This he tells as a most known and certain truth。
25th。 Found ourselves come to the fleet； and so aboard the Prince； and there； after a good while in discourse； we did agree a bargain of 5000l。 for my Lord Sandwich for silk； cinnamon； nutmegs； and indigo。 And I was near signing to an undertaking for the payment of the whole sum： but I did by chance escape it； having since； upon second thoughts； great cause to be glad of it； reflecting upon the craft and not good condition； it may be of； Captain Cocke。
27th。 To Captain Cocke's； and （he not yet come from town） to Mr。 Evelyn； where much company； and thence in his coach with him to the Duke of Albemarle by Lambeth； who was in a mighty pleasant humour； and tells us that the Dutch do stay abroad； and our fleet must go out again； or be ready to do so。 Here we got several things ordered as we desired for the relief of the prisoners； and sick and wounded men。 Here I saw this week's Bill of Mortality； wherein； blessed be God！ there is above 1800 decrease； being the first considerable decrease we have had。 Most excellent discourse with Mr。 Evelyn touching all manner of learning； wherein I find him a very fine gentleman； and particularly of paynting； in which he tells me the beautifull Mrs。 Middleton is rare； and his own wife do brave things。
29th。 Sir Martin Noell ＇He had been a Farmer of the Excise and Customs before the Restoration。 The messenger described in Hudibras； Part III。 Canto II。 1407； as disturbing the Cabal with the account of the mobs burning Rumps； is said to have keen intended for Sir Martin Noell。＇ is this day dead of the plague in London。
October 1； 1665。 Embarked on board the Bezan； and come to the fleet about two of the clock。 My Lord received us mighty kindly； and did discourse to us of the Dutch fleet being abroad； eighty… five of them still。
2nd。 Having sailed all night； （and I do wonder how they in the dark could find the way） we got by morning to Gillingham； and thence all walked to Chatham； and there with Commissioner Pett viewed the Yard； and among other things； a team of four horses come close by us； he being with me； drawing a piece of timber that I am confident one man could easily have carried upon his back； I made the horses be taken away； and a man or two to take the timber away with their hands。
3rd。 Sir W。 Batten is gone this day to meet to adjourne the Parliament to Oxford。 This night I hear that of our two watermen that used to carry our letters； and were well on Saturday last； one is dead； and the other dying sick of the plague； the plague； though decreasing elsewhere； yet being greater about the Tower and thereabouts。
4th。 This night comes Sir George Smith to see me at the office； and tells me how the plague is decreased this week 740； for which God be praised！ but that it encreases at our end of the town still。
5th。 Read a book of Mr。 Evelyn's translating and sending me as a present； about directions for gathering a Library； but the book is above my reach； but his epistle to my Lord Chancellor is a very fine piece。 Then to Mr。 Evelyn's to discourse of our confounded business of prisoners； and sick and wounded seamen； wherein he and we are so much put out of order。 And here he showed me his gardens； which are for variety of evergreens； and hedge of holly； the finest things I ever saw in my life。 Thence in his coach to Greenwich； and there to my office； all the way having fine discourse of trees and the nature of vegetables。
7th。 Did business； though not much； at the office； because of the horrible crowd and lamentable moan of the poor seamen that lie starving in the streets for lack of money。 Which do trouble and perplex me to the heart； and more at noon when we were to go through them； for then above a whole hundred of them followed us； some cursing； some swearing； and some praying to us。 At night come two waggons from Rochester with more goods from Captain Cocke； and in housing them come two of the Custom…house； and did seize them： but I showed them my TRANSIRE。 However； after some angry words； we locked them up； and sealed up the key； and did give it to the constable to keep till Monday； and so parted。 But； Lord！ to think how the poor constable come to me in the dark going home； 〃Sir；〃 says he； 〃I have the key； and if you would have me do any service for you； send for me betimes to… morrow morning； and I will do what you would have me。〃 Whether the fellow do this out of kindness or knavery； I cannot tell； but it is pretty to observe。 Talking with him in the high way； come close by the bearers with a dead corpse of the plague； but； Lord！ to see what custom is； that I am come almost to think nothing of it。
