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 Harding； ＇Probably Nathaniel Hardy； Dean of Rochester。＇ but； methinks a bad； poor sermon； though proper for the time； nor eloquent； in saying at this time that the City is reduced from a large folio to a decimo…tertio。 So to my office； there to write down my journall； and take leave of my brother； whom I send back this afternoon； though rainy： which it hath not done a good while before。 To Sir W。 Pen's to bed； and made my boy Tom to read me asleep。
10th。 All the morning clearing our cellars； and breaking in pieces all my old lumber； to make room； and to prevent fire。 And then to Sir W。 Batten's； and dined； and there hear that Sir W。 Rider says that the town is full of the report of the wealth that is in his house； and would be glad that his friends would provide for the safety of their goods there。 This made me get a cart； and thither； and there brought my money all away。 Took a hackney…coach myself； （the hackney…coaches now standing at Allgate。） Much wealth indeed there is at his house。 Blessed be God； I got all mine well thence； and lodged it in my office； but vexed to have all the world see it。 And with Sir W Batten； who would have taken away my hands before they were stowed。 But by and by comes brother Balty from sea； which I was glad of； and so got him； and Mr。 Tooker； and the boy； to watch with them all in the office all night； while I went down to my wife。
11th。 In the evening at Sir W。 Pen's at supper： he in a mad； ridiculous； drunken humour； and it； seems there have been some late distances between his lady and him； as my wife tells me。 After supper； I home； and with Mr。 Hater； Gibson； ＇Probably Clerk of the Cheque at Deptford in 1688。＇ and Tom alone； got all my chests and money into the further cellar with much pains； but great content to me when done。 So very late and weary to bed。
12th。 Up； and with Sir W。 Batten and Sis W。 Pen to St。 James's by water； and there did our usual business with the Duke of York。
13th。 Up； and down to Tower Wharfe； and there； with Balty and labourers from Deptford； did get my goods housed well at home。 So down to Deptford again to fetch the rest； and there eat a bit of dinner at the Globe； with the master of the Bezan with me； while the labourers went to dinner。 Here I hear that this poor town do bury still of the plague seven or eight in a day。 So to Sir G。 Carteret's to work； and there did to my content ship off in the Bezan all the rest of my goods； saving my pictures and fine things； that I will bring home in wherrys when the house is fit to receive them： and so home； and unload them by carts and hands before night； to my exceeding satisfaction： and so after supper to bed in my house； the first time I have lain there。
14th。 Up； and to work； having carpenters come to help in setting up bedsteads and hangings； and at that trade my people and I all the morning； till pressed by publick business to leave them against my will in the afternoon： and yet I was troubled in being at home； to see all my goods lie up and down the house in a bad condition； and strange workmen going to and fro might take what they would almost。 All the afternoon busy； and Sir W。 Coventry come to me； and found me； as God would have it； in my office； and people about me setting my papers to rights； and there discoursed about getting an account ready against the Parliament； and thereby did create me infinity of business and to be done on a sudden； which troubled me； but； however； he being gone； I about it late； and to good purpose。 and so home； having this day also got my wine out of the ground again； and set it in my cellar； but with great pain to keep the porters that carried it in from observing the money…chests there。
13th。 Captain Cocke says be hath computed that the rents of the houses lost this fire in the City comes to 600；000l。 per annum； that this will make the Parliament more quiet than otherwise they would have been； and give the King a more ready supply； that the supply must be by excise； as it is in Holland； that the Parliament will see it necessary to carry on the war； that the late storm hindered our beating the Dutch fleet； who were gone out only to satisfy the people； having no business to do but to avoid us； that the French； as late in the year as it is； are coming； that the Dutch are really in bad condition； but that this unhappiness of ours do give them heart： that there was a late difference between my Lord Arlington and Sir W。 Coventry about neglect in the latter to send away an express of the other's in time； that it come before the King； and the Duke of York concerned himself in it； but this fire hath stopped it。 The Dutch fleet is not gone home； but rather to the North； and so dangerous to our Gottenburgh fleet。 That the Parliament is likely to fall foul upon some persons； and； among others； on the Vice…chamberlaine； ＇Sir G。 Carteret。＇ though we both believe with little ground。 That certainly never so great a loss as this was borne so well by citizens in the world； he believing that not one merchant upon the 'Change will break upon it。 That