All the morning at the office. Dined at home only upon fish, and Mr. Shepley and Tom Hater with me. After dinner Mr. Shepley and I in private talking about my Lord’s intentions to go speedily into the country, but to what end we know not. We fear he is to go to sea with this fleet now preparing. But we wish that he could get his 4000l. per annum settled before he do go.
Then he and I walked into London, he to the Wardrobe and I to Whitefryars, and saw “The Bondman” acted; an excellent play and well done. But above all that ever I saw, Betterton do the Bond man the best.
Then to my father’s and found my mother ill. After staying a while with them, I went home and sat up late, spending my thoughts how to get money to bear me out in my great expense at the Coronation, against which all provide, and scaffolds setting up in every street.
I had many designs in my head to get some, but know not which will take.
To bed.
Fish in a private sea,
we wish for war
to bond better with the nation,
scaffolds setting up
in every head.
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Friday 1 March 1660/61.