01 Nov 1665. Lay very long in bed discoursing with Mr. Hill (age 35) of most things of a man's life, and how little merit do prevail in the world, but only favour; and that, for myself, chance without merit brought me in; and that diligence only keeps me so, and will, living as I do among so many lazy people that the diligent man becomes necessary, that they cannot do anything without him, and so told him of my late business of the victualling, and what cares I am in to keepe myself having to do with people of so different factions at Court, and yet must be fair with them all, which was very pleasant discourse for me to tell, as well as he seemed to take it, for him to hear.

01 Nov 1665. At last up, and it being a very foule day for raine and a hideous wind, yet having promised I would go by water to Erith, Kent, and bearing sayle was in danger of oversetting, but ordered them take down their sayle, and so cold and wet got thither, as they had ended their dinner. How[ever], I dined well, and after dinner all on shore, my Lord Bruncker (age 45) with us to Mrs. Williams's lodgings, and Sir W. Batten (age 64), Sir Edmund Pooly (age 46), and others; and there, it being my Lord's birth-day, had every one a green riband tied in our hats very foolishly; and methinks mighty disgracefully for my Lord to have his folly so open to all the world with this woman.

01 Nov 1665. But by and by Sir W. Batten (age 64) and I took coach, and home to Boreman, and so going home by the backside I saw Captain Cocke (age 48) 'lighting out of his coach (having been at Erith, Kent also with her but not on board) and so he would come along with me to my lodging, and there sat and supped and talked with us, but we were angry a little a while about our message to him the other day about bidding him keepe from the office or his owne office, because of his black dying. I owned it and the reason of it, and would have been glad he had been out of the house, but I could not bid him go, and so supped, and after much other talke of the sad condition and state of the King's matters we broke up, and my friend and I to bed.

01 Nov 1665. This night coming with Sir W. Batten (age 64) into Greenwich, Kent [Map] we called upon Coll. Cleggatt, who tells us for certaine that the King of Denmark (age 56) hath declared to stand for the King of England (age 35), but since I hear it is wholly false.

02 Nov 1665. Up, left my wife and to the office, and there to my great content Sir W. Warren come to me to settle the business of the Tangier boates, wherein I shall get above £100, besides £100 which he gives me in the paying for them out of his owne purse.

02 Nov 1665. He gone, I home to my lodgings to dinner, and there comes Captain Wagers newly returned from the Streights, who puts me in great fear for our last ships that went to Tangier with provisions, that they will be taken. A brave, stout fellow this Captain is, and I think very honest.

02 Nov 1665. To the office again after dinner and there late writing letters, and then about 8 at night set out from my office and fitting myself at my lodgings intended to have gone this night in a Ketch down to the Fleete, but calling in my way at Sir J. Minnes's (age 66), who is come up from Erith, Kent about something about the prizes, they persuaded me not to go till the morning, it being a horrible darke and a windy night. So I back to my lodging and to bed.

03 Nov 1665. Was called up about four o'clock and in the darke by lanthorne took boat and to the Ketch and set sayle, sleeping a little in the Cabbin till day and then up and fell to reading of Mr. Evelyn's (age 45) book about Paynting¹, which is a very pretty book.

Note 1. This must surely have been Evelyn's "Sculptura, or the History and Art of Chalcography and Engraving in Copper", published in 1662. The translation of Freart's "Idea of the Perfection of Painting demonstrated" was not published until 1668.

03 Nov 1665. Carrying good victuals and Tom with me I to breakfast about 9 o'clock, and then to read again and come to the Fleete about twelve, where I found my Lord (the Prince (age 45) being gone in) on board the Royall James, Sir Thomas Allen (age 32) commander, and with my Lord an houre alone discoursing what was my chief and only errand about what was adviseable for his Lordship to do in this state of things, himself being under the Duke of Yorke's (age 32) and Mr. Coventry's (age 37) envy, and a great many more and likely never to do anything honourably but he shall be envied and the honour taken as much as can be from it.

03 Nov 1665. His absence lessens his interest at Court, and what is worst we never able to set out a fleete fit for him to command, or, if out, to keepe them out or fit them to do any great thing, or if that were so yet nobody at home minds him or his condition when he is abroad, and lastly the whole affairs of state looking as if they would all on a sudden break in pieces, and then what a sad thing it would be for him to be out of the way. My Lord did concur in every thing and thanked me infinitely for my visit and counsel, telling me that in every thing he concurs, but puts a query, what if the King (age 35) will not think himself safe, if any man should go but him. How he should go off then? To that I had no answer ready, but the making the King (age 35) see that he may be of as good use to him here while another goes forth. But for that I am not able to say much.

03 Nov 1665. We after this talked of some other little things and so to dinner, where my Lord infinitely kind to me, and after dinner I rose and left him with some Commanders at the table taking tobacco and I took the Bezan back with me, and with a brave gale and tide reached up that night to the Hope, taking great pleasure in learning the seamen's manner of singing when they sound the depths, and then to supper and to sleep, which I did most excellently all night, it being a horrible foule night for wind and raine.

04 Nov 1665. They sayled from midnight, and come to Greenwich, Kent [Map] about 5 o'clock in the morning. I however lay till about 7 or 8, and so to my office, my head a little akeing, partly for want of natural rest, partly having so much business to do to-day, and partly from the newes I hear that one of the little boys at my lodging is not well; and they suspect, by their sending for plaister and fume, that it may be the plague; so I sent Mr. Hater and W. Hewer (age 23) to speake with the mother; but they returned to me, satisfied that there is no hurt nor danger, but the boy is well, and offers to be searched, however, I was resolved myself to abstain coming thither for a while. Sir W. Batten (age 64) and myself at the office all the morning.

