they go upon good grounds； though they have been mistaken in the place of the first。
13th。 To my office； and there this afternoon me had our first meeting upon our commission of inspecting the Chest。 Sir Francis Clerke； ＇M。P。 for Rochester。＇ Mr。 Heath； Atturney of the Dutchy； Mr。 Prinn； Sir W。 Rider； Captn。 Cooke； and myself。 Our first work was to read over the Institution； which is a decree in Chancery in the year 1617； upon an inquisition made at Rochester about that time into the revenues of the Chest； which had then； from the year 1588 or 1590； by the advice of the Lord High Admiral and principal officers then being； by consent of the seamen； been settled； paying sixpence per month； according to their wages then； which was then but 10s。 which is now 24s。
17th。 To the Duke's to…day； but he is gone a…hunting。 At White Hall by appointment； Mr。 Creed carried my wife and I to the Cockpitt； and we had excellent places； and saw the King； Queene； Duke of Monmouth； his son； and my Lady Castlemaine； and all the fine ladies； and 〃The Scornfull Lady；〃 well performed。 They had done by eleven o'clock； and it being fine moonshine； we took coach and home。
18th。 Late at my office； drawing up a letter to my Lord Treasurer； which we have been long about。
20th。 After dinner to the Temple； to Mr。 Thurland； ＇Edward Thurland； M。P。 for Ryegate； afterwards knighted。＇ and thence to my Lord Chief Baron； Sir Edward Hale's； ＇Sir Matthew Hale succeeded Sir Orlando Bridgeman as Chief Baron of the Exchequer （according to Beatson；） in 1666； there is consequently some mistake。＇ and take Mr。 Thurland to his chamber； where he told us that Field will have the better of us； and that we must study to make up the business as well as we can； which do much vex and trouble us： but I am glad the Duke is concerned in it。
21st。 This day come the King's pleasure…boats from Calais； with the Dunkirke money； being 400；000 pistolles。
22nd。 This day Mr。 Moore told me； that for certain the Queene… Mother is married to my Lord St。 Albans； and he is like to be made Lord Treasurer。 News that Sir J。 Lawson hath made up a peace now with Tunis and Tripoli； as well as Argiers； by which he will come home very highly honoured。
23rd。 I hear to…day old rich Audley ＇There is an old Tract called； 〃The Way to be Rich； according to the Practice of the great Audley； who began with 200l。 in 1605； and dyed worth 400；000l。 November； 1662。〃 London； printed for E。 Davis。 1662。＇ is lately dead； and left a very great estate； and made a great many poor familys rich； not all to one。 Among others； one Davis； my old schoolfellow at Paul's； and since a bookseller in Paul's Church Yard： and it seems do forgive one man 6000l。 which he had wronged him of； but names not his name； but it is well known to be the scrivener in Fleete…streete； at whose house he lodged。 There is also this week dead a poulterer； in Gracious… street； which was thought rich； but not so rich； that hath； left 800l。 per annum； taken in other men's names； and 40；000 Jacobs in gold。
24th。 Sir J。 Minnes； Sir W。 Batten； and I； going forth toward White Hall； we hear that the King and Duke are come this morning to the Tower to see the Dunkirke money。 So we by coach to them； and there went up and down all the magazines with them； but methought it was but poor discourse and frothy that the King's companions （young Killigrew among the rest；） had with him。 We saw none of the money； but Mr。 Slingslby did show the King； and I did see； the stamps of the new money that is now to be made by Blondeau's fashion； which are very neat； and like the King。 Thence the King to Woolwich； though a very cold day； and the Duke to White Hall； commanding us to come after him； and in his closet； my Lord Sandwich being there； did discourse with us about getting some of this money to pay off the Fleets； and other matters。
25th。 Great talk among people how some of the Fanatiques do say that the end of the world is at hand； and that next Tuesday is to be the day。 Against which； whenever it shall be； good God fit us all。
