The Diary
Chapter List

Chapter_2502

3 0 00

22nd. Up and by coach with £100 to the Exchequer to pay fees there. There left it, and I to St. James’s, and there with; the Duke of York. I had opportunity of much talk with Sir. W. Penn today (he being newly come from the fleet); and he do much undervalue the honour that is given to the conduct of the late business of Holmes in burning the ships and town saying it was a great thing indeed, and of great profit to us in being of great losse to the enemy, but that it was wholly a business of chance, and no conduct employed in it. I find Sir W. Penn do hold up his head at this time higher than ever he did in his life. I perceive he do look after Sir J. Minnes’s place if he dies, and though I love him not nor do desire to have him in, yet I do think [he] is the first man in England for it. To the Exchequer, and there received my tallies, and paid my fees in good order, and so home, and there find Mrs. Knipp and my wife going to dinner. She tells me my song, of “Beauty Retire” is mightily cried up, which I am not a little proud of; and do think I have done “It is Decreed” better, but I have not finished it. My closet is doing by upholsters, which I am pleased with, but fear my purple will be too sad for that melancholy roome. After dinner and doing something at the office, I with my wife, Knipp, and Mercer, by coach to Moorefields, and there saw Polichinello, which pleases me mightily, and here I saw our Mary, our last chambermaid, who is gone from Mrs. Pierce’s it seems. Thence carried Knipp home, calling at the Cocke alehouse at the door and drank, and so home, and there find Reeves, and so up to look upon the stars, and do like my glasse very well, and did even with him for it and a little perspective and the Lanterne that shows tricks, altogether costing me £9 5s. 0d. So to bed, he lying at our house.