04 Nov 1665. At noon with him to dinner at Boreman's, where Mr. Seymour (age 32) with us, who is a most conceited fellow and not over much in him. Here Sir W. Batten (age 64) told us (which I had not heard before) that the last sitting day his cloake was taken from Mingo he going home to dinner, and that he was beaten by the seamen and swears he will come to Greenwich, Kent [Map], but no more to the office till he can sit safe.

04 Nov 1665. After dinner I to the office and there late, and much troubled to have 100 seamen all the afternoon there, swearing below and cursing us, and breaking the glasse windows, and swear they will pull the house down on Tuesday next. I sent word of this to Court, but nothing will helpe it but money and a rope. Late at night to Mr. Glanville's (age 47) there to lie for a night or two, and to bed.

05 Nov 1665. Lord's Day. Up, and after being trimmed, by boat to the Cockpitt [Map], where I heard the Duke of Albemarle's (age 56) chaplin make a simple sermon: among other things, reproaching the imperfection of humane learning, he cried: "All our physicians cannot tell what an ague is, and all our arithmetique is not able to number the days of a man"; which, God knows, is not the fault of arithmetique, but that our understandings reach not the thing.

05 Nov 1665. Thence I to the Swan [Map], thinking to have seen Sarah but she was at church, and so I by water to Deptford, Kent [Map], and there made a visit to Mr. Evelyn (age 45), who, among other things, showed me most excellent painting in little; in distemper, Indian incke, water colours: graveing; and, above all, the whole secret of mezzo-tinto, and the manner of it, which is very pretty, and good things done with it. He read to me very much also of his discourse, he hath been many years and now is about, about Guardenage; which will be a most noble and pleasant piece. He read me part of a play or two of his making, very good, but not as he conceits them, I think, to be. He showed me his Hortus Hyemalis leaves laid up in a book of several plants kept dry, which preserve colour, however, and look very finely, better than any Herball. In fine, a most excellent person he is, and must be allowed a little for a little conceitedness; but he may well be so, being a man so much above others. He read me, though with too much gusto, some little poems of his own, that were not transcendant, yet one or two very pretty epigrams; among others, of a lady looking in at a grate, and being pecked at by an eagle that was there.

05 Nov 1665. Here comes in, in the middle of our discourse Captain Cocke (age 48), as drunk as a dogg, but could stand, and talk and laugh. He did so joy himself in a brave woman that he had been with all the afternoon, and who should it be but my Lady Robinson (age 53), but very troublesome he is with his noise and talke, and laughing, though very pleasant. With him in his coach to Mr. Glanville's (age 47), where he sat with Mrs. Penington and myself a good while talking of this fine woman again and then went away.

05 Nov 1665. Then the lady and I to very serious discourse and, among other things, of what a bonny lasse my Lady Robinson (age 53) is, who is reported to be kind to the prisoners, and has said to Sir G. Smith (age 50), who is her great crony, "Look! there is a pretty man, I would be content to break a commandment with him", and such loose expressions she will have often.

05 Nov 1665. After an houre's talke we to bed, the lady mightily troubled about a pretty little bitch she hath, which is very sicke, and will eat nothing, and the worst was, I could hear her in her chamber bemoaning the bitch, and by and by taking her into bed with her. The bitch pissed and shit a bed, and she was fain to rise and had coals out of my chamber to dry the bed again. This night I had a letter that Sir G. Carteret (age 55) would be in towne to-morrow, which did much surprize me.

06 Nov 1665. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning and then to dinner to Captain Cocke's (age 48) with Mr. Evelyn (age 45), where very merry, only vexed after dinner to stay too long for our coach.

06 Nov 1665. At last, however, to Lambeth, Surrey [Map] and thence the Cockpitt [Map], where we found Sir G. Carteret (age 55) come, and in with the Duke (age 32) and the East India Company about settling the business of the prizes, and they have gone through with it.

06 Nov 1665. Then they broke up, and Sir G. Carteret (age 55) come out, and thence through the garden to the water side and by water I with him in his boat down with Captain Cocke (age 48) to his house at Greenwich, Kent [Map], and while supper was getting ready Sir G. Carteret (age 55) and I did walk an houre in the garden before the house, talking of my Lord Sandwich's (age 40) business; what enemies he hath, and how they have endeavoured to bespatter him: and particularly about his leaving of 30 ships of the enemy, when Pen (age 44) would have gone, and my Lord called him back again: which is most false.

06 Nov 1665. However, he says, it was purposed by some hot-heads in the House of Commons, at the same time when they voted a present to the Duke of Yorke (age 32), to have voted £10,000 to the Prince (age 45), and half-a-crowne to my Lord of Sandwich (age 40); but nothing come of it¹.

Note 1. The tide of popular indignation ran high against Lord Sandwich (age 40), and he was sent to Spain as ambassador to get him honourably out of the way (see post, December 6th).

06 Nov 1665. But, for all this, the King (age 35) is most firme to my Lord, and so is my Chancellor (age 56), and my Lord Arlington (age 47).

06 Nov 1665. The Prince (age 45), in appearance, kind; the Duke of Yorke (age 32) silent, says no hurt; but admits others to say it in his hearing. Sir W. Pen (age 44), the falsest rascal that ever was in the world; and that this afternoon the Duke of Albemarle (age 56) did tell him that Pen (age 44) was a very cowardly rogue, and one that hath brought all these rogueish fanatick Captains into the fleete, and swears he should never go out with the fleete again. That Sir W. Coventry (age 37) is most kind to Pen (age 44) still; and says nothing nor do any thing openly to the prejudice of my Lord. He agrees with me, that it is impossible for the King (age 35) [to] set out a fleete again the next year; and that he fears all will come to ruine, there being no money in prospect but these prizes, which will bring, it may be, £20,000, but that will signify nothing in the world for it.

