nd； that in the fields we many times could not carry our bodies against it； but were driven backwards。 We went through Horslydowne； where I never was since a boy； that I went to enquire after my father； whom we did give over for lost coming from Holland。 It was dangerous to walk the streets； the bricks and tiles falling from the houses that the whole streets were covered with them； and whole chimneys； nay； whole houses in two or three places； blowed down。 But； above all； the pales of London…bridge on both sides were blown away； so that we were fain to stoop very low for fear of blowing off of the bridge。 We could see no boats in the Thames afloat； but what were broke loose； and carried through the bridge； it being ebbing water。 And the greatest sight of all was； among other parcels of ships driven here and there in clusters together； one was quite overset and lay with her masts all along in the water； and keel above water。
25th。 It is now certain that the King of France hath publickly declared war against us； and God knows how little fit we are for it。
28th。 Took coach； and to Hampton Court； where we find the King； and Duke； and Lords； all in council； so we walked up and down： there being none of the ladies come； and so much the more business I hope will be done。 The Council being up； out comes the King； and I kissed his hand； and he grasped me very kindly by the hand。 The Duke also； I kissed his； and he mighty kind； and Sir W。 Coventry。 I found my Lord Sandwich there； poor man！ I see with it melancholy face； and suffers his beard to grow on his upper lip more than usual。 I took him a little aside to know when I should wait on him； and where： he told me； and that it would be best to meet at his lodgings； without being seen to walk together。 Which I liked very well； and； Lord！ to see in what difficulty I stand； that I dare not walk with Sir W。 Coventry； for fear my Lord or Sir G。 Carteret should see me： nor with either of them； for fear Sir W。 Coventry should。 I went down into one of the Courts； and there met the King and Duke； and the Duke called me to him； And the King come to me of himself； and told me； 〃Mr。 Pepys；〃 says he； 〃I do give you thanks for your good service all this year； and I assure you I am very sensible of it。〃
29th。 Mr。 Evelyn and I into my Lord Brouncker's coach； and rode together with excellent discourse till we come to Clapham。 Talking of the vanity and vices of the Court； which makes it a most contemptible thing； and indeed in all his discourse I find him a most worthy person。 Particularly he entertained me with discourse of an Infirmary； which he hath projected for the sick and wounded seamen against the next year； which I mightily approve of； and will endeavour to promote it； being a worthy thing； and of use； and will save money。
30th。 This is the first time I have been in the church ＇Probably St。 Olave's； Hart Street。＇ since I left London for the plague； and it frighted me indeed to go through the church more than I thought it could have done； to see so many graves lie so high upon the churchyards where people have been buried of the plague。 I was much troubled at it； and do not think to go through it again a good while。
31st。 I find many about the City that live near the churchyards solicitous to have the churchyards covered with lime； and I think it is needfull； and ours I hope will be done。 To my Lord Chancellor's new house which he is building； only to view it； hearing so much from Mr。 Evelyn of it； and； indeed； it is the finest pile I ever did see in my life； and will be a glorious house。 To White Hall； and to my great joy people begin to bustle up and down there； the King holding his resolution to be in town to…morrow； and hath good encouragement； blessed be God！ to do so； the plague being decreased this week to 36； and the total to 227。
FEBRUARY 2； 1665…6。 My Lord Sandwich is come to town with the King and Duke。
4th。 （Lord's day；） and my wife and I the first time together at church since the plague； and now only because of Mr。 Mills his coming home to preach his first sermon； expecting a great excuse for his leaving the parish before any body went； and now staying till all are come home； but he made but a very poor and short excuse； and a bad sermon。 It was a frost； and had snowed last night； which covered the graves in the churchyard； so as I was the less afraid for going through。
8th。 Lord Brouncker with the King and Duke upon the water to… day； to see Greenwich house； and the yacht Castle is building of。
