thence to the Duke's house, and saw "Macbeth," which, though I saw it
lately, yet appears a most excellent play in all respects, but especially
in divertisement, though it be a deep tragedy; which is a strange
perfection in a tragedy, it being most proper here, and suitable. So
home, it being the last play now I am to see till a fortnight hence, I
being from the last night entered into my vowes for the year coming on.
Here I met with the good newes of Hogg's bringing in two prizes more to
Plymouth, which if they prove but any part of them, I hope, at least, we
shall be no losers by them. So home from the office, to write over fair
my vowes for this year, and then to supper, and to bed. In great peace of
mind having now done it, and brought myself into order again and a
resolution of keeping it, and having entered my journall to this night, so
to bed, my eyes failing me with writing.

8th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon home
to dinner, where my uncle Thomas with me to receive his quarterage. He
tells me his son Thomas is set up in Smithfield, where he hath a shop--I
suppose, a booth. Presently after dinner to the office, and there set
close to my business and did a great deal before night, and am resolved to
stand to it, having been a truant too long. At night to Sir W. Batten's
to consider some things about our prizes, and then to other talk, and
among other things he tells me that he hears for certain that Sir W.
Coventry hath resigned to the King his place of Commissioner of the Navy,
the thing he bath often told me that he had a mind to do, but I am
surprised to think that he hath done it, and am full of thoughts all this
evening after I heard it what may be the consequences of it to me. So home
and to supper, and then saw the catalogue of my books, which my brother
had wrote out, now perfectly alphabeticall, and so to bed. Sir Richard
Ford did this evening at Sir W. Batten's tell us that upon opening the
body of my Lady Denham it is said that they found a vessel about her