06 Nov 1665. That this late Act of Parliament for bringing the money into the Exchequer, and making of it payable out there, intended as a prejudice to him and will be his convenience hereafter and ruine the King's business, and so I fear it will and do wonder Sir W. Coventry (age 37) would be led by Sir G. Downing (age 40) to persuade the King (age 35) and Duke (age 32) to have it so, before they had thoroughly weighed all circumstances; that for my Lord, the King (age 35) has said to him lately that I was an excellent officer, and that my Chancellor (age 56) do, he thinks, love and esteem of me as well as he do of any man in England that he hath no more acquaintance with.

06 Nov 1665. So having done and received from me the sad newes that we are like to have no money here a great while, not even of the very prizes, I set up my rest¹ in giving up the King's service to be ruined and so in to supper, where pretty merry, and after supper late to Mr. Glanville's (age 47), and Sir G. Carteret (age 55) to bed. I also to bed, it being very late.

Note 1. The phrase "set up my rest" is a metaphor from the once fashionable game of Primero, meaning, to stand upon the cards you have in your hand, in hopes they may prove better than those of your adversary. Hence, to make up your mind, to be determined (see Nares's "Glossary").

07 Nov 1665. Up, and to Sir G. Carteret (age 55), and with him, he being very passionate to be gone, without staying a minute for breakfast, to the Duke of Albemarle's (age 56) and I with him by water and with Fen: but, among other things, Lord! to see how he wondered to see the river so empty of boats, nobody working at the Custome-house keys; and how fearful he is, and vexed that his man, holding a wine-glasse in his hand for him to drinke out of, did cover his hands, it being a cold, windy, rainy morning, under the waterman's coate, though he brought the waterman from six or seven miles up the river, too. Nay, he carried this glasse with him for his man to let him drink out of at the Duke of Albemarle's (age 56), where he intended to dine, though this he did to prevent sluttery, for, for the same reason he carried a napkin with him to Captain Cocke's (age 48), making him believe that he should eat with foule linnen. Here he with the Duke (age 32) walked a good while in the Parke, and I with Fen, but cannot gather that he intends to stay with us, nor thinks any thing at all of ever paying one farthing of money more to us here, let what will come of it.

07 Nov 1665. Thence in, and Sir W. Batten (age 64) comes in by and by, and so staying till noon, and there being a great deal of company there, Sir W. Batten (age 64) and I took leave of the Duke (age 32) and Sir G. Carteret (age 55), there being no good to be done more for money, and so over the River and by coach to Greenwich, Kent [Map], where at Boreman's we dined, it being late.

07 Nov 1665. Thence my head being full of business and mind out of order for thinking of the effects which will arise from the want of money, I made an end of my letters by eight o'clock, and so to my lodging and there spent the evening till midnight talking with Mrs. Penington, who is a very discreet, understanding lady and very pretty discourse we had and great variety, and she tells me with great sorrow her bitch is dead this morning, died in her bed. So broke up and to bed.

08 Nov 1665. Up, and to the office, where busy among other things to looke my warrants for the settling of the Victualling business, the warrants being come to me for the Surveyors of the ports and that for me also to be Surveyor-Generall. I did discourse largely with Tom Willson about it and doubt not to make it a good service to the King (age 35) as well, as the King (age 35) gives us very good salarys.

08 Nov 1665. It being a fast day, all people were at church and the office quiett; so I did much business, and at noon adventured to my old lodging, and there eat, but am not yet well satisfied, not seeing of Christopher, though they say he is abroad.

08 Nov 1665. My Lord and I ended all we had to say as to his business overnight, and so I took leave, and went again to Mr. Glanville's (age 47) and so to bed, it being very late.

09 Nov 1665. Up, and did give the servants something at Mr. Glanville's (age 47) and so took leave, meaning to lie to-night at my owne lodging. To my office, where busy with Mr. Gawden running over the Victualling business, and he is mightily pleased that this course is taking and seems sensible of my favour and promises kindnesse to me.

09 Nov 1665. At noon by water, to the King's Head at Deptford, where Captain Taylor invites Sir W: Batten (age 64), Sir John Robinson (age 50) (who come in with a great deale of company from hunting, and brought in a hare alive and a great many silly stories they tell of their sport, which pleases them mightily, and me not at all, such is the different sense of pleasure in mankind), and others upon the score of a survey of his new ship; and strange to see how a good dinner and feasting reconciles everybody, Sir W. Batten (age 64) and Sir J. Robinson (age 50) being now as kind to him, and report well of his ship and proceedings, and promise money, and Sir W. Batten (age 64) is a solicitor for him, but it is a strange thing to observe, they being the greatest enemys he had, and yet, I believe, hath in the world in their hearts.

09 Nov 1665. Thence after dinner stole away and to my office, where did a great deale of business till midnight, and then to Mrs. Clerk's, to lodge again, and going home W. Hewer (age 23) did tell me my wife will be here to-morrow, and hath put away Mary, which vexes me to the heart, I cannot helpe it, though it may be a folly in me, and when I think seriously on it, I think my wife means no ill design in it, or, if she do, I am a foole to be troubled at it, since I cannot helpe it. The Bill of Mortality, to all our griefs, is encreased 399 this week, and the encrease generally through the whole City and suburbs, which makes us all sad.

