ce, where my Lord Bruncker and I only all the morning,
and did business. At noon to the Exchange and to Sir Rob. Viner's
about settling my accounts there. So back home and to dinner, where Mr.
Holliard dined with us, and pleasant company he is. I love his company,
and he secures me against ever having the stone again. He gives it me,
as his opinion, that the City will never be built again together, as is
expected, while any restraint is laid upon them. He hath been a great
loser, and would be a builder again, but, he says, he knows not what
restrictions there will be, so as it is unsafe for him to begin. He
gone, I to the office, and there busy till night doing much business,
then home and to my accounts, wherein, beyond expectation, I succeeded
so well as to settle them very clear and plain, though by borrowing of
monies this month to pay D. Gawden, and chopping and changing with my
Tangier money, they were become somewhat intricate, and, blessed be God;
upon the evening my accounts, I do appear L6800 creditor: This done,
I to supper about 12 at night, and so to bed. The weather for three or
four days being come to be exceeding cold again as any time this year. I
did within these six days see smoke still remaining of the late fire
in the City; and it is strange to think how, to this very day, I cannot
sleep at night without great terrors of fire, and this very night I
could not sleep till almost two in the morning through thoughts of fire.
Thus this month is ended with great content of mind to me, thriving in
my estate, and the affairs in my offices going pretty well as to myself.
This afternoon Mr. Gawden was with me and tells me more than I knew
before--that he hath orders to get all the victuals he can to Plymouth,
and the Western ports, and other outports, and some to Scotland, so that
we do intend to keep but a flying fleete this year; which, it may be,
may preserve us a year longer, but the end of it must be ruin. Sir J.
Minnes this night tells me, that he hears for certain, that ballads are
made of us in Holland for begging of a peace; which I expected, but am
vexed at. So ends this month, with nothing of weight upon my mind, but
for my father and mother, who are both very ill, and have been so for
some weeks: whom God help! but I do fear my poor father will hardly be
ever thoroughly well again.

MARCH 1666-1667

March 1st. Up, it being very cold weather again after a good deal of
warm summer weather, and