things before me, in order to my lying there for good and all, and so I
followed him. Just now comes newes that the fleete is gone, or going this
day, out again, for which God be praised! and my Lord Sandwich hath done
himself great right in it, in getting so soon out again. I pray God, he
may meet the enemy. Towards the evening, just as I was fitting myself,
comes W. Hewer and shows me a letter which Mercer had wrote to her mother
about a great difference between my wife and her yesterday, and that my
wife will have her go away presently. This, together with my natural
jealousy that some bad thing or other may be in the way, did trouble me
exceedingly, so as I was in a doubt whether to go thither or no, but
having fitted myself and my things I did go, and by night got thither,
where I met my wife walking to the waterside with her paynter, Mr. Browne,
and her mayds. There I met Commissioner Pett, and my Lord Brunker, and
the lady at his house had been thereto-day, to see her. Commissioner Pett
staid a very little while, and so I to supper with my wife and Mr.
Shelden, and so to bed with great pleasure.

29th. In the morning waking, among other discourse my wife begun to tell
me the difference between her and Mercer, and that it was only from
restraining her to gad abroad to some Frenchmen that were in the town,
which I do not wholly yet in part believe, and for my quiet would not
enquire into it. So rose and dressed myself, and away by land walking a
good way, then remembered that I had promised Commissioner Pett to go with
him in his coach, and therefore I went back again to him, and so by his
coach to Greenwich, and called at Sir Theophilus Biddulph's, a sober,
discreet man, to discourse of the preventing of the plague in Greenwich,
and Woolwich, and Deptford, where in every place it begins to grow very
great. We appointed another meeting, and so walked together to Greenwich
and there parted, and Pett and I to the office, where all the morning, and
after office done I to Sir J. Minnes and dined with him, and thence to