10 Nov 1665. Up, and entered all my Journall since the 28th of October, having every day's passages well in my head, though it troubles me to remember it, and which I was forced to, being kept from my lodging, where my books and papers are, for several days.

10 Nov 1665. So to my office, where till two or three o'clock busy before I could go to my lodging to dinner, then did it and to my office again.

10 Nov 1665. In the evening newes is brought me my wife is come: so I to her, and with her spent the evening, but with no great pleasure, I being vexed about her putting away of Mary in my absence, but yet I took no notice of it at all, but fell into other discourse, and she told me, having herself been this day at my house at London, which was boldly done, to see Mary have her things, that Mr. Harrington, our neighbour, an East country merchant, is dead at Epsum of the plague, and that another neighbour of ours, Mr. Hollworthy, a very able man, is also dead by a fall in the country from his horse, his foot hanging in the stirrup, and his brains beat out. Here we sat talking, and after supper to bed.

11 Nov 1665. I up and to the office (leaving my wife in bed) and there till noon, then to dinner and back again to the office, my wife going to Woolwich, Kent [Map] again, and I staying very late at my office, and so home to bed.

12 Nov 1665. Lord's Day. Up, and invited by Captain Cocke (age 48) to dinner. So after being ready I went to him, and there he and I and Mr. Yard (one of the Guinny company) dined together and very merry.

12 Nov 1665. After dinner I by water to the Duke of Albemarle (age 56), and there had a little discourse and business with him, chiefly to receive his commands about pilotts to be got for our Hambro' ships, going now at this time of the year convoy to the merchant ships, that have lain at great pain and charge, some three, some four months at Harwich [Map] for a convoy. They hope here the plague will be less this weeke.

12 Nov 1665. Thence back by water to Captain Cocke's (age 48), and there he and I spent a great deale of the evening as we had done of the day reading and discoursing over part of Mr. Stillingfleet's (age 30) "Origines Sacrae", wherein many things are very good and some frivolous.

12 Nov 1665. Thence by and by he and I to Mrs. Penington's, but she was gone to bed. So we back and walked a while, and then to his house and to supper, and then broke up, and I home to my lodging to bed.

13 Nov 1665. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning, and at noon to Captain Cocke's (age 48) to dinner as we had appointed in order to settle our business of accounts. But here came in an Alderman, a merchant, a very merry man, and we dined, and, he being gone, after dinner Cocke (age 48) and I walked into the garden, and there after a little discourse he did undertake under his hand to secure me in £500 profit, for my share of the profit of what we have bought of the prize goods. We agreed upon the terms, which were easier on my side than I expected, and so with extraordinary inward joy we parted till the evening.

13 Nov 1665. So I to the office and among other business prepared a deed for him to sign and seale to me about our agreement, which at night I got him to come and sign and seale, and so he and I to Glanville's (age 47), and there he and I sat talking and playing with Mrs. Penington, whom we found undrest in her smocke and petticoats by the fireside, and there we drank and laughed, and she willingly suffered me to put my hand in her bosom very wantonly, and keep it there long. Which methought was very strange, and I looked upon myself as a man mightily deceived in a lady, for I could not have thought she could have suffered it, by her former discourse with me; so modest she seemed and I know not what.

13 Nov 1665. We staid here late, and so home after he and I had walked till past midnight, a bright moonshine, clear, cool night, before his door by the water, and so I home after one of the clock.

14 Nov 1665. Back by water, it raining hard, and so to the office, and stopped my going, as I intended, to the buoy of the Nore, and great reason I had to rejoice at it, for it proved the night of as great a storme as was almost ever remembered.

14 Nov 1665. Late at the office, and so home to bed. This day, calling at Mr. Rawlinson's (age 51) to know how all did there, I hear that my pretty grocer's wife, Mrs. Beversham, over the way there, her husband is lately dead of the plague at Bow, which I am sorry for, for fear of losing her neighbourhood.

15 Nov 1665. Up and all the morning at the office, busy, and at noon to the King's Head [Map] taverne, where all the Trinity House, Deptford [Map] dined to-day, to choose a new Master in the room of Hurlestone, that is dead, and Captain Crispe is chosen. But, Lord! to see how Sir W. Batten (age 64) governs all and tramples upon Hurlestone, but I am confident the Company will grow the worse for that man's death, for now Batten (age 64), and in him a lazy, corrupt, doating rogue, will have all the sway there.

15 Nov 1665. After dinner who comes in but my Lady Batten, and a troop of a dozen women almost, and expected, as I found afterward, to be made mighty much of, but nobody minded them; but the best jest was, that when they saw themselves not regarded, they would go away, and it was horrible foule weather; and my Lady Batten walking through the dirty lane with new spicke and span white shoes, she dropped one of her galoshes in the dirt, where it stuck, and she forced to go home without one, at which she was horribly vexed, and I led her; and after vexing her a little more in mirth, I parted, and to Glanville's (age 47), where I knew Sir John Robinson (age 50), Sir G. Smith (age 50), and Captain Cocke (age 48) were gone, and there, with the company of Mrs. Penington, whose father, I hear, was one of the Court of justice, and died prisoner, of the stone, in the Tower [Map], I made them, against their resolutions, to stay from houre to houre till it was almost midnight, and a furious, darke and rainy, and windy, stormy night, and, which was best, I, with drinking small beer, made them all drunk drinking wine, at which Sir John Robinson (age 50) made great sport.

