and then out with him by coach to the Excise Office, there to enter them,
and so back again with him to the Exchange, and there I took another
coach, and home to the office, and to my business till dinner, the rest of
our officers having been this morning upon the Victuallers' accounts. At
dinner all of us, that is to say, Lord Bruncker, [Sir] J. Minnes, [Sir] W.
Batten, [Sir] T. Harvy, and myself, to Sir W. Pen's house, where some
other company. It is instead of a wedding dinner for his daughter, whom I
saw in palterly clothes, nothing new but a bracelet that her servant had
given her, and ugly she is, as heart can wish. A sorry dinner, not any
thing handsome or clean, but some silver plates they borrowed of me. My
wife was here too. So a great deal of talk, and I seemingly merry, but
took no pleasure at all. We had favours given us all, and we put them in
our hats, I against my will, but that my Lord and the rest did, I being
displeased that he did carry Sir W. Coventry's himself several days ago,
and the people up and down the town long since, and we must have them but
to-day. After dinner to talk a little, and then I away to my office, to
draw up a letter of the state of the Office and Navy for the Duke of York
against Sunday next, and at it late, and then home to supper and to bed,
talking with my wife of the poorness and meanness of all that Sir W. Pen
and the people about us do, compared with what we do.

23rd. This day I am, by the blessing of God, 34 years old, in very good
health and mind's content, and in condition of estate much beyond whatever
my friends could expect of a child of theirs, this day 34 years. The
Lord's name be praised! and may I be ever thankful for it. Up betimes to
the office, in order to my letter to the Duke of York to-morrow, and then
the office met and spent the greatest part about this letter. At noon
home to dinner, and then to the office again very close at it all the day
till midnight, making an end and writing fair this great letter and other
things to my full content, it abundantly providing for the vindication of