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s is a trouble to me what to do with it； being myself this day going to be wholly at Woolwich； but for the present I am resolved to venture it in an iron chest； at least for a while。
30th； Abroad； and met with Hadley； our clerke； who； upon my asking how the plague goes； told me it encreases much； and much in our parish； for； says he； there died nine this week； though I have returned but six： which is a very ill practice； and makes me think it is so in other places； and therefore the plague much greater than people take it to be。 I went forth and walked towards Moorefields to see （God forgive my presumption！） whether I could see any dead corpse going to the grave； but； as God would have it； did not。 But； Lord！ how every body looks； and discourse in the street is of death； and nothing else； and few people going up and down； that the town is like a place distressed and forsaken。
31st。 Up； and after putting several things in order to my removal to Woolwich； the plague having a great encrease this week beyond all expectation of almost 2000； making the general Bill 7000； odd 100； and the plague above 6000。 Thus this month ends with great sadness upon the publick； through the greatness of the plague every where through the kingdom almost。 Every day sadder and sadder news of its encrease。 In the City died this week 7496； and of them 6102 of the plague。 But it is feared that the true number of the dead this week is near 10；000； partly from the poor that cannot be taken notice of； through the greatness of the number； and partly from the Quakers and others that will not have any bell ring for them。 Our fleet gone out to find the Dutch； we having about 100 sail in our fleet； and in them the Soveraigne one； so that it is a better fleet than the former with which the Duke was。 All our fear is that the Dutch should be got in before them； which would be a very great sorrow to the publick； and to me particularly； for my Lord Sandwich's sake。 A great deal of money being spent； and the kingdom not in a condition to spare； nor a parliament without much difficulty to meet to give more； And to that； to have it said； what hath been done by our late fleets？ As to myself I am very well； only in fear of the plague； and as much of an ague by being forced to go early and late to Woolwich； and my family to lie their continually。 My late gettings have been very great to my great content； and am likely to have yet a few more profitable jobbs in a little while； for which Tangier and Sir W。 Warren I am wholly obliged to。
Sept。 3； 1665 （Lord's day）。 Up； and put on my coloured silk suit very fine； and my new periwigg； bought a good while since； but durst not wear； because the plague was in Westminster when I bought it； and it is a wonder what will be the fashion after the plague is done； as to periwiggs； for nobody will dare to buy any haire； for fear of the infection； that it had been cut off the heads of people dead of the plague。 My Lord Brouncker； Sir J。 Minnes； and I up to the Vestry at the desire of the Justices of the Peace； in order to the doing something for the keeping of the plague from growing； but Lord！ to consider the madness of people of the town； who will （because they are forbid） come in crowds along with the dead corpses to see them buried； but we agreed on some orders for the prevention thereof。 Among other stories； one was very passionate； methought； of a complaint brought against a man in the town for taking a child from London from an infected house。 Alderman Hooker told us it was the child of a very able citizen in Gracious Street； a saddler； who had buried all the rest of his children of the plague； and himself and wife now being shut up and in despair of escaping； did desire only to save the life of this little child； and so prevailed to have it received stark…naked into the arms of a friend； who brought it （having put it into new fresh clothes） to Greenwich； where upon hearing the story； we did agree it should be permitted to be received and kept in the town。
4th。 Walked home； my Lord Brouncker giving me a very neat cane to walk with； but it troubled me to pass by Coome farme where about twenty…one people have died of the plague。
5th。 After dinner comes Colonel Blunt in his new chariot made with springs； as that was of wicker； wherein a while since we rode at his house。 And he hath rode； he says； now his journey； many miles in it with one horse； and out…drives any coach； and out…goes any horse； and so easy； he says。 So for curiosity I went into it to try it； and up the hill to the heath； and over the cart…ruts and found it pretty well； but not so easy as he pretends。
6th。 To London； to pack up more things； and there I saw fires burning in the streets； as it is through the whole City； by the Lord Mayor's order。 Thence by water to the Duke of Albemarle's： all the way fires on each side of the Thames； and strange to see in broad daylight two or three burials upon the Bankeside； one at the very heels of another： doubtless all of the plague； and yet at least forty or fifty people going； along with every one of them。 The Duke mighty pleasant with me； telling me that he is certainly informed； that the Dutch were not come home upon the 1st instant； and so he hopes our fleet may meet with them。
7th。 To the Tower； and there sent for the Weekly Bill； and find 8252 dead in all； and of them 6978 of the plague； which is a most dreadful number； and shows reason to fear that the plague hath got that hold that it will yet continue amongst us。 To Swakely ＇Swakeley House； in the parish of Ickenham； Middlesex； was built in 1638 by Sir Edmund Wright； whose daughter marrying Sir James Harrington； one of Charles I。's judges； he became possessed of it； JURE UXORIS。 Sir Robert Vyner Bart。； to whom the property was sold in 1665； entertained Charles II。 at Guildhall； when Lord Mayor。 The house is now the residence of Thomas Clarke； Esq。； whose father in 1750 bought the estate of Mr。 Lethieullier； to whom it had been alienated by the Vyner family。LYSONS'S ENVIRONS。＇ to Sir R。 Viner's。 A very pleasant place； bought by him of Sir James Harrington's lady。 He took us up and down with great respect； and showed us all his house and grounds； and it is a place not very moderne in the garden nor house； but the most uniforme in all that ever I saw； and some things to excess。 Pretty to see over the screene of the hall （put up by Sir J。 Harrington； a Long Parliament man） the King's head； and my Lord of Essex ＇The Parliament General。＇ on one side； and Fairfax on the other； and upon the other side of the screene； the parson of the parish； and the lord of the manor and his sisters。 The window…cases； door…cases； and chimnys of all the house are marble。 He showed me a black boy that he had； that died of a consumption； and being dead； he caused him to be dried in an oven； and lies there entire in a box。 By and by to dinner； where his lady I find yet handsome； but hath been a very handsome woman： now is old。 Hath brought him near 100；000l。 and now lives； no man in England in greater plenty； and commands both King and Council with his credit he gives them。 After dinner Sir Robert led us up to his long gallery； very fine； abo