9th。 Thence to Westminster； to the Exchequer； about my Tangier business； and so to Westminster Hall； where the first day of the Terme and the hall very full of people； and much more than was expected； considering the plague that hath been。
11th （Lord's day）。 Up； and put on a new black cloth suit to an old coat that I make to be in mourning at Court； where they are all； for the King of Spain。 I to the Park； and walked two or three times of the Pell Mell with the company about the King and Duke： the Duke speaking to me a good deal。 There met Lord Brouncker and Mr。 Coventry； and discoursed about the Navy business； and all of us much at a loss that we yet can hear nothing of Sir Jeremy Smith's fleet； that went away to the Straights the middle of December； through all the storms that we have had since that have driven back three or four of them with their masts by the board。 Yesterday come out the King's Declaration of War against the French； but with such mild invitations of both them and the Dutch to come over here with promise of their protection； that every body wonders at it。
12th。 Comes Mr。 Caesar； my boy's lute…master； whom I have not seen since the plague before； but he hath been in Westminster Hall all this while very well； and tells me in the height of it； how bold people there were； to go in sport to one another's burials： and in spite too； ill people would breathe in the faces （out of their windows） of well people going by。
13th。 Ill news this night that the plague is encreased this week； and in many places else about the town； and at Chatham and elsewhere。
14th。 I took Mr。 Hill to my Lord Chancellor's new house that is building； and went with trouble up to the top of it； and there is the noblest prospect that ever I saw in my life； Greenwich being nothing to it； and in everything is a beautiful house； and most； strongly built in every respect； and as if； as it hath； it had the Chancellor for its master。 I staid a meeting of the Duke of York's； and the officers of the Navy and Ordnance。 My Lord Treasurer lying in bed of the gowte。
15th。 Mr。 Hales ＇John Hayls； or Hales； a portrait…painter remarkable for copying Vandyke well； and being a rival of Lely。＇ began my wife's portrait in the posture we saw one of my Lady Peters； like a St。 Katharine。 While he painted； Knipp； ＇Of Mrs。 Knipp's history； nothing seems known； except that she was a married actress belonging to the King's house； and as late as 1677； her name occurs among the performers in the 〃Wily False One。〃＇ and Mercer； and I； sang。 We hear this night of Sir Jeremy Smith； that he and his fleet have been seen at Malaga； which is good news。
16th。 To the Coffee…House； the first time I have been there； where very full； and company it seems hath been there all the plague time。 The Queene comes to Hampton Court to…night。
18th。 It being a brave day； I walked to White Hall； where the Queene and ladies are all come： I saw some few of them； but not the Queene； nor any of the great beauties。
19th。 I am told for certain； what I have heard once or twice already； of a Jew in town； that in the name of the rest do offer to give any man 10l。 to be paid 100l。； if a certain person now at Smyrna be within these two years owned by all the Princes of the East； and particularly the grand Segnor as the King of the world； in the same manner we do the King of England here； and； that this man is the true Messiah。 One named a friend of his that had received ten pieces in gold upon this score； and says that the Jew hath disposed of 1100l。 in this manner； which is very strange； and certainly this year of 1666 will be a year of great action； but what the consequences of it will be； God knows！ To White Hall； and there saw the Queene at cards with many ladies； but none of our beauties were there。 But glad I was to see the Queene so well； who looks prettily； and methinks hath more life than before； since it is confessed of all that she miscarried lately； Dr。 Clerke telling me yesterday of it at White Hall。 ＇The details in the original leave no doubt of the fact；and exculpate the Chancellor from the charge of having selected the Queen as incapable of bearing children。＇
20th。 Up； and to the office； where； among other businesses； Mr。 Evelyn's proposition about publick Infirmarys was read and agreed on； he being there： and at noon I took him home to dinner； being desirous of keeping my acquaintance with him； and a most excellent humoured man I still find him； and mighty knowing。
21st。 The Duke did bring out a book of great antiquity of some of the customs of the Navy； about 100 years since； which he did lend us to read and deliver him back again。 To Trinity…house； bein