8th。 To the office； where ended my business with the Captains； and I think of twenty…two ships we shall make shift to get out seven。 （God help us！ men being sick； or provisions lacking。）
9th。 Called upon by Sir John Shaw to whom I did give a civil answer about our prize goods； that all his dues as one of the Farmers of the Customes are paid； and showed him our TRANSIRE； with which he was satisfied； and parted。
11th； We met Mr。 Seamour； one of the Commissioners for Prizes； and a Parliament…man； and he was mighty high； and had now seized our goods on their behalf； and he mighty imperiously would have all forfeited。 But I could not but think it odd that a Parliament…man； in a serious discourse before such persons as we and my Lord Brouncker； and Sir John Minnes； should quote Hudibras； as being the book I doubt he hath read most。
12th。 Good news this week that there are about 600 less dead of the plague than the last。
13th。 Sir Jer。 Smith； ＇A distinguished Naval Officer； made a Commissioner of the Navy； vice Sir W。 Pen； 1669。＇ to see me in his way to Court； and a good man he is； and one that I must keep fair with。
14th。 My heart and head to…night is full of the Victualling business； being overjoyed and proud at my success in my proposal about it； it being read before the King； Duke； and the Caball with complete applause and satisfaction。 This Sir G。 Carteret and Sir W。 Coventry both writ me。 My own proper accounts are in great disorder； having been neglected about a month。 This； and the fear of the sickness； and providing for my family； do fill my head very full； besides the infinite business of the office； and nobody here to look after it but myself。
15th。 The Parliament； it seems； have voted the King 1；250；000l。 at 50；000l。 per month； tax for the war； and voted to assist the King against the Dutch； and all that shall adhere to them； and thanks to be given him for his care of the Duke of York； which last is a very popular vote on the Duke's behalf。 The taxes of the last assessment； which should have been in good part gathered； are not yet laid； and that even in part of the City of London； and the Chimny…money comes almost to nothing； nor any thing else looked after。
16th。 I walked to the Tower； but； Lord！ how empty the streets are and melancholy； so many poor sick people in the streets full of sores； and so many sad stories overheard as I walk； every body talking of this dead； and that man sick； and so many in this place； and so many in that。 And they tell me that； in Westminster； there is never a physician and but one apothecary left； all being dead； but that there are great hopes of a great decrease this week： God send it！ At the Tower found my Lord Duke and Duchesse at dinner； so I sat down。 And much good cheer； the Lieutenant and his lady； and several officers with the Duke。 But； Lord！ to hear the silly talk was there； would make one mad； the Duke having none almost but fools about him。 I have received letters from my Lord Sandwich today； speaking very high about the prize goods； that he would have us to fear nobody； but be very confident in what we have done； and not to confess any fault or doubt of what he hath done； for the King hath allowed it； and do now confirm it； and send orders； as he says； for nothing to be disturbed that his Lordshipp hath ordered therein as to the division of the goods to the fleet which do comfort us。 Much talk there is of the Chancellor's speech and the King's at the Parliament's meeting； which are very well liked； and that we shall certainly； by their speeches； fall out with France at this time； together with the Dutch； which will find us work。
26th。 Sir Christopher Mings and I together by water to the Tower； and I find him a very witty well…spoken fellow； and mighty free to tell his parentage； being a shoemaker's son。 I to the 'Change； where I hear how the French have taken two and sunk one of our merchant…men in the Straights； and carried the ships to Toulon： so that there is no expectation but we must fall out with them。 The 'Change pretty full； and the town begins to be lively again； though the streets very empty； and most shops shut。
27th。 The Duke of Albemarle proposed to me from Mr。 Coventry； that I should be Surveyor…Generall of the Victualling business； which I accepted。 But； indeed； the terms in which Mr。 Coventry proposes it for me are the most obliging that ever I could expect from any man； and more； he saying that I am the fittest man in England； and that he is sure； if I will undertake； I will per