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。 Coventry both writ me。 My own proper accounts are in great disorder； having been neglected about a month。 This； and the fear of the sickness； and providing for my family； do fill my head very full； besides the infinite business of the office； and nobody here to look after it but myself。
15th。 The Parliament； it seems； have voted the King 1；250；000l。 at 50；000l。 per month； tax for the war； and voted to assist the King against the Dutch； and all that shall adhere to them； and thanks to be given him for his care of the Duke of York； which last is a very popular vote on the Duke's behalf。 The taxes of the last assessment； which should have been in good part gathered； are not yet laid； and that even in part of the City of London； and the Chimny…money comes almost to nothing； nor any thing else looked after。
16th。 I walked to the Tower； but； Lord！ how empty the streets are and melancholy； so many poor sick people in the streets full of sores； and so many sad stories overheard as I walk； every body talking of this dead； and that man sick； and so many in this place； and so many in that。 And they tell me that； in Westminster； there is never a physician and but one apothecary left； all being dead； but that there are great hopes of a great decrease this week： God send it！ At the Tower found my Lord Duke and Duchesse at dinner； so I sat down。 And much good cheer； the Lieutenant and his lady； and several officers with the Duke。 But； Lord！ to hear the silly talk was there； would make one mad； the Duke having none almost but fools about him。 I have received letters from my Lord Sandwich today； speaking very high about the prize goods； that he would have us to fear nobody； but be very confident in what we have done； and not to confess any fault or doubt of what he hath done； for the King hath allowed it； and do now confirm it； and send orders； as he says； for nothing to be disturbed that his Lordshipp hath ordered therein as to the division of the goods to the fleet which do comfort us。 Much talk there is of the Chancellor's speech and the King's at the Parliament's meeting； which are very well liked； and that we shall certainly； by their speeches； fall out with France at this time； together with the Dutch； which will find us work。
26th。 Sir Christopher Mings and I together by water to the Tower； and I find him a very witty well…spoken fellow； and mighty free to tell his parentage； being a shoemaker's son。 I to the 'Change； where I hear how the French have taken two and sunk one of our merchant…men in the Straights； and carried the ships to Toulon： so that there is no expectation but we must fall out with them。 The 'Change pretty full； and the town begins to be lively again； though the streets very empty； and most shops shut。
27th。 The Duke of Albemarle proposed to me from Mr。 Coventry； that I should be Surveyor…Generall of the Victualling business； which I accepted。 But； indeed； the terms in which Mr。 Coventry proposes it for me are the most obliging that ever I could expect from any man； and more； he saying that I am the fittest man in England； and that he is sure； if I will undertake； I will perform it： and that it will be also a very desirable thing that I might have this encouragement； my encouragement in the Navy alone being in no wise proportionable to my pains or deserts。 This； added to the letter I had three days since from Mr。 Southerne； ＇Secretary to Sir W。 Coventry。＇ signifying that the Duke of York had in his master's absence opened my letters； and commanded him to tell me that he did approve of my being the Surveyor…General； do make me joyful beyond myself that I cannot express it； to see that as I do take pains； so God blesses me； and hath sent me masters that do observe that I take pains。
28th。 The Parliament hath given the Duke of York 120；000l。； to be paid him after 1；250；000l。 is gathered upon the tax which they have now given the King。 He tells me that the Dutch have lately launched sixteen new ships； all which is great news。 The King and Court； they say； have now finally resolved to spend nothing upon clothes； but what is of the growth of England； which； if observed； will be very pleasing to the people； and very good for them。
29th。 In the street did overtake and almost run upon two women crying and carrying a man's coffin between them。 I suppose the husband； of one of them； which； methinks； is a sad thing。
31st。 Meeting yesterday the Searchers with their rods in their hands coming from Captain Cocke's house； I did overhear them say that his Black did not die of the plague。 About nine at night I come home； and anon comes Mrs。 Coleman ＇Probably the person mentioned in the following extract from MALONE'S ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH STAGE。 〃In 1659 or 60； in imitation of foreign theatres； women were first introduced on the scene。 In 1656； indeed； Mrs。 Coleman； wife to Mr。 Edward Coleman； represented Ianthe in the first part of the Siege of Rhodes： but the little she had to say was spoken in recitative。〃＇ and her husband； and she sung very finely； though her voice is decayed as to strength but mighty sweet though soft； and a pleasant jolly woman； and in mighty good humour。 She sung part of the Opera； though she would not own she did get any of it without book in order to the stage。 Thus we end the month。 The whole number of deaths being 1388； and of them of the plague； 1031。 Want of money in the Navy puts every thing out of order。 Men grow mutinous； and nobody here to mind the business of the Navy but myself。 I in great hopes of my place of Surveyor…General of the Victualling； which will bring me 300l。 per annum。
November 1； 1665。 My Lord Brouncker with us to Mrs。 William's lodgings； and Sir W。 Batten； Sir Edmund Pooly； ＇M。P。 for Bury St。 Edmunds； and in the list of proposed Knights of the Royal Oak for Suffolk。＇ 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。
5th。 By water to Deptford； and there made a visit to Mr。 Evelyn； 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 Gardenage； 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 an 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。
6th。 Sir G。 Carteret and I did