Two birthdays

26 April, in the year of our Lord 2021

At home these two weeks, I supposing the busynesse of my Arreste closed, hearing no word from any constable and setting my life again upon a course of fare weather, thanks be to God. At supper to the house of Mr. M. Jones, this day being the occasion of his birthday, where took to him some Pancakes, with a crispie China duck and a dish with some rice, that he requested I bring from Many Bridge, and eat it with a fine Rhenish wine; and there did watch a repeate of ‘Fatty Owls’ on his magick screen, which he had never seen in his entire life. There did present him with a gift to celebrate the day, which was for his kitchen, it being a device which will cut a sandwich on the diagonall, instead of halfway across its length, making of the bread the novelty of two triangles, and I think he was pleased to receieve it for he sayed that he did not believe such a device to exist in all the world, nor that any might pay for it. So parted and home, and to bed.

 

2 May, in the year of our Lord 2021

Up betimes, this day being one of my birthdays, of which I find I have two, and this one is official. News from the East India Company that the Covey plague causes a havock in the land, which is the sorriest news I heared in a while. At supper to Mr. M. Jones, who did cook a fine roste dinner of chicken, and he gives me a tiny tree made in Japan, where they have cut off all its roots to make it fit an oblong tray, and its little branches too, and yet a very fine specimen.
  Yesterday came Dr. S. Francis to sit in the garden, it being fine sunshine, and merry discourse of divers matters for a hour, or more.