tells me that be believes he never had so poor a low thought in him to trouble himself about it。 He says the hand of God is much to be seen； that all his children are in good condition enough as to estate； and that their relations that betrayed their family are all now either hanged or very miserable。
15th。 My father and I up and walked alone to Hinchingbroke； and among the late chargeable works that my Lord hath done there； we saw his water…works； which are very fine； and so is the house all over； but I am sorry to think of the money at this time spent therein。
16th （Lord's day）。 It raining； we set out betimes； and about nine o'clock got to Hatfield in church…time； and I light and saw my simple Lord Salsbury sit there in the gallery。
18th。 At Somerset…House I saw the Queene's new rooms； which are most stately and nobly furnished； and there I saw her and the Duke of York and Duchesse。 The Duke espied me； and come to me； and talked with me a very great while。
24th。 Into the galleries at White Hall to talk with my Lord Sandwich； among other things； about the Prince's writing up to tell us of the danger he and his fleet lie in at Portsmouth； of receiving affronts from the Dutch； which； my Lord said； he would never have done； had he lain there with one ship alone： nor is there any great reason for it； because of the sands。 However； the fleet will be ordered to go and lay themselves up at the Cowes。 Much beneath the prowesse of the Prince； I think； and the honour of the nation； at the first to be found to secure themselves。 My Lord is well pleased to think； that； if the Duke and the Prince go； all the blame of any miscarriage will not light on him： and that if any thing goes well； he hopes he shall have the share of the glory； for the Prince is by no means well esteemed of by any body。 This day the great O'Neale died； I believe； to the content of all the Protestant pretenders in Ireland。
26th。 At Woolwich； I there up to the King and Duke。 Here I staid above with them while the ship was launched； which was done with great success； and the King did very much like the ship； saying； she had the best bow that ever he saw。 But Lord！ the sorry talk and discourse among the great courtiers round about him； without any reverence in the world； but with so much disorder。 By and by the Queene comes and her Maids of Honour； one whereof； Mrs。 Boynton； ＇Daughter of Matthew； second son to Sir Matthew Boynton； Bart。； of Barnston； Yorkshire。 She became the first wife of Richard Talbot； afterwards Duke of Tyrconnel。＇ and the Duchesse of Buckingham had been very sick coming by water in the barge； （the water being very rough）； but what silly sport they made with them in very common terms； methought； was very poor； and below what people think these great people say and do。 The launching being done； the King and company went down to take barge； and I sent for Mr。 Pett； ＇He had built the ship。＇ and put the flaggon into the Duke's hand； and he； in the presence of the King； did give it Mr。 Pett； taking it upon his knee。 The City did last night very freely lend the King 100；000l。 without any security but the King's word； which was very noble。
29th。 All the talk is that De Ruyter is come over…land home with six or eight of his captaines to command here at home； and their ships kept abroad in the Straights： which sounds as if they had a mind to do something with us。
31st。 This day I hear young Mr。 Stanly； a brave young gentleman； that went out with young Jermin； with Prince Rupert； is already dead of the small…pox； at Portsmouth。 All preparations against the Dutch； and the Duke of York fitting himself with all speed to go to the fleet which is hastening for him； being now resolved to go in the Charles。
NOVEMBER 5； 1664。 To the Duke's house to see 〃Macbeth；〃 a pretty good play； but admirably acted。 Thence home； the coach being forced to go round by London Wall home； because of the bonfires； the day being mightily observed in the City。
8th。 At noon； I and Sir J。 Minnes and Lord Barkeley （who with Sir J。 Duncum； ＇M。P。 for Bury St。 Edmunds。＇ and Mr。 Chichly； are made Masters of the Ordnance）； to the office of the Ordnance； to discourse about wadding for guns。 Thence to dinner； all of us to the Lieutenant's of the Tower； where a good dinner； but disturbed in the middle of it by the King's coming into the Tower： and so we broke up； and to him； and went up and down the store…houses and magazines； which are； with the addition of the new great storehouse； a noble sight。
