pretty Mrs. Lowther her sister-in-law at supper, where I sat and talked,
and Sir W. Pen, half drunk, did talk like a fool and vex his wife, that I
was half pleased and half vexed to see so much folly and rudeness from
him, and so late home to bed.

29th. Up, and by coach to St. James's, where by and by up to the Duke of
York, where, among other things, our parson Mills having the offer of
another benefice by Sir Robert Brookes, who was his pupil, he by my Lord
Barkeley [of Stratton] is made one of the Duke's Chaplains, which
qualifies him for two livings. But to see how slightly such things are
done, the Duke of York only taking my Lord Barkeley's word upon saying,
that we the officers of the Navy do say he is a good man and minister of
our parish, and the Duke of York admits him to kiss his hand, but speaks
not one word to him; but so a warrant will be drawn from the Duke of York
to qualify him, and there's an end of it. So we into the Duke's closett,
where little to do, but complaint for want of money and a motion of Sir W.
Coventry's that we should all now bethink ourselves of lessening charge to
the King, which he said was the only way he saw likely to put the King out
of debt, and this puts me upon thinking to offer something presently
myself to prevent its being done in a worse manner without me relating to
the Victualling business, which, as I may order it, I think may be done
and save myself something. Thence home, and there settle to some accounts
of mine in my chamber I all the morning till dinner. My wife comes home
from Woolwich, but did not dine with me, going to dress herself against
night, to go to Mrs. Pierce's to be merry, where we are to have Knepp and
Harris and other good people. I at my accounts all the afternoon, being a
little lost in them as to reckoning interest. Anon comes down my wife,
dressed in her second mourning, with her black moyre waistcoat, and short
petticoat, laced with silver lace so basely that I could not endure to see
her, and with laced lining, which is too soon, so that I was horrid angry,