of the Tower took me with him； and would have me to the Tower to dinner； where I dined at the head of his table next his lady； who is comely and seeming sober and stately； but very proud and very cunning or I am mistaken； and wanton too。 This day's work will bring the Lieutenant of the Tower 350l。 Thence home； and upon Tower Hill saw about 3 or 400 seamen get together； and one standing upon a pile of bricks made his sign with his handkercher upon his stick； and called all the rest to him； and several shouts they gave。 This made me afraid； so I got home as fast as I could。 But by and by Sir W。 Batten and Sir R。 Ford do tell me that the seamen have been at some prisons to release some seamen； and the Duke of Albemarle is in armes and all the Guards at the other end of the town； and the Duke of Albemarle is gone with some forces to Wapping to quell the seamen； which is a thing of infinite disgrace to us。 I sat long talking with them。 And； among other things； Sir R。 Ford did make me understand how the House of Commons is a beast not to be understood； it being impossible to know beforehand the success almost of any small plain thing； there being so many to think and speak to any business； and they of so uncertain minds and interests and passions。 He did tell me； and so did Sir W。 Batten； how Sir Allen Brodericke ＇Son of Sir Thomas Broderick of Richmond； Yorkshire； and Wandsworth； Surrey； knighted by Charles II。； and Surveyor…General in Ireland to his Majesty。＇ and Sir Allen Apsly did come drunk the other day into the House； and did both speak for half an hour； together； and could not be either laughed； or pulled； or bid to sit down and hold their peace； to the great contempt of the King's servants and cause； which I am grieved at with all my heart。
23rd （Lord's day）。 To church； where a vain fellow with a periwigg preached； Chaplain （as by his prayer appeared） to the Earle of Carlisle。
24th。 It being frost and dry； as far as Paul's； and so back again through the City by Guildhall； observing the ruins thereabouts till I did truly lose myself。 No news yet of our Gottenburgh fleet； which makes us have some fears； it being of mighty concernment to have our supply of masts safe。 I met with Mr。 Cade to…night； my stationer； and he tells me that he hears for certain； that the Queene…Mother is about and hath near finished a peace with France； which as a Presbyterian he do not like； but seems to fear it will be a means to introduce Popery。
26th。 To the Duke's house to a play。 It was indifferently done； Gosnell not singing； but a new wench that sings naughtily。
27th。 Up； and called up by the King's trumpets； which cost me 10s。 By coach to the King's playhouse； and there saw 〃The Scornful Lady〃 well acted； Doll Common doing Abigail most excellently； and Knipp the widow very well； （and will be an excellent actor； I think。） In other parts the play not so well done as need be by the old actors。 This day a house or two was blown up with powder in the Minorys； and several people spoiled； and manye dug out from under the rubbish。
28th。 I to my Lord Crewe's； where I find and hear the news how my Lord's brother； Mr。 Nathaniel Crewe； hath an estate of 6 or 700l。 per annum left him by the death of as old acquaintance of his； but not akin to him at all。 And this man is dead without will； but had above ten years since made over his estate to this Mr。 Crewe； to him and his heirs for ever； and given Mr。 Crewe the keeping of the deeds in his own hand all this time； by which； if he would； he might have taken present possession of the estate； for he knew what they were。 This is as great an action of confident friendship as this latter age； I believe； can show。 From hence to the Duke's house； and there saw 〃Macbeth〃 most excellently acted； and a most excellent play for variety。 I had sent for my wife to meet me there； who did come： so I did not go to White Hall； and got my Lord Bellasses to get me into the playhouse； and there； after all staying above an hour for the players （the King and all waiting； which was absurd；） saw 〃Henry the Fifth〃 well done by the Duke's people； and in most excellent habit； all new vests； being put on but this night。 But I sat so high and far off that I missed most of the words； and sat with a wind coming into my back and neck； which did much trouble me。 The play continued till twelve at night； and then up； and a most horrid cold night it was； and frosty； and moonshine。