16 Nov 1665. Up, and fitted myself for my journey down to the fleete, and sending my money and boy down by water to Eriffe, [Erith, Kent] I borrowed a horse of Mr. Boreman's son, and after having sat an houre laughing with my Lady Batten and Mrs. Turner (age 42), and eat and drank with them, I took horse and rode to Eriffe, where, after making a little visit to Madam Williams, who did give me information of W. Howe's having bought eight bags of precious stones taken from about the Dutch Vice-Admirall's neck, of which there were eight dyamonds which cost him £60,000 sterling, in India, and hoped to have made £2000 here for them. And that this is told by one that sold him one of the bags, which hath nothing but rubys in it, which he had for 35s.; and that it will be proved he hath made £125 of one stone that he bought. This she desired, and I resolved I would give my Lord Sandwich (age 40) notice of.

16 Nov 1665. So I on board my Lord Bruncker (age 45); and there he and Sir Edmund Pooly (age 46) carried me down into the hold of the India shipp, and there did show me the greatest wealth lie in confusion that a man can see in the world. Pepper scattered through every chink, you trod upon it; and in cloves and nutmegs, I walked above the knees; whole rooms full. And silk in bales, and boxes of copper-plate, one of which I saw opened.

16 Nov 1665. Having seen this, which was as noble a sight as ever I saw in my life, I away on board the other ship in despair to get the pleasure-boat of the gentlemen there to carry me to the fleet. They were Mr. Ashburnham (age 61) and Colonell Wyndham; but pleading the King's business, they did presently agree I should have it.

16 Nov 1665. So I presently on board, and got under sail, and had a good bedd by the shift, of Wyndham's; and so,

17 Nov 1665. Sailed all night, and got down to Quinbrough [Map] water, where all the great ships are now come, and there on board my Lord, and was soon received with great content. And after some little discourse, he and I on board Sir W. Pen (age 44); and there held a council of Warr about many wants of the fleete, but chiefly how to get slopps and victuals for the fleete now going out to convoy our Hambro' ships, that have been so long detained for four or five months for want of convoy, which we did accommodate one way or other, and so, after much chatt, Sir W. Pen (age 44) did give us a very good and neat dinner, and better, I think, than ever I did see at his owne house at home in my life, and so was the other I eat with him.

17 Nov 1665. After dinner much talke, and about other things, he and I about his money for his prize goods, wherein I did give him a cool answer, but so as we did not disagree in words much, and so let that fall, and so followed my Lord Sandwich (age 40), who was gone a little before me on board the Royall James. And there spent an houre, my Lord playing upon the gittarr, which he now commends above all musique in the world, because it is base enough for a single voice, and is so portable and manageable without much trouble.

17 Nov 1665. That being done, I got my Lord to be alone, and so I fell to acquaint him with W. Howe's business, which he had before heard a little of from Captain Cocke (age 48), but made no great matter of it, but now he do, and resolves nothing less than to lay him by the heels, and seize on all he hath, saying that for this yeare or two he hath observed him so proud and conceited he could not endure him. But though I was not at all displeased with it, yet I prayed him to forbear doing anything therein till he heard from me again about it, and I had made more enquiry into the truth of it, which he agreed to. Then we fell to publique discourse, wherein was principally this: he cleared it to me beyond all doubt that Coventry (age 37) is his enemy, and has been long so. So that I am over that, and my Lord told it me upon my proposal of a friendship between them, which he says is impossible, and methinks that my Lord's displeasure about the report in print of the first fight was not of his making, but I perceive my Lord cannot forget it, nor the other think he can. I shewed him how advisable it were upon almost any terms for him to get quite off the sea employment. He answers me again that he agrees to it, but thinks the King (age 35) will not let him go off. He tells me he lacks now my Lord Orrery (age 44) to solicit it for him, who is very great with the King (age 35).

17 Nov 1665. As an infinite secret, my Lord tells me, the factions are high between the King (age 35) and the Duke (age 32), and all the Court are in an uproare with their loose amours; the Duke of Yorke (age 32) being in love desperately with Mrs. Stewart (age 18). Nay, that the Duchesse (age 28) herself is fallen in love with her new Master of the Horse, one Harry Sidney (age 24), and another, Harry Savill (age 23). So that God knows what will be the end of it. And that the Duke (age 32) is not so obsequious as he used to be, but very high of late; and would be glad to be in the head of an army as Generall; and that it is said that he do propose to go and command under the King of Spayne (age 4), in Flanders.

17 Nov 1665. That his amours to Mrs. Stewart (age 18) are told the King (age 35). So that all is like to be nought among them. That he knows that the Duke of Yorke (age 32) do give leave to have him spoken slightly of in his owne hearing, and doth not oppose it, and told me from what time he hath observed this to begin. So that upon the whole my Lord do concur to wish with all his heart that he could with any honour get from off the imployment.

17 Nov 1665. After he had given thanks to me for my kind visit and good counsel, on which he seems to set much by, I left him, and so away to my Bezan againe, and there to read in a pretty French book, "La Nouvelle Allegorique", upon the strife between rhetorique and its enemies, very pleasant. So, after supper, to sleepe, and sayled all night, and came to Erith, Kent before break of day.

18 Nov 1665. About nine of the clock, I went on shore, there (calling by the way only to look upon my Lord Bruncker (age 45)) to give Mrs. Williams (age 4) an account of her matters, and so hired an ill-favoured horse, and away to Greenwich, Kent [Map] to my lodgings, where I hear how rude the souldiers have been in my absence, swearing what they would do with me, which troubled me, but, however, after eating a bit I to the office and there very late writing letters, and so home and to bed.

19 Nov 1665. Lord's Day. Up, and after being trimmed, alone by water to Erith, Kent, all the way with my song book singing of Mr. Lawes's long recitative song in the beginning of his book. Being come there, on board my Lord Bruncker (age 45), I find Captain Cocke (age 48) and other company, the lady not well, and mighty merry we were; Sir Edmund Pooly (age 46) being very merry, and a right English gentleman, and one of the discontented Cavaliers, that think their loyalty is not considered.

