4th。　　Walked　home；　my　Lord　Brouncker　giving　me　a　very　neat　cane　to　walk　with；　but　it　troubled　me　to　pass　by　Coome　farme　where　about　twenty…one　people　have　died　of　the　plague。
  5th。　　After　dinner　comes　Colonel　Blunt　in　his　new　chariot　made　with　springs；　as　that　was　of　wicker；　wherein　a　while　since　we　rode　at　his　house。　　And　he　hath　rode；　he　says；　now　his　journey；　many　miles　in　it　with　one　horse；　and　out…drives　any　coach；　and　out…goes　any　horse；　and　so　easy；　he　says。　　So　for　curiosity　I　went　into　it　to　try　it；　and　up　the　hill　to　the　heath；　and　over　the　cart…ruts　and　found　it　pretty　well；　but　not　so　easy　as　he　pretends。
  6th。　　To　London；　to　pack　up　more　things；　and　there　I　saw　fires　burning　in　the　streets；　as　it　is　through　the　whole　City；　by　the　Lord　Mayor's　order。　　Thence　by　water　to　the　Duke　of　Albemarle's：　all　the　way　fires　on　each　side　of　the　Thames；　and　strange　to　see　in　broad　daylight　two　or　three　burials　upon　the　Bankeside；　one　at　the　very　heels　of　another：　　doubtless　all　of　the　plague；　and　yet　at　least　forty　or　fifty　people　going；　along　with　every　one　of　them。　　The　Duke　mighty　pleasant　with　me；　telling　me　that　he　is　certainly　informed；　that　the　Dutch　were　not　come　home　upon　the　1st　instant；　and　so　he　hopes　our　fleet　may　meet　with　them。
  7th。　　To　the　Tower；　and　there　sent　for　the　Weekly　Bill；　and　find　8252　dead　in　all；　and　of　them　6978　of　the　plague；　which　is　a　most　dreadful　number；　and　shows　reason　to　fear　that　the　plague　hath　got　that　hold　that　it　will　yet　continue　amongst　us。　　To　Swakely　＇Swakeley　House；　in　the　parish　of　Ickenham；　Middlesex；　was　built　in　1638　by　Sir　Edmund　Wright；　whose　daughter　marrying　Sir　James　Harrington；　one　of　Charles　I。's　judges；　he　became　possessed　of　it；　JURE　UXORIS。　　Sir　Robert　Vyner　Bart。；　to　whom　the　property　was　sold　in　1665；　entertained　Charles　II。　at　　Guildhall；　when　Lord　Mayor。　　The　house　is　now　the　residence　of　Thomas　Clarke；　Esq。；　whose　father　in　1750　bought　the　estate　of　Mr。　Lethieullier；　to　whom　it　had　been　alienated　by　the　Vyner　family。LYSONS'S　ENVIRONS。＇　　to　Sir　R。　Viner's。　　A　very　pleasant　place；　bought　by　him　of　Sir　James　Harrington's　lady。　　He　took　us　up　and　down　with　great　respect；　and　showed　us　all　his　house　and　grounds；　and　it　is　a　place　not　very　moderne　in　the　garden　nor　house；　but　the　most　uniforme　in　all　that　ever　I　saw；　and　some　things　to　excess。　Pretty　to　see　over　the　screene　of　the　hall　（put　up　by　Sir　J。　Harrington；　a　Long　Parliament　man）　the　King's　head；　and　my　Lord　of　Essex　＇The　Parliament　General。＇　　on　one　side；　and　Fairfax　on　the　other；　and　upon　the　other　side　of　the　screene；　the　parson　of　the　parish；　and　the　lord　of　the　manor　and　his　sisters。　　The　window…cases；　door…cases；　and　chimnys　of　all　the　house　are　marble。　　He　showed　me　a　black　boy　that　he　had；　that　died　of　a　consumption；　and　being　dead；　he　caused　him　to　be　dried　in　an　oven；　and　lies　there　entire　in　a　box。　　By　and　by　to　dinner；　where　his　lady　I　find　yet　handsome；　but　hath　been　a　very　handsome　woman：　　now　is　old。　　Hath　brought　him　near　100；000l。　and　now　lives；　no　man　in　England　in　greater　plenty；　and　commands　both　King　and　Council　with　his　credit　he　gives　them。　　