about the Duke now upon his going. We were with him long. He advised us
to follow our business close, and to be directed in his absence by the
Committee of the Councell for the Navy. By and by a meeting of the
Fishery, where the Duke was, but in such haste, and things looked so
superficially over, that I had not a fit opportunity to propose my paper
that I wrote yesterday, but I had chewed it to Mr. Gray and Wren before,
who did like it most highly, as they said, and I think they would not
dissemble in that manner in a business of this nature, but I see the
greatest businesses are done so superficially that I wonder anything
succeeds at all among us, that is publique. Thence somewhat vexed to see
myself frustrated in the good I hoped to have done and a little reputation
to have gained, and thence to my barber's, but Jane not being in the way I
to my Lady Sandwich's, and there met my wife and dined, but I find that I
dine as well myself, that is, as neatly, and my meat as good and
well-dressed, as my good Lady do, in the absence of my Lord. Thence by
water I to my barber's again, and did meet in the street my Jane, but
could not talk with her, but only a word or two, and so by coach called my
wife, and home, where at my office late, and then, it being washing day,
to supper and to bed.

8th. Up and to the office, where by and by Mr. Coventry come, and after
doing a little business, took his leave of us, being to go to sea with the
Duke to-morrow. At noon, I and Sir J. Minnes and Lord Barkeley (who with
Sir J. Duncum, and Mr. Chichly, are made Masters of the Ordnance), to the
office of the Ordnance, to discourse about wadding for guns. Thence to
dinner, all of us to the Lieutenant's of the Tower; where a good dinner,
but disturbed in the middle of it by the King's coming into the Tower: and
so we broke up, and to him, and went up and down the store-houses and
magazines; which are, with the addition of the new great store-house, a
noble sight. He gone, I to my office, where Bagwell's wife staid for me,