19 Nov 1665. After dinner, all on shore to my Lady Williams (age 4), and there drank and talked; but, Lord! the most impertinent bold woman with my Lord that ever I did see. I did give her an account again of my business with my Lord touching W. Howe, and she did give me some more information about it, and examination taken about it, and so we parted and I took boat, and to Woolwich, Kent [Map], where we found my wife not well of them, and I out of humour begun to dislike her paynting, the last things not pleasing me so well as the former, but I blame myself for my being so little complaisant.

19 Nov 1665. So without eating or drinking, there being no wine (which vexed me too), we walked with a lanthorne to Greenwich, Kent [Map] and eat something at his house, and so home to bed.

20 Nov 1665. Up before day, and wrote some letters to go to my Lord, among others that about W. Howe, which I believe will turn him out, and so took horse for Nonsuch [Map], with two men with me, and the ways very bad, and the weather worse, for wind and rayne. But we got in good time thither, and I did get my tallys got ready, and thence, with as many as could go, to Yowell [Map], and there dined very well, and I saw my Besse, a very well-favoured country lass there, and after being very merry and having spent a piece I took horse, and by another way met with a very good road, but it rained hard and blew, but got home very well. Here I find Mr. Deering come to trouble me about business, which I soon dispatched and parted, he telling me that Luellin hath been dead this fortnight, of the plague, in St. Martin's Lane, which much surprised me.

21 Nov 1665. Up, and to the office, where all the morning doing business, and at noon home to dinner and quickly back again to the office, where very busy all the evening and late sent a long discourse to Mr. Coventry (age 37) by his desire about the regulating of the method of our payment of bills in the Navy, which will be very good, though, it may be, he did ayme principally at striking at Sir G. Carteret (age 55). So weary but pleased with this business being over I home to supper and to bed.

22 Nov 1665. Up, and by water to the Duke of Albemarle (age 56), and there did some little business, but most to shew myself, and mightily I am yet in his and Lord Craven's (age 57) books, and thence to the Swan [Map] and there drank and so down to the bridge, and so to the 'Change [Map], where spoke with many people, and about a great deale of business, which kept me late.

22 Nov 1665. This day the first of the Oxford Gazettes come out, which is very pretty, full of newes, and no folly in it. Wrote by Williamson (age 32).

22 Nov 1665. Fear that our Hambro' ships at last cannot go, because of the great frost, which we believe it is there, nor are our ships cleared at the Pillow [Pillau], which will keepe them there too all this winter, I fear. From the 'Change [Map], which is pretty full again, I to my office and there took some things, and so by water to my lodging at Greenwich, Kent [Map] and dined, and then to the office awhile and at night home to my lodgings, and took T. Willson and T. Hater with me, and there spent the evening till midnight discoursing and settling of our Victualling business, that thereby I might draw up instructions for the Surveyours and that we might be doing something to earne our money.

22 Nov 1665. This done I late to bed. Among other things it pleased me to have it demonstrated, that a Purser without professed cheating is a professed loser, twice as much as he gets.

23 Nov 1665. Up betimes, and so, being trimmed, I to get papers ready against Sir H. Cholmly (age 33) come to me by appointment, he being newly come over from Tangier. He did by and by come, and we settled all matters about his money, and he is a most satisfied man in me, and do declare his resolution to give me 200 per annum.

23 Nov 1665. It continuing to be a great frost, which gives us hope for a perfect cure of the plague, he and I to walk in the parke, and there discoursed with grief of the calamity of the times; how the King's service is performed, and how Tangier is governed by a man (age 51), who, though honourable, yet do mind his ways of getting and little else compared, which will never make the place flourish. I brought him and had a good dinner for him, and there come by chance Captain Cuttance, who tells me how W. Howe is laid by the heels, and confined to the Royall Katharine, and his things all seized and how, also, for a quarrel, which indeed the other night my Lord told me, Captain Ferrers, having cut all over the back of another of my Lord's servants, is parted from my Lord.

23 Nov 1665. I sent for little Mrs. Frances Tooker, and after they were gone I sat dallying with her an hour, doing what I would with my hands about her. And a very pretty creature it is.

23 Nov 1665. So in the evening to the office, where late writing letters, and at my lodging later writing for the last twelve days my Journall and so to bed. Great expectation what mischief more the French will do us, for we must fall out. We in extraordinary lacke of money and everything else to go to sea next year. My Lord Sandwich (age 40) is gone from the fleete yesterday toward Oxford.

24 Nov 1665. Up, and after doing some business at the office, I to London, and there, in my way, at my old oyster shop in Gracious Streete [Map], bought two barrels of my fine woman of the shop, who is alive after all the plague, which now is the first observation or inquiry we make at London concerning everybody we knew before it.

24 Nov 1665. So to the 'Change [Map], where very busy with several people, and mightily glad to see the 'Change [Map] so full, and hopes of another abatement still the next week. Off the 'Change [Map] I went home with Sir G. Smith (age 50) to dinner, sending for one of my barrels of oysters, which were good, though come from Colchester [Map], where the plague hath been so much. Here a very brave dinner, though no invitation; and, Lord! to see how I am treated, that come from so mean a beginning, is matter of wonder to me. But it is God's great mercy to me, and His blessing upon my taking pains, and being punctual in my dealings.

