14th Comes in Mr Pagan Fisher,¹³³ the poet, and promises me what he had long ago done, a book in praise of the King of France, with my armes, and a dedication to me very handsome.

15th My wife and I mightily pleased with our new house that we hope to have My patent has cost me a great deal of money, about £40 In the afternoon to Henry VII’s Chapel, where I heard a Sermon.

17th This morning (as indeed all the mornings now-adays) much business at my Lord’s There come to my house before I went out Mr Barlow, an old consumptive man, and fair conditioned After much talk, I did grant him what he asked, viz £50 per annum, if my salary be not increased, and £100 per annum, in case it be £350 at which he was very well pleased to be paid as I received my money, and not otherwise so I brought him to my Lord’s and he and I did agree together.

18th This morning we met at the office I dined at my house in Seething Lane.

19th We did talk of our old discourse when we did use to talk of the King, in the time of the Rump, privately, after that to the Admiralty Office, in White Hall, where I staid and writ my late observations for these four days last past Great talk of the difference between the Episcopal and Presbyterian Clergy, but I believe it will come to nothing.

22nd After dinner to White Hall, where I find my Lord at home, and walked in the garden with him, he showing me all respect I left him and went to walk in the inward Park, but could not get in, one man was basted by the keeper, for carrying some people over on his back, through the water Home, and at night had a chapter read, and I read prayers out of the Common Prayer Book, the first time that ever I read prayers in this house So to bed.

23rd After dinner to my Lord, who took me to Secretary Nicholas,¹³⁴ and before him and Secretary Morris,¹³⁵ my Lord and I upon our knees together took our oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and the Oath of the Privy Seale, of which I was much glad, though I am not likely to get anything by it at present, but I do desire it, for fear of a turn-out of our office.

24th To White Hall, where I did acquaint Mr Watkins with my being sworn into the Privy Seale, at which he was much troubled, but did offer me a kinsman of his to be my clerk In the afternoon I spent much time in walking in White Hall Court with Mr Bickerstaffe,¹³⁶ who was very glad of my Lord’s being sworn, because of his business with his brother Baron,¹³⁶ which is referred to my Lord Chancellor, and to be ended to-morrow Baron had got a grant beyond sea, to come in before the reversionary of the Privy Seale.

25th I got my certificate of my Lord’s and I being sworn This morning my Lord took leave of the House of Commons, and had the thanks of the House for his great service to his country¹³⁷.

26th Early to White Hall, thinking to have a meeting of my Lord and the principal officers, but my Lord could not, it being the day that he was to go and be admitted in the House of Lords, his patent being done, which he presented upon his knees to the Speaker, and so it was read in the House, and he took his place T Doling carried me to St James’s Fair, and there meeting with W Symons and his wife, and Luellin, and D Scobell’s wife and cousin, we went to Wood’s at the Pell Mell (our old house for clubbing), and there we spent till ten at night.

28th A boy brought me a letter from Poet Fisher, who tells me that he is upon a panegyrique of the King, and desired to borrow a piece of me, and I sent him half a piece To Westminster, and there met Mr Henson, who had formerly had the brave clock that went with bullets (which is now taken away from him by the King, it being his goods).

29th With my Lord to White Hall Chapel, where I heard a cold sermon of the Bishop of Salisbury’s, Duppa’s,¹³⁸ and the ceremonies did not please me, they do so overdo them My Lord went to dinner at Kensington with my Lord Camden¹³⁹.