4th July, 1662

By and by comes Mr Cooper, Mate of the Royall Charles, of whom I entend to learn Mathematiques. After an hour's being with him at Arithmetique, my first attempt being to learn the multiplication table, then we parted till tomorrow.

5th July

At my office all afternoon and then my maths … at night with Mr Cooper; and so to supper and bed.

8th July

Cooper being there, ready to attend me; so he and I to work till it was dark.

9th July

Up by 4-aclock and at my multiplication table hard, which is all the trouble I meet withal in my arithmetique.

10 July

Up by 4-aclock and before I went to the office, I practised my arithmetique.

11th July

Up by 4-aclock and hard at my multiplication table which I am now almost master of.

12th July

At night with Cooper at Arithmetique …

13th July

Having by some mischance hurt my cods … [I] keep my bed all this morning.

14th July

Up by 4-aclock and to my Arithmetique …

18th July

… and then came Cooper for my Mathematiques; but in good earnest my head is so full of business that I cannot understand it (1).