9th。 To White Hall； and there the King being in his Cabinet Council （I desiring to speak with Sir G。 Carteret；） I was called in； and demanded by the King himself many questions； to which I did give him full answers。 There were at this Council my Lord Chancellor； Archbishop of Canterbury； Lord Treasurer； the two Secretarys； and Sir G。 Carteret。 Not a little contented at this chance of being made known to these persons； and called often by my name by the King。 The Duke of York is this day gone away to Portsmouth。
11th。 A gentleman told us he saw the other day； （and did bring the draught of it to Sir Francis Prigeon；） a monster born of an hostler's wife at Salsbury； two women children perfectly made； joyned at the lower part of their bellies； and every part perfect as two bodies； and only one payre of legs coming forth on one side from the middle where they were joined。 It was alive 24 hours； and cried and did as all hopefull children do； but； being showed too much to people； was killed。 To the Council at White Hall； where a great many lords： Annesly in the chair。 But； Lord！ to see what work they will make us； and what trouble we shall have to inform men in a business they are to begin to know； when the greatest of our hurry is； is a thing to be lamented； and I fear the consequence will be bad to us。 Put on my new shaggy purple gown with gold buttons and loop lace。
14th。 Up； and with Sir W。 Batten to White Hall； to the Lords of the Admiralty； and there did our business betimes。 Thence to Sir Philip Warwick about Navy business： and my Lord Ashly； and afterwards to my Lord Chancellor； who is very well pleased with me； and my carrying of his business。 And so to the 'Change； where mighty busy； and so home to dinner； where Mr。 Creed and Moore： and after dinner I to my Lord Treasurer's； to Sir Philip Warwick there； and then to White Hall； to the Duke of Albemarle； about Tangier； and then homeward to the Coffee…house to hear news。 And it seems the Dutch； as I afterwards found by Mr。 Coventry's letters； have stopped a ship of masts of Sir W。 Warren's； coming for us in a Swede's ship； which they will not release upon Sir G。 Downing's claiming her： which appears as the first act of hostility； and is looked upon as so by Mr。 Coventry。 The Elias； coming from New England （Captain Hill； commander；） is sunk； only the captain and a few men saved。 She foundered in the sea。
21st。 This day for certain news is come that Teddiman hath brought in eighteen or twenty Dutchmen； merchants； their Bourdeaux fleet and two men of warr to Portsmouth。 And I had letters this afternoon； that three are brought into the Downes and Dover： so that the warr is begun： God give a good end to it！
22nd。 To my Lord Treasurer's； where with Sir Philip Warwick； studying all we could to make the last year swell as high as we could。 And it is much to see how he do study for the King； to do it to get all the money from the Parliament he can： and I shall be serviceable to him therein； to help him to heads upon which to enlarge the report of the expence。 He did observe to me how obedient this Parliament was for a while； and the last Session how they began to differ； and to carp at the King's officers； and what they will do now； he says； is to make agreement for the money； for there is no guess to be made of it。 He told me he was prepared to convince the Parliament that the Subsidys are a most ridiculous tax （the four last not rising to 40；000l。） and unequall。 He talks of a tax of assessment of 70；000l。 for five years； the people to be secured that it shall continue no longer than there is really a warr； and the charges thereof to be paid。 He told me； that one year of the late Dutch war； cost 1；623；000l。 Thence to my Lord Chancellor's and there staid long with Sir W。 Batten； and Sir J。 Minnes； to speak with my lord about our Prize Office business； but； being sick and full of visitants； we could not speak with him； and so away home。 Where Sir Richard Ford did meet us with letters from Holland this day； that it is likely the Dutch fleet will not come out this year； they have not victuals to keep them out； and it is likely they will be frozen before they can get back。 Captain Cocke is made Steward for sick and wounded seamen。
23rd。 Sir G。 Carteret was here this afternoon； and strange to see how we plot to make the charge of this war to appear greater than it is； because of getting money。
25th。 At my office all the morning； to prepare an account of the charge we have been put to extraordinary by the Dutch already； and I have brought it to appear 852；700l。： but God knows this is only a scare to the Parliament； to make them give the more money。 Thence to the Parliamen