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ereupon till the tools could be made for the new Minting in the present form。 Yet the interest he paid for that time come to 35；000l。 Viner having to his knowledge 10；000l。 for the use of 100；000l。 of it。
13th。 Away to the 'Change； and there hear the ill news； to my great and all our great trouble； that the plague is encreased again this week； notwithstanding there hath been a long day or two great frosts； but we hope it is only the effects of the late close warm weather； and if the frost continue the next week； may fall again； but the towne do thicken so much with people； that it is much if the plague do not grow again upon us。
15th。 Met with Sir James Bunch； ＇Probably James Bunce； an Alderman of London； 1660。＇ 〃This is the time for you；〃 says he； 〃that； were for Oliver heretofore； you are full of employment； and we poor Cavaliers sit still and can get nothing；〃 which was a pretty reproach I thought； but answered nothing to it； for fear of making it worse。
22nd。 I to my Lord Brouncker's； and there spent the evening by my desire in seeing his Lordship open to pieces and make up again his watch； thereby being taught what I never knew before； and it is a thing very well worth my having seen； and am mightily pleased and satisfied with it。
25th （Christmas day）。 To church in the morning； and there saw a wedding in the church； which I have not seen many a day； and the young people so merry one with another； and strange to see what delight we married people have to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition； every man and woman gazing and smiling at them。
26th。 Saw some fine writing work and flourishing of Mr。 Hore； with one that I knew long ago； an acquaintance of Mr。 Tomson's； at Westminster； that is this man's clerk。 It is the story of the several Archbishops of Canterbury； engrossed in vellum； to hang up in Canterbury Cathedrall in tables； in lieu of the old ones； which are almost worn out。
30th。 All the afternoon to my accounts； and there find myself； to my great joy； a great deal worth above 4000l。 for which the Lord be praised！ and is principally occasioned by my getting 500l。 of Cocke； for my profit in his bargains of prize goods； and from Mr。 Gauden's making me a present of 500l。 more； when I paid him 800l。 for Tangier。
31st。 Thus ends this year； to my great joy； in this manner。 I have raised my estate from 1300l。 in this year to 4400l。 I have got myself greater interest I think by my diligence； and my imployments encreased by that of Treasurer for Tangier； and Surveyor of the Victualls。 It is true we have gone through great melancholy because of the great plague； and I put to great charges by it； by keeping my family long at Woolwich； and myself and another part of my family； my clerks； at my charge at Greenwich； and a maid at London； but I hope the King will give us some satisfaction for that。 But now the plague is abated almost to nothing； and I intending to get to London as fast as I can。 The Dutch war goes on very ill； by reason of lack of money； having none to hope for； all being put into disorder by a new Act that is made as an experiment to bring credit to the Exchequer； for goods and money to be advanced upon the credit of that Act。 The great evil of this year； and the only one indeed； is the fall of my Lord of Sandwich； whose mistake about the prizes hath undone him； I believe； as to interest at Court； though sent （for a little palliating it） Embassador into Spayne； which he is now fitting himself for。 But the Duke of Albemarle goes with the Prince to sea this next year； and my Lord is very meanly spoken of； and； indeed； his miscarriage about the prize goods is not to be excused； to suffer a company of rogues to go away with ten times as much as himself； and the blame of all to be deservedly laid upon him。 My whole family hath been well all the while； and all my friends I know of； saving my aunt Bell； who is dead； and some children of my cosen Sarah's； of the plague。 But many of such as I know very well； dead； yet； to our great joy； the town fills apace； and shops begin to be open again。 Pray God continue the plague's decrease！ for that keeps the Court away from the place of business； and so all goes to rack as to publick matters； they at this distance not thinking of it。
1665…6。 JANUARY 3。 I to the Duke of Albemarle and back again： and at the Duke's with great joy I received the good news of the decrease of the plague this week to 70； and but 253 in all； which is the least Bill hath been known these twenty years in the City。 Through the want of people in London； is it that must make it so low below the ordinary number for Bills。
5th。 I with my Lord Brouncker and Mrs。 Williams by coach with four horses to London； to my Lord's house in Covent…Garden。 But； Lord！ what staring to see a nobleman's coach come to town。 And porters every where bow to us； and such begging of beggars！ And delightful it is to see the town full of people again； and shops begin to open； though in many places seven or eight together； and more； all shut； but yet the town is full； compared with what it used to be。 I mean the City end： for Covent…Garden and Westminster are yet very empty of people； no Court nor gentry being there。 Reading a discourse about the River of Thames； the reason of its being choked up in several places with shelfes： which is plain is by the encroachments made upon the River； and running out of causeways into the River at every wood…wharfe； which was not heretofore when Westminster Hall and White Hall were built； and Redriffe Church； which now are sometimes overflown with water。
7th。 The town talks of my Lord Craven being to come into Sir G。 Carteret's place； but sure it cannot be true。 But I do fear those two families； his and my Lord Sandwich's； are quite broken。 And I must now stand upon my own legs。
9th。 Pierce tells me how great a difference hath been between the Duke and Duchesse； he suspecting her to be naught with Mr。 Sidney。 But some way or other the matter is made up； but he was banished the Court； and the Duke for many days did not speak to the Duchesse at all。 He tells me that my Lord Sandwich is lost there at Court； though the King is particularly his friend。 But people do speak every where slightly of him； which is a sad story to me； but I hope it may be better again。 And that Sir G。 Carteret is neglected； and hath great enemies at work against him。 That matters must needs go bad； while all the town； and every boy in the street； openly cries； 〃The King cannot go away till my Lady Castlemaine be ready to come along with him；〃 she being lately put to bed。 But that he visits her and Mrs。 Stewart every morning before he eats his breakfast。
10th。 The plague is encreased this week from seventy to eighty… nine。 We have also great fear of our Hambrough fleet； of their meeting with the Dutch； as also have certain news； that by storms Sir Jer。 Smith's fleet is scattered； and three of them come without masts back to Plymouth。
13th。 Home with his Lordship to Mrs。 Williams's； in Covent… Garden； to dinner； （the first time I ever was there；） and there met Captain Cocke； and pretty merry； though not perfectly so； because of the fear that； there is of a great encrease again of the plague this week。 And again my Lord Brouncker do tell us； that he hath it from Sir John Baber； ＇Physician in Ordinary to the King。＇ who is related to my Lord Craven； that my Lord Craven do look after Sir G。 Carteret's place； and do reckon himself sure of it。
16th。 Mightily troubled at the news of the plague's being encreased； and was much the saddest news that the plague hath brought me from the beginning of it； because of the lateness of the year； and the fear； we may with reason have； of its continuing with us the next summer。 The total being now 375； and the plague 158。
17th。 I rode to Dagenhams in the dark。 It was my Lord Crewe's desire that I should come； and chiefly to discourse with me of my Lord Sandwich's matters； and therein to persuade； what I had done already； that my Lord should sue out a pardon for his business of the prizes； as also for Bergen； and all he hath done this year past； before he begins his Embassy to Spain。 For it is to be feared that