28th Cold all night and this morning, and a very great frost they say abroad which is much, having had no summer at all almost.

September 2nd To dinner with my Lord Mayor and the Aldermen, and a very great dinner and most excellent venison, but it almost made me sick by not daring to drink wine After dinner into a withdrawing- room, and there we talked, among other things, of the Lord Mayor’s sword They tell me this sword is at least a hundred or two hundred years old, and another that he hath, which is called the Black Sword, which the Lord Mayor wears when he mournes, but properly is their Lenten sword to wear upon Good Friday and other Lent days is older than that Mr Lewellin lately come from Ireland tells me how the English interest falls mightily there, the Irish party being too great, so that most of the old rebells are found innocent, and their lands, which were forfeited and bought or given to the English, are restored to them, which gives great discontent there among the English Going through the City, my Lord Mayor told me how the piller set up by Exeter House is only to show where the pipes of water run to the City, and observed that this City is as well watered as any city in the world, and that the bringing of water to the City hath cost it first and last above £300,000, but by the new building, and the building of St James s by my Lord St Albans, which is now about (and which the City stomach I perceive highly, but dare not oppose it,) were it now to be done, it would not be done for a million of money.

4th To Westminster Hall, and there bought the first news books of L’Estrange’s⁷⁸ writing, he beginning this week, and makes, methinks, but a simple beginning This day I read a Proclamation for calling in and commanding every body to apprehend my Lord Bristoll.

5th I did inform myself well in things relating to the East Indys, both of the country, and the disappointment the King met with the last voyage, by the knavery of the Portugall Viceroy, and the inconsiderableness of the place of Bombaim,⁷⁹ if we had had it But, above all things, it seems strange to me that matters should not be understood before they went out, and also that such a thing as this, which was expected to be one of the best parts of the Queene’s portion, should not be better understood, it being, if we had it, but a poor place, and not really so as was described to our King in the draught of it, but a poor little island, whereas they made the King and Lord Chancellor, and other learned men about the King believe that that, and other islands which are near it were all one piece, and so the draught was drawn and presented to the King, and believed by the King and expected to prove so when our men come thither, but is quite otherwise.

12th Up betimes, and by water to White Hall and thence to Sir Philip Warwick, and there had half an hour’s private discourse with him and did give him some good satisfaction in our Navy matters, and he also me, as to the money paid and due to the Navy, so as he makes me assured by particulars that Sir G Carteret is paid within £80,000 every farthing that we owe to this day, nay to Michaelmas day next have demanded, and that, I am sure is above £50 000 more than truly our expences have been, whatever is become of the money Home with great content that I have thus begun an acquaintance with him, who is a great man, and a man of as much business as any man in England, which I will endeavour to deserve and keep.

22nd This day the King and Queene are to come to Oxford I hear my Lady Castlemaine is for certain gone to Oxford to meet him, having lain within here at home this week or two, supposed to have miscarried, but for certain is as great in favour as heretofore, at least Mrs Sarah at my Lord’s, who hears all from their own family, do say so Every day brings news of the Turke’s advance into Germany, to the awakeing of all the Christian Princes thereabouts, and possessing himself of Hungary.

24th I went forth by water to Sir Philip Warwick’s, where I was with him a pretty while, and in discourse he tells me and made it appear to me that the King cannot be in debt to the Navy at this time £5000 and it is my opinion that Sir G Carteret do owe the King money, and yet the whole Navy debt paid Thence I parted, being doubtful of myself that I have not spoke with the gravity and weight that I ought to do in so great a business But I rather hope it is my doubtfulness of myself, and the haste which he was in, some very great personages waiting for him without, while he was with me, that made him willing to be gone.