inter； and the whole year after hath been a very sickly time to this day。
16th。 Towards Cheapside； and in Paul's Church…yard saw the funeral of my Lord Cornwallis； late Steward of the King's House； go by。 Stoakes told us； that notwithstanding the country of Gambo is so unhealthy； yet the people of the place live very long； so as the present King there is 150 years old； which they count by rains： because every year it rains continually four months together。 He also told us； that the Kings there have above 100 wives a…piece。
18th。 Comes Mr。 Moore to give me an account how Mr。 Montagu ＇Edward Montagu。＇ was gone away of a sudden with the fleet； in such haste that he hath left behind some servants； and many things of consequence； and among others； my Lord's commission for Embassador。 Whereupon he and I took coach； and to Whitehall to my Lord's lodgings； to have spoke with Mr。 Ralph Montagu ＇Ralph； eldest son of Edward； second Baron Montagu； of Boughton； created Duke of Montagu； and died 1709。 His sister Elizabeth had married Sir D。 Harvey； Knt。； Ambassador to Constantinople。＇ his brother； （and here we staid talking with Sarah and the old man；） but by and by hearing that he was in Covent Garden； we went thither： and at my Lady Harvy's； his sister； I spoke with him； and he tells me that the Commission is not left behind。
22nd。 After musique…practice； to White Hall； and thence to Westminster； in my way calling at Mr。 George Montagu's； to condole on the loss of his son； who was a fine gentleman。 after this discourse he told me； among other news； the great jealousys that are now in the Parliament House。 The Lord Chancellor； it seems； taking occasion from this late plot to raise fears in the people； did project the raising of an army forthwith； besides the constant militia； thinking to make the Duke of York General thereof。 But the House did； in very open termes； say； they were grown too wise to be fooled again into another army； and said they had found how that man that hath the command of an army is not beholden to any body to make him King。 There are factions （private ones at Court） about Madam Palmer； but what it is about I know not。 But it is something about the King's favour to her now that the Queene is coming。 He told me； too； what sport the King and Court do make at Mr。 Edwd。 Montagu's leaving his things behind him。 But the Chancellor （taking it a little more seriously） did openly say to my Lord Chamberlaine； that had it been such a gallant as my Lord Mandeville his son； ＇Lord Mandeville was a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Charles II。 He became Earl of Manchester on his father's death； and died at Paris in 1682。＇ it might have been taken as a frolique： but for him that would be thought a grave coxcombe； it was very strange。 Thence to the Hall； where I heard the House had ordered all the King's murderers； that remain； to be executed； but Fleetwood ＇Charles； son of Sir Wm。 Fleetwood； Knt。； General and Commander in Chief to the Protector Richard； whose sister； Bridget； widow of Ireton； he had married。 After the King's return he lived in contemptible obscurity； and died circa 1689。＇ and Downes。
25th。 At home and the office all the morning。 Walking in the garden to give the gardener directions what to do this year （for I intend to have the garden handsome）； Sir W。 Pen come to me； and did break a business to me about removing his son from Oxford to Cambridge to some private college。 I proposed Magdalene； but cannot name a tutor at present； but I shall think and write about it。 Thence with him to the Trinity…house to dinner； where Sir Richd。 Brown； one of the clerkes of the Council； and who is much concerned against Sir N。 Crisp's project of making a great sasse ＇〃Sasse； a sluice； or lock； used in water…works。〃BAILEY'S DICTIONARY。 This project is mentioned by Evelyn； and Lysons； ENVIRONS； VOL。 iv。 p。 392。＇ in the King's lands about Deptford； to be a wett…dock to hold 200 sail of ships。 But the ground； it seems； was long since given by the King to Sir Richard。 After the Trinity…house men had done their business； the master； Sir Wm。 Rider； come to bid us welcome； and so to dinner。 Comes Mr。Moore with letters from my Lord Sandwich； speaking of his lying still at Tangier； looking for the fleet； which； we hope； is now in a good way thither。
