that was writing he and
I talked about merchandise, trade, and getting of money. I made it my
business to enquire what way there is for a man bred like me to come to
understand anything of trade. He did most discretely answer me in
all things, shewing me the danger for me to meddle either in ships or
merchandise of any sort or common stocks, but what I have to keep at
interest, which is a good, quiett, and easy profit, and once in a little
while something offers that with ready money you may make use of money
to good profit. Wherein I concur much with him, and parted late with
great pleasure and content in his discourse, and so home to supper and
to bed. It has been this afternoon very hot and this evening also, and
about 11 at night going to bed it fell a-thundering and lightening, the
greatest flashes enlightening the whole body of the yard, that ever I
saw in my life.

6th. Up betimes and to my office a good while at my new rulers, then to
business, and towards noon to the Exchange with Creed, where we met with
Sir J. Minnes coming in his coach from Westminster, who tells us, in
great heat, that, by God, the Parliament will make mad work; that they
will render all men incapable of any military or civil employment that
have borne arms in the late troubles against the King, excepting some
persons; which, if it be so, as I hope it is not, will give great cause
of discontent, and I doubt will have but bad effects. I left them at the
Exchange and walked to Paul's Churchyard to look upon a book or two, and
so back, and thence to the Trinity House, and there dined, where, among
other discourse worth hearing among the old seamen, they tell us that
they have catched often in Greenland in fishing whales with the iron
grapnells that had formerly been struck into their bodies covered over
with fat; that they have had eleven hogsheads of oyle out of the tongue
of a whale. Thence after dinner home to my office, and there busy till
the evening. Then home and to supper, and while at supper comes Mr.
Pembleton, and after supper we up to our dancing room and there danced
three or four country dances, and after that a practice of my coranto I
began with him the other day, and I begin to think that I shall be able
to do something at it in time. Late and merry at it, and so weary to
bed.

7th. Up betimes and to my office awhile, and then by water with my wife,
leaving her at the new Exchange, and I to see Dr. Williams, and spoke
with h