, to see his Lady, the first time,
who is a well-looked, fat, short, old Dutchwoman, but one that hath been
heretofore pretty handsome, and is now very discreet, and, I believe,
hath more wit than her husband. Here we staid talking a good while, and
very well pleased I was with the old woman at first visit. So away home,
and I to my office, my wife to go see my aunt Wight, newly come to town.
Creed came to me, and he and I out, among other things, to look out a
man to make a case, for to keep my stone, that I was cut of, in, and he
to buy Daniel's history, which he did, but I missed of my end. So parted
upon Ludgate Hill, and I home and to the office, where busy till supper,
and home to supper to a good dish of fritters, which I bespoke, and were
done much to my mind. Then to the office a while again, and so home
to bed. The newes of the Emperour's victory over the Turkes is by some
doubted, but by most confessed to be very small (though great) of what
was talked, which was 80,000 men to be killed and taken of the Turke's
side.

20th. Up and to the office a while, but this day the Parliament meeting
only to be adjourned to November (which was done, accordingly), we did
not meet, and so I forth to bespeak a case to be made to keep my stone
in, which will cost me 25s. Thence I walked to Cheapside, there to see
the effect of a fire there this morning, since four o'clock; which I
find in the house of Mr. Bois, that married Dr. Fuller's niece, who are
both out of towne, leaving only a mayde and man in towne. It begun in
their house, and hath burned much and many houses backward, though none
forward; and that in the great uniform pile of buildings in the middle
of Cheapside. I am very sorry for them, for the Doctor's sake. Thence
to the 'Change, and so home to dinner. And thence to Sir W. Batten's,
whither Sir Richard Ford came, the Sheriffe, who hath been at this fire
all the while; and he tells me, upon my question, that he and the Mayor
were there, as it is their dutys to be, not only to keep the peace, but
they have power of commanding the pulling down of any house or houses,
to defend the whole City. By and by comes in the Common Cryer of the
City to speak with him; and when he was gone, says he, "You may see
by this man the constitution of the Magistracy of this City; that this
fellow's place, I dare give him (if he will be true to me) L1000 for
his profits every year, and expect to get L500 more to myself thereby.
When