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siness with the Duke of York。
13th。 Up； and down to Tower Wharfe； and there； with Balty and labourers from Deptford； did get my goods housed well at home。 So down to Deptford again to fetch the rest； and there eat a bit of dinner at the Globe； with the master of the Bezan with me； while the labourers went to dinner。 Here I hear that this poor town do bury still of the plague seven or eight in a day。 So to Sir G。 Carteret's to work； and there did to my content ship off in the Bezan all the rest of my goods； saving my pictures and fine things； that I will bring home in wherrys when the house is fit to receive them： and so home； and unload them by carts and hands before night； to my exceeding satisfaction： and so after supper to bed in my house； the first time I have lain there。
14th。 Up； and to work； having carpenters come to help in setting up bedsteads and hangings； and at that trade my people and I all the morning； till pressed by publick business to leave them against my will in the afternoon： and yet I was troubled in being at home； to see all my goods lie up and down the house in a bad condition； and strange workmen going to and fro might take what they would almost。 All the afternoon busy； and Sir W。 Coventry come to me； and found me； as God would have it； in my office； and people about me setting my papers to rights； and there discoursed about getting an account ready against the Parliament； and thereby did create me infinity of business and to be done on a sudden； which troubled me； but； however； he being gone； I about it late； and to good purpose。 and so home； having this day also got my wine out of the ground again； and set it in my cellar； but with great pain to keep the porters that carried it in from observing the money…chests there。
13th。 Captain Cocke says be hath computed that the rents of the houses lost this fire in the City comes to 600；000l。 per annum； that this will make the Parliament more quiet than otherwise they would have been； and give the King a more ready supply； that the supply must be by excise； as it is in Holland； that the Parliament will see it necessary to carry on the war； that the late storm hindered our beating the Dutch fleet； who were gone out only to satisfy the people； having no business to do but to avoid us； that the French； as late in the year as it is； are coming； that the Dutch are really in bad condition； but that this unhappiness of ours do give them heart： that there was a late difference between my Lord Arlington and Sir W。 Coventry about neglect in the latter to send away an express of the other's in time； that it come before the King； and the Duke of York concerned himself in it； but this fire hath stopped it。 The Dutch fleet is not gone home； but rather to the North； and so dangerous to our Gottenburgh fleet。 That the Parliament is likely to fall foul upon some persons； and； among others； on the Vice…chamberlaine； ＇Sir G。 Carteret。＇ though we both believe with little ground。 That certainly never so great a loss as this was borne so well by citizens in the world； he believing that not one merchant upon the 'Change will break upon it。 That he do not apprehend there will be any disturbances in State upon it； for that all men are busy in looking after their own business to save themselves。 He gone； I to finish my letters； and home to bed； and find to my infinite joy many rooms clean； and myself and wife lie in our own chamber again。 But much terrified in the nights now…a…days with dreams of fire； and falling down of houses。
17th。 Up betimes； and shaved myself after a week's growth： but； Lord！ how ugly I was yesterday and how fine to…day！ By water； seeing the City all the way； a sad sight indeed； much fire being still in。 Sir W。 Coventry was in great pain lest the French fleet should be passed by our fleet； who had notice of them on Saturday； and were preparing to go meet them； but their minds altered； and judged them merchant…men； when the same day the Success； Captain Ball； made their whole fleet； and come to Brighthelmstone； and thence at five o'clock afternoon； Saturday； wrote Sir W。 Coventry news thereof； so that we do much fear our missing them。 Hence come in and talked with him Sir Thomas Clifford； ＇Eldest son of Hugh Clifford； Esq。； of Ugbrooke； M。P。 for Totness； 1661； and knighted for his conduct in the sea…fight 1665。 After filling several high offices； he was in 1672 created Baron Clifford of Chudleigh； and constituted High Treasurer； which place he resigned the following year； a few months before his death。＇ who appears a very fine gentleman； and much set by at Court for his activity in going to sea； and stoutness every where； and stirring up and down。
18th。 This day the Parliament met； and adjourned till Friday； when the King will be with them。
19th。 To St。 James's； and did our usual business before the Duke of York； which signified little； our business being only complaints of lack of money。 Here I saw a bastard of the late King of Sweden's come to kiss his hands； a mighty modish French… like gentleman。 Thence to White Hall with Sir W。 Batten and W。 Pen； to Wilkes's； and there did hear many stories of Sir Henry Wood。 ＇Clerk of the Spicery to Charles I。； and； after the Restoration； Clerk to the Board of Green Cloth。＇ About Lord Norwich drawing a tooth at a health。 Another time； he and Pinchbacke and Dr。 Goffe； ＇Dr。 Gough； Clerk of the Queen's Closet； and her Assistant Confessor。＇ now a religious man： Pinchbacke did begin a frolick to drink out of a glass with a toad in it： he did it without harm。 Goffe； who knew sacke would kill the toad； called for sack； and when he saw it dead； says he； 〃I will have a quick toad； and will not drink from a dead toad。〃 By that means； no other being to be found； he escaped the health。
20th。 The fleet is come into the Downes。 Nothing done； nor French fleet seen： we drove all from our anchors。 But Sir G。 Carteret says news is come that De Ruyter is dead； or very near it； of a hurt in his mouth； upon the discharge of one of his own guns： which put him into a fever； and he likely to die； if not already dead。
21st。 The Parliament meet to…day； and the King to be with them。 At the office； about our accounts； which now draw near the time they should be ready； the House having ordered Sir G。 Carteret； upon his offering them； to bring them in on Saturday next。
23rd。 Mr。 Wayth and I by water to White Hall； and there at Sir G。 Carteret's lodgings Sir W。 Coventry met； and we did debate the whole business of our accounts to the Parliament； where it appears to us that the charge of the war from September 1； 1664； to this Michaelmas； will have been but 3；200；000l。； and we have paid in that time somewhat about 2；200；000l。； so that we owe above 900；000l。： but our method of accounting； though it cannot； I believe； be far wide from the mark； yet will not abide a strict examination if the Parliament should be troublesome。 There happened a pretty question of Sir W。 Coventry； whether this account of ours will not put my Lord Treasurer to a difficulty to tell what is become of all the money the Parliament have given in this time for the war； which hath amounted to about 4；000；000l。 which nob