Pepy's Diary. 01 Jul 1665. Called up betimes, though weary and sleepy, by appointment by Mr. Povy (age 51) and Colonell Norwood (age 51) to discourse about some payments of Tangier. They gone, I to the office and there sat all the morning.

Pepy's Diary. 18 Jan 1666. To the office, where, among other things, vexed with Major Norwood's (age 52) coming, who takes it ill my not paying a bill of Exchange [Map] of his, but I have good reason for it, and so the less troubled, but yet troubled, so as at noon being carried by my Lord Bruncker (age 46) to Captain Cocke's (age 49) to dinner, where Mrs. Williams was, and Mrs. Knipp, I was not heartily merry, though a glasse of wine did a little cheer me.

Pepy's Diary. 19 Jan 1666. Thence to the office and wrote a letter to Norwood (age 52) to satisfy him about my nonpayment of his bill, for that do still stick in my mind. So at night home to supper and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 19 Jan 1666. Thence with Sir J. Minnes (age 66) to the Duke of Albemarle's (age 57), and carried all well, and met Norwood (age 52) but prevented him in desiring a meeting of the Commissioners for Tangier.

Pepy's Diary. 20 Jan 1666. To the office, where upon Mr. Kinaston's coming to me about some business of Colonell Norwood's (age 52), I sent my boy home for some papers, where, he staying longer than I would have him, and being vexed at the business and to be kept from my fellows in the office longer than was fit, I become angry, and boxed my boy when he came, that I do hurt my thumb so much, that I was not able to stir all the day after, and in great pain. At noon to dinner, and then to the office again, late, and so to supper and to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 22 Jan 1666. Thence I with speede by water home and eat a bit, and took my accounts and to the Duke of Albemarle (age 57), where for all I feared of Norwood (age 52) he was very civill, and Sir Thomas Ingram (age 51) beyond expectation, I giving them all content and I thereby settled mightily in my mind, for I was weary of the employment, and had had thoughts of giving it over. I did also give a good step in a business of Mr. Hubland's, about getting a ship of his to go to Tangier, which during this strict embargo is a great matter, and I shall have a good reward for it, I hope.

Pepy's Diary. 24 Jan 1666. After dinner he and I to our accounts and very troublesome he is and with tricks which I found plainly and was vexed at; while we were together comes Sir G. Downing (age 41) with Colonell Norwood (age 52), Rumball, and Warrupp to visit me. I made them drink good wine and discoursed above alone a good while with Sir G. Downing (age 41), who is very troublesome, and then with Colonell Norwood (age 52), who hath a great mind to have me concerned with him in everything; which I like, but am shy of adventuring too much, but will thinke of it. They gone, Creed and I to finish the settling his accounts.

Pepy's Diary. 08 Feb 1666. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon to the 'Change [Map], expecting to have received from Mr. Houbland, as he promised me, an assignment upon Viner (age 35), for my reward for my getting them the going of their two ships to Tangier, but I find myself much disappointed therein, for I spoke with him and he said nothing of it, but looked coldly, through some disturbance he meets with in our business through Colonell Norwood's (age 52) pressing them to carry more goods than will leave room for some of their own. But I shall ease them.

Pepy's Diary. 09 Feb 1666. Thence to the 'Change [Map], and to the Sun behind it to dinner with the Lieutenant of the Tower (age 51), Colonell Norwood (age 52) and others, where strange pleasure they seem to take in their wine and meate, and discourse of it with the curiosity and joy that methinks was below men of worthe.

Pepy's Diary. 09 Feb 1666. Thence to Colonell Norwood's (age 52) lodgings, and there set about Houblons' business about their ships.

Pepy's Diary. 15 Feb 1666. Thence with them all as far as Fleete Streete [Map], and there set Mercer and Knipp down, and we home. I to the office, whither the Houblons come telling me of a little new trouble from Norwood (age 52) about their ship, which troubles me, though without reason. So late home to supper and to bed. We hear this night of Sir Jeremy Smith, that he and his fleete have been seen at Malaga; which is good newes.

Pepy's Diary. 15 Feb 1666. At noon to Starky's, a great cooke in Austin Friars, invited by Colonell Atkins, and a good dinner for Colonell Norwood (age 52) and his friends, among others Sir Edward Spragg (age 46) and others, but ill attendance. Before dined, called on by my wife in a coach, and so I took leave, and then with her and Knipp and Mercer (Mr. Hunt newly come out of the country being there also come to see us) to Mr. Hales (age 66), the Paynter's (age 57), having set down Mr. Hunt by the way. Here Mr. Hales' (age 66) begun my wife in the posture we saw one of my Lady Peters, like a St. Katharine¹. While he painted, Knipp, and Mercer, and I, sang; and by and by comes Mrs. Pierce, with my name in her bosom for her Valentine, which will cost me money. But strange how like his very first dead colouring is, that it did me good to see it, and pleases me mightily, and I believe will be a noble picture.

Note 1. It was the fashion at this time to be painted as St. Catherine, in compliment to the Queen (age 27).

Pepy's Diary. 16 Feb 1666. Up betimes, and by appointment to the Exchange [Map], where I met Messrs. Houblons, and took them up in my coach and carried them to Charing Crosse, where they to Colonell Norwood (age 52) to see how they can settle matters with him, I having informed them by the way with advice to be easy with him, for he may hereafter do us service, and they and I are like to understand one another to very good purpose. I to my Lord Sandwich (age 40), and there alone with him to talke of his affairs, and particularly of his prize goods, wherein I find he is wearied with being troubled, and gives over the care of it to let it come to what it will, having the King's release for the dividend made, and for the rest he thinks himself safe from being proved to have anything more.

Pepy's Diary. 28 Feb 1666. After dinner I did give my wife money to lay out on Knipp, 20s., and I abroad to White Hall to visit Colonell Norwood (age 52), and then Sir G. Carteret (age 56), with whom I have brought myself right again, and he very open to me; is very melancholy, and matters, I fear, go down with him, but he seems most afeard of a general catastrophe to the whole kingdom, and thinks, as I fear, that all things will come to nothing.

Evelyn's Diary. 15 Mar 1673. I heard the speech made to the Lords in their House by Sir Samuel Tuke (age 58), in behalf of the Papists, to take off the penal laws; and then dined with Colonel Norwood (age 59).