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as I used to be。
23rd。 To White Hall； where I had the opportunity to take leave of the Prince； and again of the Duke of Albemarle； and saw them kiss the King's hands and the Duke's； and much content indeed； there seems to be in all people at their going to sea； and they promise themselves much good from them。 This morning the House of Parliament do meet； only to adjourne again till winter。 The plague； I hear； encreases in the town much； and exceedingly in the country every where。 Bonfires in the street； for being St。George's day； and the King's Coronation； and the day of the Prince and Duke's going to sea。
25th。 I to the office； where Mr。 Prin come to meet about the Chest…business； and till company come； did discourse with me a good while in the garden about the laws of England； telling me the main faults in them； and among others； their obscurity through multitude of long statutes； which he is about to abstract out of all of a sort； and as he lives； and Parliaments come； get them put into laws； and the other statutes repealed； and then it will be a short work to know the law。 Having supped upon the leads； to bed。 The plague； blessed be God！ is decreased sixteen this week。
29th。 To Mr。 Evelyn's； where I walked in his garden till he come from Church； with great pleasure reading Ridly's discourse； all my way going and coming； upon the Civill and Ecclesiastical Law。 He being come home； he and I walked together in the garden with mighty pleasure； he being a very ingenious man； and the more I know him the more I love him。
30th。 I after dinner to even all my accounts of this month； and bless God； I find myself； notwithstanding great expences of late； viz。 80l。 now to pay for a necklace； near 40l。 for a set of chairs and couch； near 40l。 for my three pictures： yet I do gather； and am worth 5200l。 My wife comes home by and by； and hath pitched upon a necklace with three rows； which is a very good one； and 80l。 is the price。 So ends this month with great layings…out。 Good health and gettings； and advanced well in the whole of my estate； for which God make me thankful！
May 1； 1666。 At noon； my cosen Thomas Pepys did come to me； to consult about the business of his being a Justice of the Peace； which he is much against； and among other reasons； tells me； as a confidant； that he is not free to exercise punishment according to the Act against Quakers and other people； for religion。 Nor do he understand Latin； and so is not capable of the place as formerly； now all warrants do run in Latin。 Nor he in Kent； though he be of Deptford parish； his house standing in Surry。 However； I did bring him to incline towards it； if he be pressed to take it。 I do think it may be some repute to me to have my kinsman in Commission there； specially； if he behave himself to content in the country。
12th。 Met Sir G。 Downing on White Hall bridge； and there walked half an hour； talking of the success of the late new Act； and indeed it is very much； that that hath stood really in the room of 800；000l。 ＇There appears to be some error in these figures。＇ now since Christmas； being itself but 1；250；000l。 And so I do really take it to be a very considerable thing done by him； for the beginning； end； and every part of it； is to be imputed to him。 The fleet is not yet gone from the Nore。 The plague encreases in many places； and is 53 this week with us。
13th。 Into St。 Margett's ＇St。 Margaret's。＇ Church； where I heard a young man play the fool upon the doctrine of Purgatory。
16th。 I to my Lord Crowe's； who is very lately come to town； and he talked for half an hour of the business of the warr； wherein he is very doubtful； from our want of money； that we shall fail。 And I do concur with him therein。 After some little discourse of ordinary matters； I away to Sir Philip Warwick's again； and he was come in； and gone out to my Lord Treasurer's； whither I followed him； and there my business was； to be told that my Lord Treasurer hath got 10；000l。 for us in the Navy； to answer our great necessities； which I did thank him for； but the sum is not considerable。 The five brothers Houblons came； and Mr。 Hill； to my house； and a very good supper we had； and good discourse with great pleasure。 My new plate sets off my cupboard very nobly。 Here they were till about eleven at night： and a fine sight it is to see these five brothers thus loving one to another； and all industrious merchants。
＇Two of these brothers； Sir James and Sir John Houblon； Knts。 and Aldermen； rose to great wealth； the former represented the City of London； and the latter became Lord Mayor in 1695。 The following epitaph； in memory of their father； who was interred in the church of St。 Mary Woolnoth； is here inserted； as having been written by Mr。 Pepys：…
Jacobus Houblon Londin。 Petri filius； Ob fidem Flandria exulantis： Ex C。 Nepotibus habuit LXX superstites： Filios V。 videns mercatores florentissimos； Ipse Londinensis Bursae Pater。 Plissime obiit Nonagenarius； A。D。 MDCLXXXII。＇
19th。 Mr。 Deane and I did discourse about his ship Rupert； built by him there； which succeeds so well as he hath got great honour by it； and I some by recommending him； the King； Duke； and every body； saying it is the best ship that was ever built。 And then he fell to explain to me his manner of casting the draught of water which a ship will draw beforehand： which is a secret the King and all admire in him； and he is the first that hath come to any certainty beforehand of foretelling the draught of water of a ship before she be launched
20th。 I discoursed awhile with Mr。 Yeabsly； whom I met and took up in my coach with me； and who hath this day presented my Lord Ashly with 100l。 to bespeak his friendship to him in his accounts now before us； and my Lord hath received； and so I believe is as bad； as to bribes； as what the world says of him。
21st。 I away in some haste to my Lord Ashly； where it is stupendous to see how favourably； and yet closely； my Lord Ashly carries himself to Mr。 Yeabsly； in his business； so as I think we shall do his business for him in very good manner。 But it is a most extraordinary thing to observe； and that which I would not but have had the observation of for a great deal of money。
23rd。 Towards White Hall； calling in my way on my Lord Bellasses； ＇John Lord Bellassis； second son of Thomas Viscount Falconberg； an officer of distinction on the King's side； during the Civil War。 He was afterwards Governor of Tangier； and Captain of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners。 Being a Catholic； the Test Act deprived him of all his appointments in 1672； but James II； in 1684； made him first Commissioner of the Treasury。 Ob； 1689。＇ where I come to his bedside； and he did give me a full and long account of his matters； how he kept them at Tangier。 Declares himself fully satisfied with my care： seems cunningly to argue for encreasing the number of men there。 Told me the whole story of his gains by the Turky prizes； which he owns he hath got about 5000l。 by。 Promised me the same profits Povy was to have had； and in fine； I find him a pretty subtle man； and so I left him。 Staid at Sir G。 Carteret's chamber till the Council rose； and then he and I； by agreemen