24 Nov 1665. After dinner Captain Cocke (age 48) and I about some business, and then with my other barrel of oysters home to Greenwich, Kent [Map], sent them by water to Mrs. Penington, while he and I landed, and visited Mr. Evelyn (age 45), where most excellent discourse with him; among other things he showed me a ledger of a Treasurer of the Navy, his great grandfather, just 100 years old; which I seemed mighty fond of, and he did present me with it, which I take as a great rarity; and he hopes to find me more, older than it. He also shewed us several letters of the old Lord of Leicester's, in Queen Elizabeth's time, under the very hand-writing of Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Mary, Queen of Scotts; and others, very venerable names.

24 Nov 1665. But, Lord! how poorly, methinks, they wrote in those days, and in what plain uncut paper.

24 Nov 1665. Thence, Cocke (age 48) having sent for his coach, we to Mrs. Penington, and there sat and talked and eat our oysters with great pleasure, and so home to my lodging late and to bed.

25 Nov 1665. Up, and busy at the office all day long, saving dinner time, and in the afternoon also very late at my office, and so home to bed. All our business is now about our Hambro fleete, whether it can go or no this yeare, the weather being set in frosty, and the whole stay being for want of Pilotts now, which I have wrote to the Trinity House, Deptford [Map] about, but have so poor an account from them, that I did acquaint Sir W. Coventry (age 37) with it this post.

26 Nov 1665. Lord's Day. Up, though very late abed, yet before day to dress myself to go toward Erith, Kent, which I would do by land, it being a horrible cold frost to go by water: so borrowed two horses of Mr. Hovell and his friend, and with much ado set out, after my horses being frosted¹ (which I know not what it means to this day), and my boy having lost one of my spurs and stockings, carrying them to the smith's; but I borrowed a stocking, and so got up, and Mr. Tooker with me, and rode to Erith, Kent, and there on board my Lord Bruncker (age 45), met Sir W. Warren upon his business, among others, and did a great deale, Sir J. Minnes (age 66), as God would have it, not being there to hinder us with his impertinences.

Note 1. Frosting means, having the horses' shoes turned up by the smith.

26 Nov 1665. Business done, we to dinner very merry, there being there Sir Edmund Pooly (age 46), a very worthy gentleman. They are now come to the copper boxes in the prizes, and hope to have ended all this weeke.

26 Nov 1665. After dinner took leave, and on shore to Madam Williams, to give her an account of my Lord's letter to me about Howe, who he has clapped by the heels on suspicion of having the jewells, and she did give me my Lord Bruncker's (age 45) examination of the fellow, that declares his having them; and so away, Sir W. Warren riding with me, and the way being very bad, that is, hard and slippery by reason of the frost, so we could not come to past Woolwich, Kent [Map] till night. However, having a great mind to have gone to the Duke of Albemarle (age 56), I endeavoured to have gone farther, but the night come on and no going, so I 'light and sent my horse by Tooker, and returned on foot to my wife at Woolwich, Kent [Map], where I found, as I had directed, a good dinner to be made against to-morrow, and invited guests in the yarde, meaning to be merry, in order to her taking leave, for she intends to come in a day or two to me for altogether.

26 Nov 1665. But here, they tell me, one of the houses behind them is infected, and I was fain to stand there a great while, to have their back-door opened, but they could not, having locked them fast, against any passing through, so was forced to pass by them again, close to their sicke beds, which they were removing out of the house, which troubled me; so I made them uninvite their guests, and to resolve of coming all away to me to-morrow, and I walked with a lanthorne, weary as I was, to Greenwich, Kent [Map]; but it was a fine walke, it being a hard frost, and so to Captain Cocke's (age 48), but he I found had sent for me to come to him to Mrs. Penington's, and there I went, and we were very merry, and supped, and Cocke (age 48) being sleepy he went away betimes. I stayed alone talking and playing with her till past midnight, she suffering me whatever 'ego voulais avec ses mamilles [to do whatever I wanted with her breasts].... Much pleased with her company we parted, and I home to bed at past one, all people being in bed thinking I would have staid out of town all night.

27 Nov 1665. Up, and being to go to wait on the Duke of Albemarle (age 56), who is to go out of towne to Oxford to-morrow, and I being unwilling to go by water, it being bitter cold, walked it with my landlady's little boy Christopher to Lambeth, it being a very fine walke and calling at half the way and drank, and so to the Duke of Albemarle (age 56), who is visited by every body against his going; and mighty kind to me: and upon my desiring his grace to give me his kind word to the Duke of Yorke (age 32), if any occasion there were of speaking of me, he told me he had reason to do so; for there had been nothing done in the Navy without me.

27 Nov 1665. His going, I hear, is upon putting the sea business into order, and, as some say, and people of his owne family, that he is agog to go to sea himself the next year. Here I met with a letter from Sir G. Carteret (age 55), who is come to Cranborne, that he will be here this afternoon and desires me to be with him. So the Duke would have me dine with him.

27 Nov 1665. So it being not dinner time, I to the Swan [Map], and there found Sarah all alone in the house.... So away to the Duke of Albemarle (age 56) again, and there to dinner, he most exceeding kind to me to the observation of all that are there. At dinner comes Sir G. Carteret (age 55) and dines with us.

