； and this he can make a cheaper experiment of； he says； with iron prepared。
15th。 This day being our Queene's birthday； the guns of the Tower went all off； and in the evening the Lord Mayor sent from church to church to order the constables to cause bonfires to be made in every street； which methinks is a poor thing to be forced to be commanded。
19th。 With Sir G。 Carteret to my Lord Treasurer； to discourse with him about Mr。 Gauden's having of money； and to offer to him whether it would not be necessary； Mr。 Gauden's credit being so low as it is； to take security of him if he demands any great sum； such as 20；000l。 which now ought to be paid him upon his next year's declaration。 Which is a sad thing； that being reduced to this by us； we should be the first to doubt his credit； but so it is。 However； it will be managed with great tenderness to him。 My Lord Treasurer we found in his bed… chamber； being laid up of the goute。 I find him a very ready man； and certainly a brave servant to the King： he spoke so quick and sensible of the King's charge。 Nothing displeased me in him but his long nails； which he lets grow upon a pretty thick white short hand； that it troubled me to see them。 In our way Sir G。 Carteret told me there is no such thing likely yet as a Dutch war； neither they nor we being in condition for it； though it will come certainly to that in some time； our interests lying the same way； that is to say； in trade。 But not yet。
20th。 A great talk there is to…day of a crush between some of the Fanatiques up in arms and the King's men in the North； but whether true I know not yet。
22nd。 At chapel I had room in the Privy Seale pew with other gentlemen； and there heard Dr。 Killigrew preach。 ＇Henry； youngest son of Sir Robert Killigrew； D。D。； Prebendary of Westminster； and Master of the Savoy； and author of some plays and sermons。 His daughter Anne was the celebrated poetess。＇ The anthem was good after sermon； being the fifty…first psalme； made for five voices by one of Captn。 Cooke's boys； a pretty boy。 And they say there are four or five of them that can do as much。 And here I first perceived that the King is a little musicall； and kept good time with his hand all along the anthem。
23rd。 With Alderman Backewell talking of the new money； which he says will never be counterfeited； he believes； but it is so deadly inconvenient for telling； it is so thick； and the edges are made to turn up。
26th。 The plague； it seems； grows more and more at Amsterdam； and we are going upon making of all ships coming from thence and Hambrough； or any other infected places； to perform their Quarantine （for thirty days as Sir Rd。 Browne expressed it in the order of the Council； contrary to the import of the word； though in the general acceptation it signifies now the thing； not the time spent in doing it） in Holehaven； a thing never done by us before。
28th。 To Paul's Church Yard； and there looked upon the second part of Hudibras； which I buy not； but borrow to read； to see if it be as good as the first； which the world cried so mightily up； though it hath not a good liking in me； though I had tried but twice or three times reading to bring myself to think it witty。 To…day for certain I am told how in Holland publickly they have pictured our King with reproach。 One way is with his pockets turned the wrong side outward； hanging out empty； another with two courtiers picking of his pockets； and a third； leading of two ladies； while other abuse him； which amounts to great contempt。
29th （Lord's day）。 This morning I put on my best black cloth suit； trimmed with scarlett ribbon； very neat； with my cloak lined with velvett； and a new beaver； which altogether is very noble； with my black silk knit canons I bought a month ago。
30th。 At White Hall Sir W。 Pen and I met the Duke in the matted Gallery； and there he discoursed with us； and by and by my Lord Sandwich come and stood by； and talked； but it being St。 Andrew's； and a collar…day； he went to the Chapel； and we parted。
DECEMBER 1； 1663。 After dinner I to Guild Hall to hear a trial at King's Bench； before Lord Chief Justice Hide； ＇Sir Robert Hyde。 Ob。 1665。＇ about the insurance of a ship； and it was pleasant to see what mad sort of testimonys the seamen did give； and could not be got to speak in order： and then their terms such as the Judge could not understand； and to hear how sillily the Counsel and Judge would speak as to the terms necessary in the matter； would make one laugh： and above all； a Frenchman that was forced to speak in French； and took an English oath he did not； understand； and had an interpreter sworn to tell us what he said； which was the best testimony of all。
