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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 walk an hour in the garden before the house； talking of my Lord Sandwich's business； what enemies he hath； and how they have endeavoured to bespatter him： and particularly about his leaving of 30 ships of the enemy； when Pen would have gone； and my Lord called him back again： which is most false。 However； he says； it was purposed by some hot…heads in the House of Commons； at the same time when they voted a present to the Duke of York； to have voted 10；000l。 to the Prince； and half…a…crowne to my Lord of Sandwich； but nothing come of it。 But； for all this； the King is most firme to my Lord； and so is my Lord Chancellor； and my Lord Arlington。 The Prince； in appearance； kind； the Duke of York silent； says no hurt； but admits others to say it in his hearing。 Sir W。 Pen； the falsest rascal that ever was in the world； and that this afternoon the Duke of Albemarle did tell him that Pen was a very cowardly rogue； and one that hath brought all these rogueish fanatick Captains into the fleet； and swears he should never go out with the fleet again。 That Sir W。 Coventry is most kind to Pen still； and says nothing not do any thing openly to the prejudice of my Lord。 He agrees with me； that it is impossible for the King to set out a fleet again the next year； and that he fears all will come to ruine； there being no money in prospect but these prizes； which will bring； it may be 20；000l。； but that will signify nothing in the world for it。
9th。 The Bill of Mortality； to all our griefs； is encreased 399 this week； and the encrease generally through the whole City and suburbs； which makes us all sad。
14th。 Captain Cocke and I in his coach through Kent…streete； （a sad place through the plague； people sitting sick and with plaisters about them in the street begging。）
15th。 The plague； blessed be God！ is decreased 400； making the whole this week but 1300 and odd： for which the Lord be praised！
16th。 To Eriffe； where after making a little visit to Madam Williams； she did give me information of W。 How's having bought eight bags of precious stones taken from about the Dutch Vice… admirall's neck； of which there were eight dyamonds which cost him 4000l。 sterling； in India； and hoped to have made 12；000l。 here for them。 And that this is told by one that sold him one of the bags； which hath nothing but rubys in it； which he had for 35s。； and that it will be proved he hath made 125l。； of one stone that he bought。 This she desired； and I resolved I would give my Lord Sandwich notice of。 So I on board my Lord Brouncker； and there he and Sir Edmund Pooly carried me down into the hold of the India shipp； and there did show me the greatest wealth lie in confusion that a man can see in the world。 Pepper scattered through every chink； you trod upon it； and in cloves and nutmegs； I walked above the knees： whole rooms full。 And silk in bales； and boxes of copper…plate； one of which I saw opened。 Having seen this； which was as noble a sight as ever I saw in my life； I away on board the other ship in despair to get the pleasure…boat of the gentlemen there to carry me to the fleet。 They were Mr。 Ashburnham ＇John Ashburnham； a Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles I。 whom he attended during the whole of the Rebellion； and afterwards filled the same post under Charles II。 He was in 1661 M。P； for Sussex； and ob。 1671。＇ and Colonell Wyndham； but pleading the King's business； they did presently agree I should have it。 So I presently on board； and got under sail； and had a good bedd by the shift； of Wyndham's； and so sailed all night； and got down to Quinbrough water； where all the great ships are now come； and there on board my Lord； and was soon received with great content。 And after some little discourse； he and I on board Sir W。 Pen； and there held a council of Warr about many wants of the fleet； and so followed my Lord Sandwich； who was gone a little before me on board the Royall James。 And there spent an hour； my Lord playing upon the gittarr； which he now commends above all musique in the world。 As an infinite secret； my