n one； in one part of the town；） and runs into the Thames half…a…mile off： one odd sign of the Broad Face。 Then to my inn； and so to bed。
17th （Wednesday）。 Rose； and paying the reckoning； 12s。 8d。； servants and poor； 2s。 6d。； musick； the worst we have had； coming to our chamber…door； but calling us by wrong names； so set out with one coach in company； and through Maydenhead； which I never saw before； to Colebrooke by noon； the way mighty good； and there dined； and fitted ourselves a little to go through London anon。 Thence pleasant way to London before night； and and all very well to great content； and saw Sir W。 Pen； who is well again。 I hear of the ill news by the great fire at Barbadoes。
18th。 I did receive a hint or two from my Lord Anglesy； as if he thought much of my taking the ayre as I have done； but I care not： but whatever the matter is； I think he hath some ill…will to me； or at least an opinion that I am more the servant of the Board than I am。 To my Lady Peterborough's； who tells me； among other things； her Lord's good words to the Duke of York lately about my Lord Sandwich； and that the Duke of York is kind to my Lord Sandwich； which I am glad to hear。
19th。 Between two and three in the morning we were waked with the maids crying out； 〃Fire； fire； in Marke…lane！〃 So I rose and looked out； and it was dreadful； and strange apprehensions in me and us all of being presently burnt。 So we all rose； and my care presently was to secure my gold and plate and papers； and could quickly have done it； but I went forth to see where it was； and the whole town was presently in the streets； and I found it in a new…built house that stood alone in Minchin…lane； over against the Cloth…workers'…hall； which burned furiously： the house not yet quite finished； and the benefit of brick was well seen； for it burnt all inward and fell down within itself； so no fear of doing more hurt。 Yesterday I heard how my Lord Ashly is like to die； having some imposthume in his breast； that he hath been fain to be cut into the body。 To White Hall； were we attended the Duke of York in his closet upon our usual business。 And thence out； and did see many of the Knights of the Garter with the King and Duke of York going into the Privy…chamber to elect the Elector of Saxony in that Order； who； I did hear the Duke of York say； was a good drinker： I know not upon what score this compliment is done him。
22nd。 With Balty to St。 James's； and there presented him to Mr。 Wren about his being Muster…master this year； which will be done。 So up to wait on the Duke of York； and thence with Sir W。 Coventry walked to White Hall： good discourse about the Navy； where want of money undoes us。 Thence to the Coffee…house in Covent…garden； but met with nobody but Sir Philip Howard； who shamed me before the whole house there in commendation of my speech in Parliament。 To the King's playhouse； and saw an act or two of the new play； 〃Evening Love；〃 ＇〃An Evening's Love； or The Mock Astrologer；〃 a comedy by Dryden。＇ again； but like it not。 Calling this day at Herringman's； ＇H。 Herringman； a printer and publisher in the New Exchange。＇ he tells me Dryden do himself call it but a fifth…rate play。 From thence to my Lord Brouncker's； where a Council of the Royall Society； and there heard Mr。 Harry Howard's noble offers about ground for our college； and his intentions of building his own house there； most nobly。 My business was to meet Mr。 Boyle； which I did； and discoursed about my eyes； and he did give me the best advice he could； but refers me to one Turberville ＇Daubigney Turberville； of Oriel College； created M。D。 at Oxford 1660。＇ of Salisbury lately come to town； who I will go to。 Thence home； where the streets full at our end of the town； removing their wine against the Act begins； which will be two days hence； to raise the price。
23rd。 To Dr。 Turberville about my eyes； whom I met with： and he did discourse； I thought； learnedly about them； and takes time； before he did prescribe me any thing； to think of it。
24th。 Creed and Colonel Atkins come to me about sending coals to Tangier； and upon that most of the morning。
28th。 Much talk of the French setting out their fleet afresh； but I hear nothing that our King is alarmed at it at all； but rather making his fleet less。
