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 Killigrew⁸⁶ preach 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 Today 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 1st After dinner I to Guild Hall to hear a trial at King’s Bench, before Lord Chief Justice Hide,⁸⁷ 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’s 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