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e Sir W。 Pen and I in his coach Tiburne way into the Park； where a horrid dust； and number of coaches； without pleasure or order。 That which we and almost all went for was to see my Lady Newcastle； which we could not； she being followed and crowded upon by coaches all the way she went； that nobody could come near her； only I could see she was in a large black coach adorned with silver instead of gold； and so white curtains； and every thing black and white； and herself in her cap。 Sir W。 Pen did give me an account this afternoon of his design of buying Sir Robert Brookes's fine house at Wansted： which I so wondered at； and did give him reasons against it； which he allowed of： and told me that he did intend to pull down the house and build a less； and that he should get 1500l。 by the old house； and I know not what fooleries。 But I will never believe he ever intended to buy it； for my part； though he troubled Mr。 Gauden to go and look upon it； and advise him in it；
3rd。 To the Duke of York's chamber； which； as it is now fretted at the top； and the chimney…piece made handsome； is one of the noblest and best…proportioned rooms that ever； I think I saw。 To Westminster by coach： the Cofferer ＇Mr。 Ashburnham。＇ telling us odd stories how he was dealt with by the men of the Church at Westminster in taking a lease of them at the King's coming in； and particularly the devilish covetousness of Dr。 Busby。 ＇Richard Busby； D。D。； Master of Westminster School； and in 1660 made a Prebendary of Westminster。 Notwithstanding the character given of him here； he was a liberal benefactor to Christ Church； Oxford； and Lichfield Cathedral。 Ob。 1695；； aged 89。＇ Took a turn with my old acquaintance Mr。 Pechell； whose red nose makes me ashamed to be seen with him； though otherwise a good…natured man。 This day the news is come that the fleet of the Dutch； of about 20 ships； which come upon our coasts upon design to have intercepted our colliers （but by good luck failed）； is gone to the Frith； and there lies； perhaps to trouble the Scotch privateers； which have galled them of late very much； it may be more than all our last year's fleet。
5th。 Sir John Robinson tells me he hath now got a street ordered to be continued； forty feet broad； from Paul's through Cannon… street to the Tower； which will be very fine。 He and others this day； where I was in the afternoon； do tell me of at least six or eight fires within these few days； and continually stirs of fire； and real fires there have been； in one place or other； almost ever since the late great fire； as if there was a fate sent people for fire。 I walked over the Park to Sir W。 Coventry's。 We talked of Tangier； of which he is ashamed； also that it should put the King to this charge for no good in the world： and now a man going over that is a good soldier； but a debauched man； which the place need not to have。 And so used these words： 〃That this place was to the King as my Lord Carnarvon ＇Charles Dormer succeeded his father； who fell at the battle of Newbury； as Earl of Carnarvon。 Ob。 s。p。 1709。＇ says of wood； that it is an excrescence of the earth provided by God for the payment of debts。 〃This day Sir W。 Coventry tells me the Dutch fleet shot some shot； four or five hundred； into Burnt Island in the Frith； but without any hurt； and so are gone。
7th。 To St。 James's； but there find Sir W。 Coventry gone out betimes this morning on horseback with the King and Duke of York to Putny…heath； to run some horses。
8th。 In our street； at the Three Tuns Tavern； I find a great hubbub： and what was it but two brothers had fallen out； and one killed the other？ And who should they be but the two Fieldings？ one whereof； Bazill； was page to my Lady Sandwich； and he hath killed the other； himself being very drunk； and so is sent to Newgate。
10th。 At noon to Kent's； at the Three Tuns Tavern： and there the constable of the parish did show us the picklocks and dice that were found in the dead man's pocket； and but 18d。 in money； and a table…book； wherein were entered the names of several places where he was to go； and among others his house； where he was to dine； and did dine yesterday。 And after dinner went into the church； and there saw his corpse with the wound in his left breast； a sad spectacle； and a broad wound； which makes my hand now shake to write of it。 His brother intending； it seems； to kill the coachman； who did not please him； this fellow stepped in and took away his sword； who thereupon took out his knife； which was of the fashion； with a falchion blade； and a little cross at the hilt like a dagger； and with that stabbed him。 Drove hard towards Clerkenwell； thinking to have overtaken my Lady Newcastle； whom I saw before us in her coach； with 100 boys and girls running looking upon her； but I could； not： and so she got home before I could come up to her。 But I will get a time to see her。
12th。 Walked over the fields to Kingsland； and back again； a walk； I think； I have not taken these twenty years； but puts me in mind of my boy's time when I boarded at Kingsland； and used to shoot with my bow and arrows in these fields。
13th。 This morning come Sir H。 Cholmly to me for a tally or two； and tells me that he hears that we are by agreement to give the King of France Nova Scotia； which he do not like： but I do not know the importance of it。 Sir Philip Warwick do please himself like a good man to tell some of the good ejaculations of my Lord Treasurer concerning the little worth of this world； to buy it with so much pain； and other things fit for a dying man。
14th。 To my Lord Chancellor's； where I met Mr。 Povy expecting the coming of the rest of the Commissioners for Tangier。 Here I understand how the two Dukes； both the only sons of the Duke of York； are sick even to danger； and that on Sunday last they were both so ill； as that the poor Duchesse was in doubt which would die： the Duke of Cambridge； of some general disease； the other little Duke； whose title I know not； of the convulsion fits； of which he had four this morning。 Fear that either of them might be dead； did make us think that it was the occasion that the Duke of York and others were not come to the meeting of the Commission which was designed； and my Lord Chancellor did expect。 And it was pretty to observe how； when my Lord sent down to St。 James's to see why the Duke of York come not； and Mr。 Povy； who went； returned； my Lord did ask （not how the Princes or the Dukes do； as other people do； but） 〃How do the Children？〃 which methought was mighty great； and like a great man and grandfather。 I find every body mightily concerned for these children； as a matter wherein the State is much concerned that they should live。
16th。 I away with Sir G。 Carteret to London； talking all the way； and he do tell me that the business of my Lord Hinchingbroke his marriage with my Lord Burlington's daughter； is concluded on by all friends； and that my Lady is now told of it； and do mightily please herself with it： which I am mightily glad of。 News still that my Lord Treasurer is so ill as not to be any man of this world； and it is said that the Treasury shall be managed by Commission。 I would to God Sir G。 Carteret； or my Lord Sandwich； be in it！ But the latter is the more fit for it。
16th。 This being Holy Thursday； when the boys go our procession round the parish； we were to go to the Three Tuns Tavern to dine with the rest of the parish； where all the parish almost was； Sir Andrew Rickard and others； and of our house； J。 Minnes； W。 Batten； W。 Pen； and myself： and Mr。 Mills did sit uppermost at the table。 Sir John Fredricke ＇Lord Mayor of London 1662； and President of Christ's Hospital。 His eldest son； John； was created a Baronet 1723。＇ and Sir R。 Ford did talk of Paul's School； which； they tell me； must be taken away； and then I fear it will be long before another place； such as they say is promised； is found： but they do say that the honour of their Company ＇The Mercers' Company； under whose superintendence St。 Paul's school was placed by the Founder。＇ is concerned in the doing of it； and that it is a thing that they are obliged to do。 To my Lord Treasurer's； where I find the porter crying； and suspected it