3rd。 This day Sir G。 Carteret did tell us at the table； that the Navy （excepting what is due to the Yards upon the quarter now going on； and what few bills he hath not heard of；） is quite out of debt； which is extraordinary good news； and upon the 'Change to hear how our credit goes as good as any merchant's upon the 'Change is a joyfull thing to consider； which God continue！ I am sure the King will have the benefit of it； as well as we some peace and creditt。
7th。 I hear there was the last night the greatest tide that ever was remembered in England to have been in this river： all White Hall having been drowned。 At White Hall； and anon the King and Duke and Duchesse come to dinner in the vane…roome； where I never saw them before； but it seems since the tables are done； he dines there all…together。 The Queene is pretty well； and goes out of her chamber to her little chapel in the house。 The King of France； they say is hiring of sixty sail of ships of the Dutch； but it is not said for what design。
8th。 To White Hall； where a great while walked with my Lord Teviott； whom I find a most carefull； thoughtfull； and cunning man； as I also ever took him to be。 He is this day bringing in an account where he makes the King debtor to him 10；000l。 already on the garrison of Tangier account； but yet demands not ready money to pay it； but offers such ways of paying it out of the sale of old decayed provisions as will enrich him finely。
10th。 To St。 Paul's Church Yard； to my bookseller's； and could not tell whether to lay out my money for books of pleasure； as plays； which my nature was most earnest in； but at last； after seeing Chaucer； Dugdale's History of Paul's； Stow's London； Gesner； History of Trent； besides Shakespeare； Jonson； and Beaumont's plays； I at last chose Dr。 Fuller's Worthys； the Cabbala or Collections of Letters of State； and a little book； Delices de Hollande； with another little book or two； all of good use or serious pleasure； and Hudibras； both parts； the book now in greatest fashion for drollery； though I cannot； I confess； see enough where the wit lies。 My mind being thus settled； I went by link home； and so to my office； and to read in Rushworth； and so home to supper and to…bed。 Calling at Wotton's； my shoemaker's； to…day； he tells me that Sir H。 Wright is dying and that Harris is come to the Duke's house again； and of a rare play to be acted this week of Sir William Davenant's。 The story of Henry the Eighth with all his wives。
11th。 At the Coffee…house I went and sat by Mr。 Harrington； and some East country merchants； and talking of the country above Quinsborough； ＇Perhaps Mr。 Harrington invented the name of this place； and the account of the country。＇ and thereabouts； he told us himself that for fish； none there the poorest body will buy a dead fish； but must be alive； unless it be in the winter； and then they told us the manner of putting their nets into the water。 Through holes made in the thick ice； they will spread a net of half a mile long； and he hath known a hundred and thirty and a hundred and seventy barrels of fish taken at one draught。 And then the people come with sledges upon the ice； with snow at the bottome； and lay the fish in and cover them with snow； and so carry them to market。 And he hath seen when the said fish have been frozen in the sledge； so as he hath taken a fish and broke a…pieces； so hard it hath been； and yet the same fishes taken out of the snow； and brought into a hot room； still be alive and leap up and down。 Swallows are often brought up in their nets out of the mudd from under water； hanging together to some twigg or other； dead in ropes； and brought to the fire will come to life。 Fowl killed in December （Alderman Barker said） he did buy； and putting into the box under his sledge； did forget to take them out to eate till Aprill next； and they then were found there； and were through the frost as sweet and fresh and eat as well as at first killed。 Young beares appear there； their flesh sold in market as ordinarily as beef here； and is excellent sweet meat。 They tell us that beares there do never hurt any body； but fly away from you； unless you pursue and set upon them； but wolves do much mischief。 Mr。 Harrington told us how they do to get so much honey as they send abroad。 They make hollow a great fir…tree； leaving only a small slitt down straight in one place； and this they close up again； only leave a little hole； and there the bees go in and fill the bodys of those trees as full of wax and honey as