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to Southwarke; and took boat on the other side the bridge; and so to Westminster; thinking to shift myself; being all in dirt from top to bottom; but could not there find any place to buy a shirt or a pair of gloves; Westminster Hall being full of people's goods; those in Westminster having removed all their goods; and the Exchequer money put into vessels to carry to Nonsuch 'Nonsuch House near Epsom; where the Exchequer had formerly been kept。' but to the Swan; and there was trimmed: and then to White Hall; but saw nobody; and so home。 A sad sight to see how the River looks: no houses nor church near it; to the Temple; where it stopped。 At home; did go with Sir W。 Batten; and our neighbour; Knightly; (who; with one more; was the only man of any fashion left in all the neighbourhood thereabouts; they all removing their goods; and leaving their houses to the mercy of the fire;) to Sir R。 Ford's; and there dined in an earthen plattera fried breast of mutton; a great many of us; but very merry; and indeed as good a meal; though as ugly a one; as ever I had in my life。 Thence down to Deptford; and there with great satisfaction landed all my goods at Sir G。 Carteret's safe; and nothing missed I could see or hear。 This being done to my great content; I home; and to Sir W。 Batten's; and there with Sir R。 Ford; Mr。 Knightly; and one Withers; a professed lying rogue; supped well; and mighty merry; and our fears over。 From them to the office and there slept with the office full of labourers; who talked; and slept; and walked all night long there。 But strange it is to see Clothworkers' Hall on fire these three days and nights in one body of flame; it being the cellar full of oyle。
7th。 Up by five o'clock; and; blessed be God! find all well; and by water to Pane's Wharfe。 Walked thence; and saw all the towne burned; and a miserable sight of Paul's church; with all the roofs fallen; and the body of the quire fallen into St。 Fayth's; Paul's school also; Ludgate; and Fleet…street。 My father's house; and the church; and a good part of the Temple the like。 So to Creed's lodging; near the New Exchange; and there find him laid down upon a bed; the house all unfurnished; there being fears of the fire's coming to them。 There I borrowed a shirt of him; and washed。 To Sir W。 Coventry; at St。 James's; who lay without curtains; having removed all his goods; as the King at White Hall; and every body had done; and was doing。 He hopes we shall have no public distractions upon this fire; which is what every body fears; because of the talk of the French having a hand in it。 And it is a proper time for discontents; but all men's minds are full of care to protect themselves; and save their goods: the militia is in arms every where。 Our fleetes; he tells me; have been is sight one of another; and most unhappily by fowle weather were parted; to our great loss; as in reason they do conclude; the Dutch being come out only to make a shew; and please their people; but in very bad condition as to stores; victuals; and men。 They are at Boulogne; and our fleet come to St。 Ellen's。 We have got nothing; but have lost one ship; but he knows not what。 Thence to the Swan; and there drank; and so home; and find all well。 My Lord Brouncker; at Sir W。 Batten's; tells us the Generall is sent for up; to come to advise with the King about business at this juncture; and to keep all quiet; which is great honour to him; but I am sure is but a piece of dissimulation。 So home; and did give orders for my house to be made clean; and then down to Woolwich; and there find all well。 Dined; and Mrs。 Markham come to see my wife。 This day our Merchants first met at Gresham College; which; by proclamation; is to be their Exchange。 Strange to hear what is bid for houses; all up and down here; a friend of Sir W。 Rider's having 150l。 for what he used to let for 40l。 per annum。 Much dispute where the Custome…house shall be; thereby the growth of the City again to be foreseen。 My Lord Treasurer; they say; and others; would have it at the other end of the town。 I home late to Sir W。 Pen's; who did give me a bed; but without curtains or hangings; all being down。 So here I went the first time into a naked bed; only my drawers on; and did sleep pretty well: but still both sleeping and waking had a fear of fire in my heart; that I took little rest。 People do all the world over cry out of the simplicity of my Lord Mayor in generall; and more particularly in this business of the fire; laying it all upon him。 A proclamation is come out for markets to be kept at Leadenhall and Mile…end…greene; and several other places about the town; and Tower…hill; and all churches to be set open to receive poor people。
8th。 I stopped with Sir G。 Carteret to desire him to go with us; and to enquire after money。 But the first he cannot do; and the other as little; or say 〃When we can get any; or what shall we do for it?〃 He; it seems; is employed in the correspondence between the City and the King every day; in settling of things。 I find him full of trouble; to think how things will go。 I left him; and to St。 James's; where we met first at Sir W。 Coventry's chamber; and there did what business we could; without any books。 Our discourse; as every thing else; was confused。 The fleet is at Portsmouth; there staying a wind to carry them to the Downes; or towards Boulogne; where they say the Dutch fleet is gone; and stays。 We concluded upon private meetings for a while; not having any money to satisfy any people that may come to us。 I bought two eeles upon the Thames; cost me six shillings。 Thence with Sir W。 Batten to the Cock…pit; whither the Duke of Albemarle is come。 It seems the King holds him so necessary at this time; that he hath sent for him; and will keep him here。 Indeed; his interest in the City; being acquainted; and his care in keeping things quiet; is reckoned that wherein he will be very serviceable。 We to him: he is courted in appearance by every body。 He very kind to us; and I perceive he lays by all business of the fleet at present; and minds the City; and is now hastening to Gresham College; to discourse with the Aldermen。 Sir W。 Batten and I home; (where met by my brother John; come to town to see how things are done with us;) and then presently he with me to Gresham College; where infinity of people; partly through novelty to see the new place; and partly to find out and hear what has become one man of another。 I met with many people undone; and more that have extraordinary great losses。 People speaking their thoughts variously about the beginning of the fire; and the rebuilding of the City。 Then to Sir W。 Batten's and took my brother with me; and there dined with a great company of neighbours; and much good discourse; among others; of the low spirits of some rich men in the City; in sparing any encouragement to the poor people that wrought for the saving their houses。 Among others; Alderman Starling; a very rich man; without children; the fire at next door to him in our lane; after our men had saved his house; did give 2s。 6d。 among thirty of them; and did quarrel with some that would remove the rubbish out of the way of the fire; saying that they come to steal。 Sir W。 Coventry told me of another this morning in Holborne; which he showed the King: that when it was offered to stop the fire near his house for such a reward that come but to 2s。 6d。 a man among the neighbours he would give but 18d。 Thence to Bednall Green by coach; my brother with me; and saw all well there; and fetched away my journall…book to enter for five days past。 I was much frighted and kept awake in my bed; by some noise I heard a great while below stairs; and the boys not coming up to me when I knocked。 It was by their discovery of some people stealing of some neighbours' wine that lay in vessels in the streets。 So to sleep; and all well all night。
9th。 Sunday。 Up; and was trimmed; and sent my brother to Woolwich to my wife; to dine with her。 I to church; where our parson made a melancholy but good sermon; and many and most in the church cried; specially the women。 The church mighty full; but few of fashion; and most strangers。 To church again; and there preached Dean H