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DECEMBER 1； 1663。 After dinner I to Guild Hall to hear a trial at King's Bench； before Lord Chief Justice Hide； ＇Sir Robert Hyde。 Ob。 1665。＇ about the insurance of a ship； and it was pleasant to see what mad sort of testimonys the seamen did give； and could not be got to speak in order： and then their terms such as the Judge could not understand； and to hear how sillily the Counsel and Judge would speak as to the terms necessary in the matter； would make one laugh： and above all； a Frenchman that was forced to speak in French； and took an English oath he did not； understand； and had an interpreter sworn to tell us what he said； which was the best testimony of all。
3rd。 This day Sir G。 Carteret did tell us at the table； that the Navy （excepting what is due to the Yards upon the quarter now going on； and what few bills he hath not heard of；） is quite out of debt； which is extraordinary good news； and upon the 'Change to hear how our credit goes as good as any merchant's upon the 'Change is a joyfull thing to consider； which God continue！ I am sure the King will have the benefit of it； as well as we some peace and creditt。
7th。 I hear there was the last night the greatest tide that ever was remembered in England to have been in this river： all White Hall having been drowned。 At White Hall； and anon the King and Duke and Duchesse come to dinner in the vane…roome； where I never saw them before； but it seems since the tables are done； he dines there all…together。 The Queene is pretty well； and goes out of her chamber to her little chapel in the house。 The King of France； they say is hiring of sixty sail of ships of the Dutch； but it is not said for what design。
8th。 To White Hall； where a great while walked with my Lord Teviott； whom I find a most carefull； thoughtfull； and cunning man； as I also ever took him to be。 He is this day bringing in an account where he makes the King debtor to him 10；000l。 already on the garrison of Tangier account； but yet demands not ready money to pay it； but offers such ways of paying it out of the sale of old decayed provisions as will enrich him finely。
10th。 To St。 Paul's Church Yard； to my bookseller's； and could not tell whether to lay out my money for books of pleasure； as plays； which my nature was most earnest in； but at last； after seeing Chaucer； Dugdale's History of Paul's； Stow's London； Gesner； History of Trent； besides Shakespeare； Jonson； and Beaumont's plays； I at last chose Dr。 Fuller's Worthys； the Cabbala or Collections of Letters of State； and a little book； Delices de Hollande； with another little book or two； all of good use or serious pleasure； and Hudibras； both parts； the book now in greatest fashion for drollery； though I cannot； I confess； see enough where the wit lies。 My mind being thus settled； I went by link home； and so to my office； and to read in Rushworth； and so home to supper and to…bed。 Calling at Wotton's； my shoemaker's； to…day； he tells me that Sir H。 Wright is dying and that Harris is come to the Duke's house again； and of a rare play to be acted this week of Sir William Davenant's。 The story of Henry the Eighth with all his wives。
11th。 At the Coffee…house I went and sat by Mr。 Harrington； and some East country merchants； and talking of the country above Quinsborough； ＇Perhaps Mr。 Harrington invented the name of this place； and the account of the country。＇ and thereabouts； he told us himself that for fish； none there the poorest body will buy a dead fish； but must be alive； unless it be in the winter； and then they told us the manner of putting their nets into the water。 Through holes made in the thick ice； they will spread a net of half a mile long； and he hath known a hundred and thirty and a hundred and seventy barrels of fish taken at one draught。 And then the people come with sledges upon the ice； with snow at the bottome； and lay the fish in and cover them with snow； and so carry them to market。 And he hath seen when the said fish have been frozen in the sledge； so as he hath taken a fish and broke a…pieces； so hard it hath been； and yet the same fishes taken out of the snow； and brought into a hot room； still be alive and leap up and down。 Swallows are often brought up in their nets out of the mudd from under water； hanging together to some twigg or other； dead in ropes； and brought to the fire will come to life。 Fowl killed in December （Alderman Barker said） he did buy； and putting into the box under his sledge； did forget to take them out to eate till Aprill next； and they then were found there； and were through the frost as sweet and fresh and eat as well as at first killed。 Young beares appear there； their flesh sold in market as ordinarily as beef here； and is excellent sweet meat。 They tell us that beares there do never hurt any body； but fly away from you； unless you pursue and set upon them； but wolves do much mischief。 Mr。 Harrington told us how they do to get so much honey as they send abroad。 They make hollow a great fir…tree； leaving only a small slitt down straight in one place； and this they close up again； only leave a little hole； and there the bees go in and fill the bodys of those trees as full of wax and honey as they can hold； and the inhabitants at times go and open the slit； and take what they please without killing the bees； and so let them live there still and make more。 Fir trees are always planted close together； because of keeping one another from the violence of the windes； and when a fellit is made； they leave here and there a grown tree to preserve the young ones coming up。 The great entertainment and sport of the Duke of Corland； and the princes thereabouts； is hunting； which is not with dogs as we； but he appoints such a day； and summonses all the country people as to a campagnia； and by several companies gives every one their circuit； and they agree upon a place where the toyle is to be set； and so making fires every company as they go； they drive all the wild beasts； whether bears； wolves； foxes； swine； and stags； and roes； into the toyle； and there the great men have their stands in such and such places； and shoot at what they have a mind to； and that is their hunting。 They are not very populous there； by reason that people marry women seldom till they are towards or above thirty； and men thirty or forty； or more oftentimes； years old。 Against a public hunting the Duke sends that no wolves be killed by the people； and whatever harm they do； the Duke makes it good to the person that suffers it： as Mr。 Harrington instanced in a house were he lodged； where a wolfe broke into a hog…stye； and bit three or four great pieces off of the back of the hog； before the house could come to help it； and the man of the house told him that there were three or four wolves thereabouts that did them great hurt； but it was no matter； for the Duke was to make it good to him； otherwise he would kill them。
12th。 We had this morning a great dispute between Mr。 Gauden； Victualler of the Navy； and Sir J。 Lawson； and the rest of the Commanders going against Argier； about their fish and keeping of Lent； which Mr。 Gauden so much insists upon to have it observed； as being the only thing that makes up