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to say； the then Chiefe Justice； ＇Sir Edward Montagu； ob。 1556。＇ and his son and the Lord Montagu； who was father ＇I think this should be brother； as Edward first Lord Montagu and Sir Sidney Montagu were both sons of the second Sir Edward Montagu。＇ to Sir Sidney； ＇Master of the Requests to Charles 1st。＇ who was his father。 And yet； what is more wonderfull； he did assure us from the mouth of my Lord Montagu himself； that in King James's time； （when he had a mind to get the King to cut off the entayle of some land which was given in Harry the VIIIth。's time to the family； with the remainder in the Crowne；） he did answer the King in showing how unlikely it was that ever it could revert to the Crown； but that it would be a present convenience to him； and did show that at that time there were 4000 persons derived from the very body of the Chiefe Justice。 It seems the number of daughters in the family had been very great； and they too had most of them many children； and grandchildren； and great…grand…children。 This he tells as a most known and certain truth。
25th。 Found ourselves come to the fleet； and so aboard the Prince； and there； after a good while in discourse； we did agree a bargain of 5000l。 for my Lord Sandwich for silk； cinnamon； nutmegs； and indigo。 And I was near signing to an undertaking for the payment of the whole sum： but I did by chance escape it； having since； upon second thoughts； great cause to be glad of it； reflecting upon the craft and not good condition； it may be of； Captain Cocke。
27th。 To Captain Cocke's； and （he not yet come from town） to Mr。 Evelyn； where much company； and thence in his coach with him to the Duke of Albemarle by Lambeth； who was in a mighty pleasant humour； and tells us that the Dutch do stay abroad； and our fleet must go out again； or be ready to do so。 Here we got several things ordered as we desired for the relief of the prisoners； and sick and wounded men。 Here I saw this week's Bill of Mortality； wherein； blessed be God！ there is above 1800 decrease； being the first considerable decrease we have had。 Most excellent discourse with Mr。 Evelyn touching all manner of learning； wherein I find him a very fine gentleman； and particularly of paynting； in which he tells me the beautifull Mrs。 Middleton is rare； and his own wife do brave things。
29th。 Sir Martin Noell ＇He had been a Farmer of the Excise and Customs before the Restoration。 The messenger described in Hudibras； Part III。 Canto II。 1407； as disturbing the Cabal with the account of the mobs burning Rumps； is said to have keen intended for Sir Martin Noell。＇ is this day dead of the plague in London。
October 1； 1665。 Embarked on board the Bezan； and come to the fleet about two of the clock。 My Lord received us mighty kindly； and did discourse to us of the Dutch fleet being abroad； eighty… five of them still。
2nd。 Having sailed all night； （and I do wonder how they in the dark could find the way） we got by morning to Gillingham； and thence all walked to Chatham； and there with Commissioner Pett viewed the Yard； and among other things； a team of four horses come close by us； he being with me； drawing a piece of timber that I am confident one man could easily have carried upon his back； I made the horses be taken away； and a man or two to take the timber away with their hands。
3rd。 Sir W。 Batten is gone this day to meet to adjourne the Parliament to Oxford。 This night I hear that of our two watermen that used to carry our letters； and were well on Saturday last； one is dead； and the other dying sick of the plague； the plague； though decreasing elsewhere； yet being greater about the Tower and thereabouts。
4th。 This night comes Sir George Smith to see me at the office； and tells me how the plague is decreased this week 740； for which God be praised！ but that it encreases at our end of the town still。
5th。 Read a book of Mr。 Evelyn's translating and sending me as a present； about directions for gathering a Library； but the book is above my reach； but his epistle to my Lord Chancellor is a very fine piece。 Then to Mr。 Evelyn's to discourse of our confounded business of prisoners； and sick and wounded seamen； wherein he and we are so much put out of order。 And here he showed me his gardens； which are for variety of evergreens； and hedge of holly； the finest things I ever saw in my life。 Thence in his coach to Greenwich； and there to my office； all the way having fine discourse of trees and the nature of vegetables。
7th。 Did business； though not much； at the office； because of the horrible crowd and lamentable moan of the poor seamen that lie starving in the streets for lack of money。 Which do trouble and perplex me to the heart； and more at noon when we were to go through them； for then above a whole hundred of them followed us； some cursing； some swearing； and some praying to us。 At night come two waggons from Rochester with more goods from Captain Cocke； and in housing them come two of the Custom…house； and did seize them： but I showed them my TRANSIRE。 However； after some angry words； we locked them up； and sealed up the key； and did give it to the constable to keep till Monday； and so parted。 But； Lord！ to think how the poor constable come to me in the dark going home； 〃Sir；〃 says he； 〃I have the key； and if you would have me do any service for you； send for me betimes to… morrow morning； and I will do what you would have me。〃 Whether the fellow do this out of kindness or knavery； I cannot tell； but it is pretty to observe。 Talking with him in the high way； come close by the bearers with a dead corpse of the plague； but； Lord！ to see what custom is； that I am come almost to think nothing of it。
8th。 To the office； where ended my business with the Captains； and I think of twenty…two ships we shall make shift to get out seven。 （God help us！ men being sick； or provisions lacking。）
9th。 Called upon by Sir John Shaw to whom I did give a civil answer about our prize goods； that all his dues as one of the Farmers of the Customes are paid； and showed him our TRANSIRE； with which he was satisfied； and parted。
11th； We met Mr。 Seamour； one of the Commissioners for Prizes； and a Parliament…man； and he was mighty high； and had now seized our goods on their behalf； and he mighty imperiously would have all forfeited。 But I could not but think it odd that a Parliament…man； in a serious discourse before such persons as we and my Lord Brouncker； and Sir John Minnes； should quote Hudibras； as being the book I doubt he hath read most。
12th。 Good news this week that there are about 600 less dead of the plague than the last。
13th。 Sir Jer。 Smith； ＇A distinguished Naval Officer； made a Commissioner of the Navy； vice Sir W。 Pen； 1669。＇ to see me in his way to Court； and a good man he is； and one that I must keep fair with。
14th。 My heart and head to…night is full of the Victualling business； being overjoyed and proud at my success in my proposal about it； it being read before the King； Duke； and the Caball with complete applause and satisfaction。 This Sir G。 Carteret and Sir W。 Coventry both writ me。 My own proper accounts are in great disorder； having been neglected about