answered then, "I was but one man's whore, though I was brought up in a
bawdy-house to fill strong waters to the guests; and you are a whore to
three or four, though a Presbyter's praying daughter!" which was very
pretty. Mrs. Pierce is still very pretty, but paints red on her face,
which makes me hate her, that I thank God I take no pleasure in her at all
more. After much mirth and good company at dinner, I to the office and
left them, and Pendleton also, who come in to see my wife and talk of
dancing, and there I at the office all the afternoon very busy, and did
much business, with my great content to see it go off of hand, and so
home, my eyes spent, to supper and to bed.

27th (Lord's day). Up, and to my office, there, with W. Hewer, to dictate
a long letter to the Duke of York, about the bad state of the office, it
being a work I do think fit for the office to do, though it be to no
purpose but for their vindication in these bad times; for I do now learn
many things tending to our safety which I did not wholly forget before,
but do find the fruits of, and would I had practised them more, as, among
other things, to be sure to let our answers to orders bear date presently
after their date, that we may be found quick in our execution. This did us
great good the other day before the Parliament. All the morning at this,
at noon home to dinner, with my own family alone. After dinner, I down to
Deptford, the first time that I went to look upon "The Maybolt," which the
King hath given me, and there she is; and I did meet with Mr. Uthwayte,
who do tell me that there are new sails ordered to be delivered her, and a
cable, which I did not speak of at all to him. So, thereupon, I told him
I would not be my own hindrance so much as to take her into my custody
before she had them, which was all I said to him, but desired him to take
a strict inventory of her, that I might not be cheated by the master nor
the company, when they come to understand that the vessel is gone away,
which he hath promised me, and so away back again home, reading all the