mightily well pleased. My greatest trouble is the settling of Brampton
Estate, that I may know what to expect, and how to be able to leave it
when I die, so as to be just to my promise to my uncle Thomas and his son.
The next thing is this cursed trouble my brother Tom is likely to put us
to by his death, forcing us to law with his creditors, among others Dr.
Tom Pepys, and that with some shame as trouble, and the last how to know
in what manner as to saving or spending my father lives, lest they should
run me in debt as one of my uncle's executors, and I never the wiser nor
better for it. But in all this I hope shortly to be at leisure to
consider and inform myself well.

29th. At the office all the morning dispatching of business, at noon to
the 'Change after dinner, and thence to Tom Trice about Dr. Pepys's
business, and thence it raining turned into Fleet Alley, and there was
with Cocke an hour or so. The jade, whether I would not give her money or
not enough; she would not offer to invite to do anything, but on the
contrary saying she had no time, which I was glad of, for I had no mind to
meddle with her, but had my end to see what a cunning jade she was, to see
her impudent tricks and ways of getting money and raising the reckoning by
still calling for things, that it come to 6 or 7 shillings presently. So
away home, glad I escaped without any inconvenience, and there came Mr.
Hill, Andrews and Seignor Pedro, and great store of musique we had, but I
begin to be weary of having a master with us, for it spoils, methinks, the
ingenuity of our practice. After they were gone comes Mr. Bland to me,
sat till 11 at night with me, talking of the garrison of Tangier and
serving them with pieces of eight. A mind he hath to be employed there,
but dares not desire any courtesy of me, and yet would fain engage me to