After　dinner　Sir　Robert　led　us　up　to　his　long　gallery；　very　fine；　above　stairs；　（and　better；　or　such　furniture　I　never　did　see。）　　A　most　pleasant　journey　we　had　back。　　Povy　tells　me　by　a　letter　he　showed　me；　that　the　King　is　not；　nor　hath　been　of　late；　very　well；　but　quite　out　of　humour；　and；　as　some　think；　in　a　consumption；　and　weary　of　every　thing。　　He　showed　me　my　Lord　Arlington's　house　that　he　was　born　in；　in　a　towne；　called　Harlington：　　and　so　carried　me　through　a　most　pleasant　country　to　Brainford；　and　there　put　me　into　my　boat；　and　good　night。　　So　I　wrapped　myself　warm；　and　by　water　got　to　Woolwich　about　one　in　the　morning。
  9th。　　I　was　forced　to　get　a　bed　at　Captain　Cocke's；　where　I　find　Sir　W。　Doyly；　＇Sir　William　Doyly；　of　Shottisham；　Norfolk；　knighted　1642；　created　Baronet　1663；　M。P。　for　Yarmouth。　　Ob。　1677。　　He　and　Mr。　Evelyn　were　at　this　time　appointed　Commissioners　for　the　care　of　the　sick　and　wounded　seamen　and　prisoners　of　war。＇　　and　he　and　Evelyn　at　supper；　and　I　with　them　full　of　discourse　of　the　neglect　of　our　masters；　the　great　officers　of　State；　about　all　business；　and　especially　that　of　money：　　having　now　some　thousands　prisoners　kept　to　no　purpose　at　a　great　charge；　and　no　money　provided　almost　for　the　doing　of　it。　We　fell　to　talk　largely　of　the　want　of　some　persons　understanding　to　look　after　businesses；　but　all　goes　to　rack。　　〃For；〃　says　Captain　Cocke；　〃my　Lord　Treasurer；　he　minds　his　ease；　and　lets　things　go　how　they　will：　　If　he　can　have　his　8000l。　per　annum；　and　a　game　at　l'ombre；　he　is　well。　　My　Lord　Chancellor　he　minds　getting　of　money　and　nothing　else；　and　my　Lord　Ashly　will　rob　the　Devil　and　the　Alter；　but　he　will　get　money　if　it　be　to　be　got。〃　But　that　which　put　us　into　this　great　melancholy；　was　news　brought　to…day；　which　Captain　Cocke　reports　as　a　certain　truth；　that　all　the　Dutch　fleet；　men…of…war　and　merchant　East　India　ships；　are　got　every　one　in　from　Bergen　the　3rd　of　this　month；　Sunday　last；　which　will　make　us　all　ridiculous。
  10th　（Lord's　day）。　　Walked　home；　being　forced　thereto　by　one　of　my　watermen　falling　sick　yesterday；　and　it　was　God's　great　mercy　I　did　not　go　by　water　with　them　yesterday；　for　he　fell　sick　on　Saturday　night；　and　it　is　to　be　feared　of　the　plague。　　So　I　sent　him　away　to　London　with　his　family；　but　another　boat　come　to　me　this　morning。　　My　wife　before　I　come　out　telling　me　the　ill　news　that　she　hears　that　her　father　is　very　ill；　and　then　I　told　her　I　feared　of　the　plague；　for　that　the　house　is　shut　up。　　And　so　she　much　troubled；　and　did　desire　me　to　send　them　something　and　I　said　I　would；　and　will　do　so。　　But　before　I　come　out　there　happened　news　to　come　to　me　by　an　expresse　from　Mr。　Coventry；　telling　the　most　happy　news　of　my　Lord　Sandwich's　meeting　with　part　of　the　Dutch；　his　taking　two　of　their　East　India　ships；　and　six　or　seven　others；　and　very　good　prizes：　　and　that　he　is　in　search　of　the　rest　of　the　fleet；　which　he　hopes　to　find　upon　the　Well…bancke；　with　the　loss　only　of　the　Hector；　poor　Captn。　Cuttle。　　To　Greenwich；　and　there　sending　away　Mr。　