27th。 At my waking； I found the tops of the houses covered with snow； which is a rare sight； which I have not seen these three years。 To the office； where we sat till noon； when we all went to the next house upon Tower Hill； to see the coming by of the Russian Embassador； for whose reception all the City trained bands do attend in the streets； and the King's life…guards； and most of the wealthy citizens in their black velvet coats； and gold chains； （which remain of their gallantry at the King's coming in；） but they staid so long that we went down again to dinner。 And after I had dined I walked to the Conduit in the Quarrefowr； at the end of Gracious…street and Cornhill； and there （the spouts thereof running very near me upon all the people that were under it） I saw them pretty well go by。 I could not see the Embassador in his coach； but his attendants in their habits and fur caps very handsome； comely men； and most of them with hawkes upon their fists to present to the King。 But Lord！ to see the absurd nature of Englishmen； that cannot forbear laughing and jeering at every thing that looks strange。
28th。 A very hard frost； which is news to us after having none almost these three years。 By ten o'clock to Ironmongers' Hall； to the funeral of Sir Richard Stayner。 Here we were； all the officers of the navy； and my Lord Sandwich； who did discourse with us about the fishery； telling us of his Majesty's resolution to give 200l。 to every man that will set out a Brisse； ＇A small sea…vessel used by the Hollanders for the herring…fishery。＇ and advising about the effects of this encouragement； which will be a very great matter certainly。 Here we had good rings。
29th。 To the office； and this morning come Sir G。 Carteret to us （being the first time since his coming from France）： he tells us； that the silver which is received for Dunkirke did weigh 120；000 weight。 To my Lord's； where my Lord and Mr。 Coventry； Sir Wm。 Darcy； ＇Third son of Sir Conyers Darcy； summoned to Parliament as Lord Darcy 1642。＇ one Mr。 Parham； （a very knowing and well…spoken man in this business）； with several others； did meet about stating the business of the fishery； and the manner of the King's giving of this 200l。 to every man that shall set out a new…made English Brisse by the middle of June next。 In which business we had many fine pretty discourses； and I did here see the great pleasure to be had in discoursing of publick matters with men that are particularly acquainted with this or that business。 Having come to some issue； wherein a motion of mine was well received； about sending these invitations from the King to all the fishing…ports in general； with limiting so many Brisses to this； and that port； before we know the readiness of subscribers； we parted。
30th。 Publick matters in an ill condition of discontent against the height and vanity of the Court； and their bad payments： but that which troubles most； is the Clergy； which will never content the City； which is not to be reconciled to Bishopps： but more the pity that differences must still be。 Dunkirke newly sold； and the money brought over； of which we hope to get some to pay the Navy： which by Sir J。 Lawson's having dispatched the business in the Straights； by making peace with Argier； Tunis； and Tripoli； （and so his fleet will also shortly come home；） will now every day grow less； and so the King's charge be abated； which God send！
DECEMBER 1； 1662。 To my Lord Sandwich's； to Mr。 Moore； and then over the Parke； （where I first in my life； it being a great frost； did see people sliding with their skeates； which is a very pretty art；） to Mr。 Coventry s chamber to St。 James's； where we all met to a venison pasty； Major Norwood being with us； whom they did play upon for his surrendering of Dunkirke。 Here we staid till three or four o'clock： and so to the Council Chamber； where there met the Duke of York； Prince Rupert； Duke of Albermarle； my Lord Sandwich； Sir Wm。 Compton； Mr。 Coventry； Sir J。 Minnes； Sir R。 Ford； Sir W。 Rider； myself； and Captain Cuttance； as Commissioners for Tangier。 And after our Commission was read by Mr。 Creed； who I perceive is to be our Secretary； we did fall to discourse of matters： as； first； the supplying them forthwith with victualls； then the reducing it； to make way for the money； which upon their reduction is to go to the building of the Molle； and so to other matters； ordered as against next meeting。
3rd。 To Deptford； and so by water with Mr。 Pett home again； all the way reading his Chest accounts； in which I did see things which did not please me； as his allowing himself 300l。 for one year's looking to the business of the Chest； and 150l。 per annum for the rest of the years。 But I found no fault to him himself； but shall when they come to be read at the Board。 We walked to the Temple； in our way seeing one of the Russian Embassador's coaches go along； with his footmen not in liverys； but their country habits； one of one colour and another of another； which was very strange。
5th。 I walked towards Guildhall； being summoned by the Commissioners for the Lieutenancy； but they sat not this morning。 So meeting in my wa