itizens in the world； he believing that not one merchant upon the 'Change will break upon it。 That he do not apprehend there will be any disturbances in State upon it； for that all men are busy in looking after their own business to save themselves。 He gone； I to finish my letters； and home to bed； and find to my infinite joy many rooms clean； and myself and wife lie in our own chamber again。 But much terrified in the nights now…a…days with dreams of fire； and falling down of houses。
17th。 Up betimes； and shaved myself after a week's growth： but； Lord！ how ugly I was yesterday and how fine to…day！ By water； seeing the City all the way； a sad sight indeed； much fire being still in。 Sir W。 Coventry was in great pain lest the French fleet should be passed by our fleet； who had notice of them on Saturday； and were preparing to go meet them； but their minds altered； and judged them merchant…men； when the same day the Success； Captain Ball； made their whole fleet； and come to Brighthelmstone； and thence at five o'clock afternoon； Saturday； wrote Sir W。 Coventry news thereof； so that we do much fear our missing them。 Hence come in and talked with him Sir Thomas Clifford； ＇Eldest son of Hugh Clifford； Esq。； of Ugbrooke； M。P。 for Totness； 1661； and knighted for his conduct in the sea…fight 1665。 After filling several high offices； he was in 1672 created Baron Clifford of Chudleigh； and constituted High Treasurer； which place he resigned the following year； a few months before his death。＇ who appears a very fine gentleman； and much set by at Court for his activity in going to sea； and stoutness every where； and stirring up and down。
18th。 This day the Parliament met； and adjourned till Friday； when the King will be with them。
19th。 To St。 James's； and did our usual business before the Duke of York； which signified little； our business being only complaints of lack of money。 Here I saw a bastard of the late King of Sweden's come to kiss his hands； a mighty modish French… like gentleman。 Thence to White Hall with Sir W。 Batten and W。 Pen； to Wilkes's； and there did hear many stories of Sir Henry Wood。 ＇Clerk of the Spicery to Charles I。； and； after the Restoration； Clerk to the Board of Green Cloth。＇ About Lord Norwich drawing a tooth at a health。 Another time； he and Pinchbacke and Dr。 Goffe； ＇Dr。 Gough； Clerk of the Queen's Closet； and her Assistant Confessor。＇ now a religious man： Pinchbacke did begin a frolick to drink out of a glass with a toad in it： he did it without harm。 Goffe； who knew sacke would kill the toad； called for sack； and when he saw it dead； says he； 〃I will have a quick toad； and will not drink from a dead toad。〃 By that means； no other being to be found； he escaped the health。
20th。 The fleet is come into the Downes。 Nothing done； nor French fleet seen： we drove all from our anchors。 But Sir G。 Carteret says news is come that De Ruyter is dead； or very near it； of a hurt in his mouth； upon the discharge of one of his own guns： which put him into a fever； and he likely to die； if not already dead。
21st。 The Parliament meet to…day； and the King to be with them。 At the office； about our accounts； which now draw near the time they should be ready； the House having ordered Sir G。 Carteret； upon his offering them； to bring them in on Saturday next。
23rd。 Mr。 Wayth and I by water to White Hall； and there at Sir G。 Carteret's lodgings Sir W。 Coventry met； and we did debate the whole business of our accounts to the Parliament； where it appears to us that the charge of the war from September 1； 1664； to this Michaelmas； will have been but 3；200；000l。； and we have paid in that time somewhat about 2；200；000l。； so that we owe above 900；000l。： but our method of accounting； though it cannot； I believe； be far wide from the mark； yet will not abide a strict examination if the Parliament should be troublesome。 There happened a pretty question of Sir W。 Coventry； whether this account of ours will not put my Lord Treasurer to a difficulty to tell what is become of all the money the Parliament have given in this time for the war； which hath amounted to about 4；000；000l。 which nobody there could answer； but I perceive they did doubt what his answer could be。
24th。 Up； and down to look for Sir W。 Coventry； and at last found him and Sir G。 Carteret with the Lord Treasurer at White Hall； consulting how to make up my Lord Treasurer's general account； as well as that； of the Navy particularly。