27th。 This morning； both Sir Williams and I by barge to Deptford…yard to give orders in business there； and called on several ships； also to give orders。 Going to take water upon Tower…hill； we met with three sleddes standing there to carry my Lord Monson ＇William； second son of Sir Thomas Monson； Bart。； created by Charles I。 Viscount Castlemaine of the kingdom of Ireland； notwithstanding which； he was instrumental in his Majesty's death： and in 1661； being degraded of his honours； was sentenced； with Sir Henry Mildmay and Mr。 Robert Wallop； to be drawn on sledges； with ropes round their necks； to Tyburn； and back to the Tower； there to remain prisoners for life。 None of their names were subscribed to the King's sentence。＇ and Sir H。 Mildmay ＇Sir H。 Mildmay had enjoyed the confidence of Charles I。； who made him Master of the Jewels； but he sat a few days as one of the King's Judges。 He died at Antwerp。＇ and another； to the gallows and back again； with ropes about their necks； which is to be repeated every year； this being the day of their sentencing the King。
FEBRUARY 1； 1661…62 This morning with Commissioner Pett to the office； and he staid there writing； while I and Sir W。 Pen walked in the garden talking about his business of putting his son to Cambridge； and to that end I intend to write to…night to Dr。 Fairebrother； to give me an account of Mr。 Burton ＇Hezekiah Burton； S。 T。 B。 1661。＇ of Magdalene。 Thence with Mr。 Pett to the Paynter's； and he likes our pictures very well； and so do I。 Thence he and I to the Countesse of Sandwich； to lead him to her to kiss her hands： and dined with her； and told her the news （which Sir W。 Pen told me to do） that expresse is come from my Lord with letters； that by a great storm and tempest the mole of Argier is broken down； and many of their ships sunk into the mole。 So that God Almighty hath now ended that unlucky business for us； which is very good news。
4th。 To Westminster Hall； where it was full terme。 Here all the morning； and at noon to my Lord Crewe's； where one Mr。 Templer （an ingenious man and a person of honour he seems to be） dined； and； discoursing of the nature of serpents； he told us some in the waste places of Lancashire do grow to a great bigness； and do feed upon larkes； which they take thus：They observe when the lark is soared to the highest； and do crawl till they come to be just underneath them； and there they place themselves with their mouth uppermost； and there； as is conceived； they do eject poyson upon the bird； for the bird do suddenly come down again in its course of a circle； and falls directly into the mouth of the serpent； which is very strange。 He is a great traveller； and； speaking of the tarantula； he says that all the harvest long （about which times they are most busy） there are fidlers go up and down the fields every where； in expectation of being hired by those that are stung。 This afternoon； going into the office； one met me and did serve a subpoena upon me for one Field； whom we did commit to prison the other day for some ill words he did give the office。 The like he had for others； but we shall scoure him for it。
5th。 To the Playhouse； and there saw 〃Rule a wife and have a Wife；〃 ＇A comedy by J。 Fletcher。＇ very well done。 And here also I did look long upon my Lady Castlemaine； who； notwithstanding her sickness； continues a great beauty。
7th。 I hear the prisoners in the Tower that are to die are come to the Parliament…house this morning。 To the Wardrobe to dinner with my Lady； where a civitt cat； parrot； apes； and many other things； are come from my Lord by Captain Hill； who dined with my Lady with us to…day。 Thence to the Paynter's； and am well pleased with our pictures。
10th。 To Paul's Church…yard； and there I met with Dr。 Fuller's 〃England's Worthys；〃 the first time that I ever saw it； and so I sat down reading in it； being much troubled that （though he had some discourse with me about my family and armes） he says nothing at all； nor mentions us either in Cambridgeshire or Norfolke。 But I believe； indeed； our family were never considerable。
13th。 Mr。 Blackburne do tell me plain of the corruption of all our Treasurer's officers； and that they hardly pay any money under ten per cent。； and that the other day for a mere assignation of 200l。 to some counties； they took 15l。 which is very strange。 Last night died the Queene of Bohemia。
15th。 With the two Sir Williams to the Trinity…house； and there in their society had the business debated of Sir Nicholas Crisp's sasse at Deptford。 After dinner I was sworn a Younger Brother； Sir W。 Rider being Deputy…Master for my Lord of Sandwich； and after I was sworn； all the Elder Brothers shake me by the hand： it is their custom； it seems。 No news yet of our fleet gone to Tangier； which we now begin to think long。
17th。 This morning； both Sir Williams； myself； and Captn。 Cock； and Captn。 Tinker of the Co