27 Nov 1665. After dinner a great deal alone with Sir G. Carteret (age 55), who tells me that my Lord hath received still worse and worse usage from some base people about the Court. But the King (age 35) is very kind, and the Duke do not appear the contrary; and my Chancellor (age 56) swore to him "by--I will not forsake my Lord of Sandwich (age 40)". Our next discourse is upon this Act for money, about which Sir G. Carteret (age 55) comes to see what money can be got upon it. But none can be got, which pleases him the thoughts of, for, if the Exchequer should succeede in this, his office would faile. But I am apt to think at this time of hurry and plague and want of trade, no money will be got upon a new way which few understand. We walked, Cocke (age 48) and I, through the Parke with him, and so we being to meet the Vice-Chamberlayne to-morrow at Nonsuch [Map], to treat with Sir Robert Long (age 65) about the same business, I into London, it being dark night, by a hackney coach; the first I have durst to go in many a day, and with great pain now for fear. But it being unsafe to go by water in the dark and frosty cold, and unable being weary with my morning walke to go on foot, this was my only way. Few people yet in the streets, nor shops open, here and there twenty in a place almost; though not above five or sixe o'clock at night.

27 Nov 1665. So to Viner's (age 34), and there heard of Cocke (age 48), and found him at the Pope's Head, drinking with Temple. I to them, where the Goldsmiths do decry the new Act, for money to be all brought into the Exchequer, and paid out thence, saying they will not advance one farthing upon it; and indeed it is their interest to say and do so.

27 Nov 1665. Thence Cocke (age 48) and I to Sir G. Smith's (age 50), it being now night, and there up to his chamber and sat talking, and I barbing [shaving] against to-morrow; and anon, at nine at night, comes to us Sir G. Smith (age 50) and the Lieutenant of the Tower (age 50), and there they sat talking and drinking till past midnight, and mighty merry we were, the Lieutenant of the Tower (age 50) being in a mighty vein of singing, and he hath a very good eare and strong voice, but no manner of skill. Sir G. Smith (age 50) shewed me his lady's closett, which was very fine; and, after being very merry, here I lay in a noble chamber, and mighty highly treated, the first time I have lain in London a long time.

28 Nov 1665. Up before day, and Cocke (age 48) and I took a hackney coach appointed with four horses to take us up, and so carried us over London Bridge [Map]. But there, thinking of some business, I did 'light at the foot of the bridge, and by helpe of a candle at a stall, where some payers were at work, I wrote a letter to Mr. Hater, and never knew so great an instance of the usefulness of carrying pen and ink and wax about one: so we, the way being very bad, to Nonsuch [Map], and thence to Sir Robert Longs (age 65) house; a fine place, and dinner time ere we got thither; but we had breakfasted a little at Mr. Gawden's, he being out of towne though, and there borrowed Dr. Taylor's (age 52) sermons, and is a most excellent booke and worth my buying, where had a very good dinner, and curiously dressed, and here a couple of ladies, kinswomen of his, not handsome though, but rich, that knew me by report of The. Turner (age 13), and mighty merry we were.

28 Nov 1665. After dinner to talk of our business, the Act of Parliament, where in short I see Sir R. Long (age 65) mighty fierce in the great good qualities of it. But in that and many other things he was stiff in, I think without much judgement, or the judgement I expected from him, and already they have evaded the necessity of bringing people into the Exchequer with their bills to be paid there. Sir G. Carteret (age 55) is titched [fretful, tetchy] at this, yet resolves with me to make the best use we can of this Act for the King (age 35), but all our care, we think, will not render it as it should be. He did again here alone discourse with me about my Lord, and is himself strongly for my Lord's not going to sea, which I am glad to hear and did confirm him in it. He tells me too that he talked last night with the Duke of Albemarle (age 56) about my Lord Sandwich (age 40), by the by making him sensible that it is his interest to preserve his old friends, which he confessed he had reason to do, for he knows that ill offices were doing of him, and that he honoured my Lord Sandwich (age 40) with all his heart.

28 Nov 1665. After this discourse we parted, and all of us broke up and we parted. Captain Cocke (age 48) and I through Wandsworth, Surrey. Drank at Sir Allen Broderick's (age 42), a great friend and comrade of Cocke's (age 48), whom he values above the world for a witty companion, and I believe he is so.

28 Nov 1665. So to Fox-Hall and there took boat, and down to the Old Swan [Map], and thence to Lombard Street [Map], it being darke night, and thence to the Tower. Took boat and down to Greenwich, Kent [Map], Cocke (age 48) and I, he home and I to the office, where did a little business, and then to my lodgings, where my wife is come, and I am well pleased with it, only much trouble in those lodgings we have, the mistresse of the house being so deadly dear in everything we have; so that we do resolve to remove home soon as we know how the plague goes this weeke, which we hope will be a good decrease. So to bed.

29 Nov 1665. Up, my wife and I talking how to dispose of our goods, and resolved upon sending our two mayds Alce (who has been a day or two at Woolwich, Kent [Map] with my wife, thinking to have had a feast there) and Susan home. So my wife after dinner did take them to London with some goods, and I in the afternoon after doing other business did go also by agreement to meet Captain Cocke (age 48) and from him to Sir Roger Cuttance, about the money due from Cocke (age 48) to him for the late prize goods, wherein Sir Roger is troubled that he hath not payment as agreed, and the other, that he must pay without being secured in the quiett possession of them, but some accommodation to both, I think, will be found. But Cocke (age 48) do tell me that several have begged so much of the King (age 35) to be discovered out of stolen prize goods and so I am afeard we shall hereafter have trouble, therefore I will get myself free of them as soon as I can and my money paid.

29 Nov 1665. Thence home to my house, calling my wife, where the poor wretch is putting things in a way to be ready for our coming home, and so by water together to Greenwich, Kent [Map], and so spent the night together.

30 Nov 1665. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon comes Sir Thomas Allen (age 32), and I made him dine with me, and very friendly he is, and a good man, I think, but one that professes he loves to get and to save. He dined with my wife and me and Mrs. Barbary, whom my wife brings along with her from Woolwich, Kent [Map] for as long as she stays here.