Andrews；　I　to　Captn。　Cocke's；　where　I　find　my　Lord　Brouncker　and　his　mistress；　＇Mrs。　Williams。＇　and　Sir　J。　Minnes。　　Where　we　supped；　（there　was　also　Sir　W。　Doyly　and　Mr。　Evelyn；）　but　the　receipt　of　this　news　did　put　us　all　into　such　an　extasy　of　joy；　that　it　inspired　into　Sir　J。　Minnes　and　Mr。　Evelyn　such　a　spirit　of　mirth；　that　in　all　my　life　I　never　met　with　so　merry　a　two　hours　as　our　company　this　night　was。　　Among　other　humours；　Mr。　Evelyn's　repeating　of　some　verses　made　up　of　nothing　but　the　various　acceptations　of　MAY　and　CAN；　and　doing　it　so　aptly　upon　occasion　of　something　of　that　nature；　and　so　fast；　did　make　us　all　die　almost　with　laughing；　and　did　so　stop　the　mouth　of　Sir　J。　Minnes　in　the　middle　of　all　his　mirth；　（and　in　a　thing　agreeing　with　his　own　manner　of　genius）　that　I　never　saw　any　man　so　out…done　in　all　my　life；　and　Sir　J。　Minnes's　mirth　too　to　see　himself　out…done；　was　the　crown　of　all　our　mirth。　　In　this　humour　we　sat　till　about　ten　at　night；　and　so　my　Lord　and　his　mistress　home；　and　we　to　bed。
  13th。　　My　Lord　Brouncker；　Sir　J。　Minnes；　and　I　took　boat；　and　in　my　Lord's　coach　to　Sir　W。　Hickes's；　＇Sir　William　Hickes；　created　a　baronet　1619。　　Ob。　1680；　aged　84。　　His　country…seat　was　called　Ruckholts；　or　Rookwood；　at　Layton；　in　Essex；　where　he　entertained　King　Charles　II。　after　hunting。＇　　whither　by　and　by　my　Lady　Batten　and　Sir　William　comes。　　It　is　a　good　seat；　with　a　fair　grove　of　trees　by　it；　and　the　remains　of　a　good　garden；　but　so　let　to　run　to　ruine；　both　house　and　every　thing　in　and　about　it；　so　ill　furnished　and　miserably　looked　after；　I　never　did　see　in　all　my　life。　　Not　so　much　as　a　latch　to　his　dining…room　door；　which　saved　him　nothing；　for　the　wind　blowing　into　the　room　for　want　thereof；　flung　down　a　great　bow　pott；　that　stood　upon　the　side…table；　and　that　fell　upon　some　Venice　glasses；　and　did　him　a　crown's　worth　of　hurt。　　He　did　give　us　the　meanest　dinner；　（of　beef　shoulder　and　umbles　of　venison　which　he　takes　away　from　the　keeper　of　the　Forest；　＇Of　which　he　was　Ranger。＇　　and　a　few　pigeons；　and　all　in　the　meanest　manner；）　that　ever　I　did　see；　to　the　basest　degree。　　I　was　only　pleased　at　a　very　fine　picture　of　the　Queene…Mother；　when　she　was　young；　by　Vandike；　a　very　good　picture；　and　a　lovely　face。
  14th。　　To　the　Duke　of　Albemarle；　where　I　find　a　letter　of　the　12th。　from　Solebay；　from　my　Lord　Sandwich；　of　the　fleet's　meeting　with　about　eighteen　more　of　the　Dutch　fleet；　and　his　taking　of　most　of　them；　and　the　messenger　says；　they　had　taken　three　after　the　letter　was　wrote　and　sealed；　which　being　twenty…one；　and　the　fourteen　took　the　other　day；　is　forty…five　sail；　some　of　which　are　good；　and　others　rich　ships。　　And　having　taken　a　copy　of　my　Lord's　letter；　I　away　toward　the　'Change；　the　plague　being　all　thereabouts。　　Here　my　news　was　highly　welcome；　and　I　did　wonder　to　see　the　'Change　so　full；　I　believe　200　people；　but　not　a　man　or　merchant　of　any　fashion；　but　plain　men　all。　　And　Lord！　　to　see　how　I　did　endeavour　all　I　could　to　talk　with　as　few　as　I　could；　there　being　now　no　observation　of　shutting　up　of　houses　inf