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r against the Palace…gate： yet people do think that the number will be fewer in the town than it was the last week。 The Dutch are come out again with 20 sail under Banker； supposed gone to the Northward to meet their East India fleet。
21st。 I find our tallys will not be money in less than sixteen months； which is a sad thing for the King to pay all that interest for every penny he spends； and； which is strange； the goldsmiths with whom I spoke； do declare that they will not be moved to part with money upon the increase of their consideration of ten per cent； which they have。 I find all the town almost going out of town； the coaches and waggons being all full of people going into the country。
23rd。 To a Committee for Tangier； where unknown to me comes my Lord of Sandwich； who； it seems； come to town last night。 After the Committee was up； my Lord Sandwich did take me aside in the robe…chamber； telling me how much the Duke and Mr。 Coventry did； both in the fleet and here； make of him； and that in some opposition to the Prince； and as a more private message； he told me that he hath been with them both when they have made sport of the Prince and laughed at him： yet that all the discourse of the town； and the printed relation； should not give him one word of honour my Lord thinks very strange； he assuring me； that though by accident the Prince was in the van in the beginning of the fight for the first pass； yet all the rest of the day my Lord was in the van； and continued so。 That notwithstanding all this noise of the Prince； he had hardly a shot in his side or a man killed； whereas he above 30 in her hull； and not one mast whole nor yard： but the most battered ship of the fleet； and lost most men； saving Captain Smith of the Mary。 That the most the Duke did was almost out of gun…shot： but that； indeed； the Duke did come up to my Lord's rescue after he had a great while fought with four of them。 How poorly Sir John Lawson performed； notwithstanding all that was said of him； and how his ship turned out of the way while Sir J。 Lawson himself was upon the deck； to the endangering of the whole fleet。 From that discourse my Lord did begin to tell me how much he was concerned to dispose of his children； and would have my advice and help； and propounded to match my Lady Jemimah to Sir G。 Carteret's eldest son； ＇Philip Carteret； afterwards knighted。 He perished on board Lord Sandwich's flag ship at the battle of Solebay。＇ which I approved of； and did undertake the speaking with him about it as from myself； which my Lord liked。 Home by hackney…coach； which is become a very dangerous passage now…a…days； the sickness encreasing mightily。
24th。 To Dr。 Clerke's； and there I in the best manner I could； broke my errand about a match between Sir G。 Carteret's eldest son and my Lord Sandwich's eldest daughter； which he （as I knew he would） took with great content： and he did undertake to find out Sir George this morning； and put the business in execution； So I to White Hall； where I with Creed and Povy attended my Lord Treasurer； and did prevail with him to let us have an assignment for 15 or 20；000l。 which； I hope； will do our business for Tangier。 To Sir G。 Carteret； and in the best manner I could； moved the business： he received it with great respect and content； and thanks to me； and promised that he would do what he possibly could for his son； to render him fit for my Lord's daughter； and showed great kindness to me； and sense of my kindness to him herein。 Sir William Pen told me this day that Mr。 Coventry is to be sworn a Privy Counsellor； at which my soul is glad。
25th。 To White Hall； where； after I again visited G。 Carteret； and received his （and now his Lady's） full content in my proposal； my Lord Sandwich did direct me to return to Sir G。 Carteret； and give him thanks for his kind acceptation of this offer； and that he would the next day be willing to enter discourse with him shout the business。 My Lord； I perceive； intends to give 5000l。 with her； and expects about 8001。 per annum joynture。 To Greenwich by water； thinking to have visited Sir J。 Lawson； where； when I come； I find that he died this morning； and indeed the nation hath a great loss。 Mr。 Coventry； among other talk； entered about the great question now in the House about the Duke's going to sea again； about which the whole House is divided。 The plague encreases mightily； I this day seeing a house； at a bitt…maker's over against St。 Clement's Church； in the open street shut up； which is a sad sight。
28th。 I did take my leave of Sir William Coventry； who it seems was knighted； and sworn a Privy…Counsellor two days since； who with his old kindness treated me； and I believe I shall ever find a noble friend。 In my way to Westminster Hall； I observed several plague houses in King's street and the Palace。
29th。 To White Hall； where the Court full of waggons and people ready to go out of town。 This end of the town every day grows very bad of the plague。 The Mortality Bill is come to 267： which is about ninety more than the last： and of these but four in the City； which is a great blessing to us。 Took leave again of Mr。 Coventry； though I hope the Duke is not gone to stay； and so do others too。 Home； calling at Somerset House； where all were packing up too： the Queene Mother setting out for France this day to drink Bourbon waters this year； she being in a consumption； and intends not to come till winter come twelve… months。
30th。 Thus this book of two years ends。 Myself and family in good health； consisting of myself and wife； Mercer； her woman； Mary； Alice； and Susan our maids； and Tom my boy。 In a sickly time of the plague growing on。 Having upon my hands the troublesome care of the Treasury of Tangier； with great sums drawn upon me； and nothing to pay them with： also the business of the office great。 Considering of removing my wife to Woolwich； she lately busy in learning to paint； with great pleasure and successe。 All other things well； especially a new interest I am making； by a match in hand between the eldest son of Sir G。 Carteret； and my Lady Jemimah Montagu。 The Duke of York gone down to the fleet； but all suppose not with intent to stay there； as it is not fit； all men conceive； he should。
July 1； 1665。 Sad at the news that seven or eight houses in Burying Hall ＇Probably Basinghall。＇ street； are shut up of the plague。
2nd。 Sir G。 Carteret did send me word that the business between my Lord and him is fully agreed on； and is mightily liked of by the King and the Duke of York。 Sir G。 Lawson was buried late last night at St。 Dunstan's by us； without any company at all。
4th。 I hear this day the Duke and Prince Rupert are both come back from sea； and neither of them go back again。 Mr。 Coventry tells me how matters are ordered in the fleet： my Lord Sandwich goes Admiral； under him Sir G。 Ascue； and Sir T。 Teddiman： Vice Admiral； Sir W。 Pen； and under him Sir W。 Barkeley； and Sir Jos Jordan： Rear…Admiral； Sir Thomas Allen； and under him Sir Christopher Mings； and Captain Harman。 Walked round to White Hall； the Park being quite locked up； and I observed a house shut up this day in the Pell Mell； where here