the opinion now is that the Dutch will avoid fighting with us at home, but
do all the hurte they can to us abroad; which it may be they may for a
while, but that, I think, cannot support them long. Thence to Sir W.
Batten's, where Mr. Coventry and all our families here, women and all, and
Sir R. Ford and his, and a great feast and good discourse and merry, there
all the afternoon and evening till late, only stepped in to see my wife,
then to my office to enter my day's work, and so home to bed, where my
people and wife innocently at cards very merry, and I to bed, leaving them
to their sport and blindman's buff.

27th. My people came to bed, after their sporting, at four o'clock in the
morning; I up at seven, and to Deptford and Woolwich in a gally; the Duke
calling to me out of the barge in which the King was with him going down
the river, to know whither I was going. I told him to Woolwich, but was
troubled afterward I should say no farther, being in a gally, lest he
think me too profuse in my journeys. Did several businesses, and then
back again by two o'clock to Sir J. Minnes's to dinner by appointment,
where all yesterday's company but Mr. Coventry, who could not come. Here
merry, and after an hour's chat I down to the office, where busy late, and
then home to supper and to bed. The Comet appeared again to-night, but
duskishly. I went to bed, leaving my wife and all her folks, and Will
also, too, come to make Christmas gambolls to-night.

28th. I waked in the morning about 6 o'clock and my wife not come to bed;
I lacked a pot, but there was none, and bitter cold, so was forced to rise
and piss in the chimney, and to bed again. Slept a little longer, and
then hear my people coming up, and so I rose, and my wife to bed at eight
o'clock in the morning, which vexed me a little, but I believe there was
no hurt in it all, but only mirthe, therefore took no notice. I abroad
with Sir W. Batten to the Council Chamber, where all of us to discourse