29th。 Called up with news from Sir W。 Batten that Hogg hath brought in two prizes more： and so I thither； and hear the particulars； which are good； one of them； if prize； being worth 4000l。： for which God be thanked！ Then to the office； and have the news brought us of Captain Robinson's coming with his fleet from Gottenburgh： dispersed； though； by foul weather。 But he hath light of five Dutch men…of…war； and taken three； whereof one is sunk； which is very good news to close up the year with； and most of our merchant…men already heard of to be safely come home； though after long lookings for； and now to several ports as they could make them。
30th （Lord's day）。 To church。 Here was a collection for the sexton； But it come into my head why we should be more bold in making the collection while the psalm is singing； than in the sermon or prayer。
31st。 To my accounts； wherein at last I find them clear and right； but to my great discontent do find that my gettings this year have been 573l。 less than my last： it being this year in all but 2986l。； whereas； the last； I got 3560l。 And then again my spendings this year have exceeded my spendings the last； by 644l。： my whole spendings last year being but 509l。； whereas this year it appears I have spent 1154l。 which is a sum not fit to be said that ever I should spend in one year； before I am master of a better estate than I am。 Yet； blessed be God！ and I pray God make me thankful for it； I do find myself worth in money； all good； above 6200l。： which is above 1800l。 more than I was the last year。 Thus ends this year of publick wonder and mischief to this nation。 Publick matters in a most sad condition； seamen discouraged for want of pay； and are become not to be governed： nor； as matters are now； can any fleet go out next year。 Our enemies； French and Dutch； great； and grow more by our poverty。 The Parliament backward in raising； because jealous of the spending of the money； the City less and less likely to be built again； every body settling elsewhere； and nobody encouraged to trade。 A sad； vicious； negligent Court； and all sober men there fearful of the ruin of the whole kingdom this next year； from which； good God deliver us！ One thing I reckon remarkable in my own condition is； that I am come to abound in good plate； so as at all entertainments to be served wholly with silver plates； having two dozen and a half。
JANUARY 2； 1666…7。 My wife up； and with Mrs。 Pen to walk in the fields to frost…bite themselves。 I find the Court full of great apprehensions of the French； who have certainly shipped landsmen； great numbers at Brest； and most of our people here guess his design for Ireland。 We have orders to send all the ships we can possible to the Downes； every day bringing us news of new mutinies among the seamen； so that our condition is like to be very miserable。 Mr。 George Montagu tells me of the King displeasing the House of Commons by evading their Bill for examining Accounts； and putting it into a Commission； though therein he hath left out Coventry and ＇A blank in the MS。＇； and named all the rest the Parliament named； and all country Lords； not one Courtier： this do not please them。 He finds the enmity almost over for my Lord Sandwich。 Up to the Painted Chamber； and there heard a conference between the House of Lords and Commons about the Wine Patent； which I was exceeding glad to be at； because of my hearing exceeding good discourses； but especially from the Commons； among others Mr。 Swinfen； and a young man； one Sir Thomas Meres： ＇Knight； M。P。 for Lincoln； made a Commissioner of the Admiralty 1679。＇ and do outdo the Lords infinitely。 Alone to the King's house； and there saw 〃The Custome of the Country；〃 ＇A tragi…comedy； by Beaumont and Fletcher。＇ the second time of its being acted； wherein Knipp does the Widow well； but of all the plays that ever I did see； the worst； having neither plot； language； nor any thing in the earth that is acceptable； only Knipp sings a song admirably。
3rd。 This day； I hear； hath been a conference between the two Houses about the Bill for examining Accounts； wherein the House of Lords their proceedings in petitioning the King for doing it by Commission； are in great heat voted by the Commons； after the conference； unparliamentary。
4th。 Comes our company to dinner； my Lord Brouncker； Sir W。 Pen； his lady； and Peg； ＇Their daughter。＇ and her servant； Mr。 Lowther ＇＇Anthony Lowther； Esq。； of Marske； Co。 York； Ob。 1692。＇。 At night to sup； and then to cards； and last of all to have a flaggon of ale and apples； drunk out of a wood cup； as a Christmas draught； which made all merry； and they full of admiration at my plate。 Mr。 Lowther a pretty gentleman； too good for Peg。 Sir W。 Pen was much troubled to hear the song I sung； 〃The