9th. At noon to dinner at the Wardrobe; where my Lady Wright⁶⁵ was, who did talk much upon the worth and the desert of gallantry; and that there was none fit to be courtiers, but such as have been abroad and know fashions. Which I endeavoured to oppose; and was troubled to hear her talk so, though she be a very wise and discreet lady in other things.

15th. I am now full of study about writing something about our making of strangers strike to us at sea; and so am altogether reading Selden and Grotius, and such other authors to that purpose.

16th. After dinner to the Opera, where there was a new play, (Cutter of Coleman Street) made in the year 1658, with reflections much upon the late times; and it being the first time the pay was doubled, and so to save money, my wife and I went into the gallery, and there sat and saw very well; and a very good play it is. It seems of Cowly’s making.

21st. To White Hall to the Privy Seale, as my Lord Privy Seale did tell me he could seale no more this month, for he goes thirty miles out of towne to keep his Christmas. At which I was glad, but only afraid lest any thing of the King’s should force us to go after him to get a seale in the country. I spoke to Mr Falconberge to look whether he could out of Domesday Book, give me any thing concerning the sea, and the dominion thereof; which he says he will look after.

27th. In the morning to my Bookseller’s to bespeak a Stephens’ Thesaurus, for which I offer £ 4, to give to Paul’s School, and from thence to Paul’s Church; and there I did hear Dr Gunning preach a good sermon upon the day, (being St John’s day,) and did hear him tell a story, which he did persuade us to believe to be true, that St John and the Virgin Mary did appear to Gregory, a Bishopp, at his prayer to be confirmed in the faith, which I did wonder to hear from him.

28th. At home all the morning; and in the afternoon all of us at the office, upon a letter from the Duke for the making up of a speedy estimate of all the debts of the Navy, which is put into good forwardness.

31st. To the office; and there late finishing our estimate of the debts of the Navy to this day; and it come to near £ 374,000. I suppose myself to be worth about £ 500 clear in the world, and my goods of my house my owne, and what is coming to me from Brampton, when my father dies, which God defer. But, by my uncle’s death, the whole care and trouble, and setting of all lies upon me, which is very great, because of law-suits, especially that with T. Frice, about the interest of £ 200. I am upon writing a little treatise to present to the Duke, about our privilege in the seas, as to other nations striking their flags to us.