25th。 With all my people to get the letter writ over about the Navy Accounts； and by coach to Lord Brouncker's； and got his hand to it； and then to the Parliament House and got it signed by the rest； and then delivered it at the House…door to Sir Philip Warwicke； Sir G。 Carteret being gone into the House with his book of accounts under his arme； to present to the House。 All night still mightily troubled in my sleep with fire and houses pulling down。
26th。 By coach home； calling at Bennet's； our late mercer； who is come into Covent Garden to a fine house looking down upon the Exchange。 And I perceive many Londoners every day come。 And Mr。 Pierce hath let his wife's closet； and the little blind bedchamber； and a garret to a silk…man for 50l。 fine； and 30l。 per annum； and 40l。 per annum more for dieting the master and two prentices。 By Mr。 Dugdale I hear the great loss of books in St。 Paul's Church…yard； and at their Hall also； which they value at about 150；000l。； some book…sellers being wholly undone； and among others they say my poor Kirton。 And Mr。 Crumlum； ＇Samuel Cromleholme； or Crumlum； Master of St。 Paul's School。＇ all his books and household stuff burned； they trusting to St。 Fayth's； and the roof of the church falling； broke the arch down into the lower church； and so all the goods burned。 A very great loss。 His father hath lost above 1000l。 in books； one book newly printed； a Discourse； it seems； of Courts。 Here I had the hap to see my Lady Denham： and at night went into the dining…room and saw several fine ladies； among others； Castlemaine； but chiefly Denham again； and the Duke of York taking her aside and talking to her in the sight of all the world； all alone； which was strange； and what also I did not like。 Here I met with good Mr。 Evelyn； who cries out against it； and calls it bickering； for the Duke of York talks a little to her； and then she goes away； and then he follows her again like a dog。 He observes that none of the nobility come out of the country at all； to help the King； or comfort him； or prevent commotions at this fire； but do as if the King were nobody； nor ne'er a priest comes to give the King and Court good council； or to comfort the poor people that suffer； but all is dead； nothing of good in any of their minds： he bemoans it； and says he fears more ruin hangs over our heads。 My wife tells me she hath bought a gown of 15s。 per yard； the same； before her face； my Lady Castlemaine this day bought also。 Sir W。 Pen proposes his and my looking out into Scotland about timber； and to use Pett there； for timber will be a good commodity this time of building the City。 Our fleet abroad； and the Dutch too； for all we know。 The weather very bad： and under the command of an unlucky man； I fear。 God bless him and the fleet under him！
27th。 A very furious blowing night all the night； and my mind still mightily perplexed with dreams； and burning the rest of the town； and waking in much pain for the fleet。 I to look out Penny； my tailor； to speak for a cloak and cassock for my brother； who is coming to town； and I will have him in a canonical dress； that he may be the fitter to go abroad with me。 No news of the fleet yet； but that they went by Dover on the 25th towards the Gun…fleet； but whether the Dutch be yet abroad； or no； we hear not。 De Ruyter is not dead； but like to do well。 Most think that the gross of the French fleet are gone home again。
28th。 Comes the bookbinder to gild the backs of my books。 Sir W。 Pen broke to me a proposition of his and my joining in a design of fetching timber and deals from Scotland； by the help of Mr。 Pett upon the place； which； while London is building； will yield good money。 I approve it。
29th。 Sir W。 Coventry and I find to our great joy； that the wages； victuals； wear and tear； cast by the medium of the men； will come to above 3；000；000l。； and that the extraordinaries； which all the world will allow us； will arise to more than will justify the expence we have declared to have been at since the war； viz。 320；000l。
30th （Lord's day）。 Up； and to church； where I have not been a good while； and there the church infinitely thronged with strangers since the fire come into our parish； but not one handsome face in all of them； as if； indeed； there was a curse； as Bishop Fuller heretofore said； upon our parish。 This month ends with my mind full of business and concernment how this office will speed with the Parliament； which begins to be mighty severe in the examining our accounts； and the expence of the Navy this war。
OCTOBER 1； 1666。 All the morning at the office； getting the list of all the ships and vessels employed since the war； for the Committee of Parliament。
2nd。 Sir G。 Carteret tells me how our lists are re