29th。 To Dr。 Turberville's； and there did receive a direction for some physic； and also a glass of something to drop into my eyes： he gives me hopes that I may do well。 Then to White Hall； where I find the Duke of York in the Council…chamber； and the officers of the Navy were called in about Navy business； about calling in of more ships； the King of France having； as the Duke of York says； ordered his fleet to come in； notwithstanding what he had lately ordered for their staying abroad。 Thence to the chapel； it being St。 Peter's day； and did hear an anthem of Silas Taylor's making； a dull； old…fashioned thing of six and seven parts； that nobody could understand： and the Duke of York； when he came out； told me that he was a better storekeeper than anthem…maker； and that was bad enough too。 This morning Mr。 May showed me the King's new buildings at White Hall； very fine； and among other things； his cielings and his houses of office。
JULY 1； 1668。 To White Hall； and so to St。 James's where we met； and much business with the Duke of York。 And I find the Duke of York very hot for regulations in the Navy； and I believe is put on it by Sir W。 Coventry； and I am glad of it： and particularly he falls heavy on Chatham…yard； and is vexed that Lord Anglesy did the other day complain at the Council…table of disorders in the Navy； and not to him。 So I to White Hall to a Committee of Tangier； and there vexed with the importunity and clamours of Alderman Backewell for my acquittance for money by him supplied to the garrison； before I have any order for paying it。 So home； calling at several places； among others the 'Change； and on Cooper； to know when my wife shall come and sit for her picture。
3rd。 To Commissioners of Accounts at Brooke…house； the first time I was ever there： and found Sir W。 Turner in the chair； and present； Lord Halifax； Thomas Gregory； Dunster； and Osborne。 I long with them； and see them hot set on this matter； but I did give them proper and safe answers。 Halifax； I perceive； was industrious on my side on behalf of his uncle Coventry； it being the business of Sir W。 Warren。 Vexed only at their denial of a copy of what I set my hand to and swore。 To an alehouse： met Mr。 Pierce the surgeon； and Dr。 Clerke； Waldron； ＇Thomas Waldron； of Baliol College； created M。D。 at Oxford 1653； afterwards Physician in Ordinary to Charles II。＇ Turberville my physician for the eyes； and Lowre； ＇Probably Richard Lower； of Christ Church； admitted Bachelor of Physic at Oxford 1665。＇ to dissect several eyes of sheep and oxen； with great pleasure and to my great information。 But strange that this Turberville should be so great a man； and yet to this day had seen no eyes dissected； or but once； but desired this Dr。 Lowre to give him the opportunity to see him dissect some。
4th。 Up； and to see Sir W。 Coventry； and give him an account of my doings yesterday； which he well liked of； and was told thereof by my Lord Halifax before； but I do perceive he is much concerned for this business。 Gives me advice to write a smart letter to the Duke of York about the want of money in the Navy； and desire him to communicate it to the Commissioners of the Treasury； for he tells me he hath hot work sometimes to contend with the rest for the Navy； they being all concerned for some other part of the King's expenses； which they would prefer to this of the Navy。 He showed me his closet； with his round…table for him to sit in the middle； very convenient； and I borrowed several books of him； to collect things out of the Navy； which I have not。
6th。 With Sir W。 Coventry； and we walked in the Park together a good while。 He mighty kind to me； and hear many pretty stories of my Lord Chancellor's being heretofore made sport of by Peter Talbot the priest； in his story of the death of Cardinal Bleau； by Lord Cottington； in his DOLOR DE LAS TRIPAS； and Tom Killigrew； in his being bred in Ram…ally； and now bound prentice to Lord Cottington； going to Spain with 1000l。 and two suits of clothes； Thence to Mr。 Cooper's； and there met my wife and W。 Hewer and Deb。； and there my wife first sat for her picture： but he is a most admirable workman； and good company。 Here comes Harris； and first told us how Betterton is come again upon the stage： whereupon my wife and company to the house to see 〃Henry the Fifth；〃 while I to attend the Duke of York at the Committee of the Navy at the Council； where some high dispute between him and W。 Coventry about settling pensions upon all flag…officers while unemployed： W。 Coventry against it； and； I think； with reason。 Great doings at Paris； I hear； with their triumphs for their late conquests。 The Duchesse of Richmond sworn last week of the Queene's Bedchamber； and the King minding little else but what he used to doabout his women。
7th。 We are fain to go round by Newgate because of Fleet…bridge being under rebuilding。
8th。 To Sir W。 Coventry； and ther