er's contract, and draw up some arguments for him to plead for
his charges in transportation of goods beyond the ports which the letter
of one article in his contract do lay upon him. This done I home to
supper and to bed. Troubled a little at my fear that my Lord Bruncker
should tell Sir W. Coventry of our neglecting the office this afternoon
(which was intended) to look after our pleasures, but nothing will fall
upon me alone about this.

15th. Up, and pleased at Tom's teaching of Barker something to sing a 3rd
part to a song, which will please mightily. So I to the office all the
morning, and at noon to the 'Change, where I do hear that letters this day
come to Court do tell us that we are likely not to agree, the Dutch
demanding high terms, and the King of France the like, in a most braving
manner. The merchants do give themselves over for lost, no man knowing
what to do, whether to sell or buy, not knowing whether peace or war to
expect, and I am told that could that be now known a man might get L20,000
in a week's time by buying up of goods in case there should be war.
Thence home and dined well, and then with my wife, set her at Unthanke's
and I to Sir G. Carteret, where talked with the ladies a while, and my
Lady Carteret talks nothing but sorrow and afflictions coming on us, and
indeed I do fear the same. So away and met Dr. Fuller, Bishop of
Limricke, and walked an hour with him in the Court talking of newes only,
and he do think that matters will be bad with us. Then to Westminster
Hall, and there spent an hour or two walking up and down, thinking 'para
avoir' got out Doll Lane, 'sed je ne' could do it, having no opportunity
'de hazer le, ainsi lost the tota' afternoon, and so away and called my
wife and home, where a little at the office, and then home to my closet to
enter my journalls, and so to supper and to bed. This noon come little
Mis. Tooker, who is grown a little woman; ego had opportunity 'para baiser
her . . . . This morning I was called up by Sir John Winter, poor man!
come in his sedan from the other end of the town, before I was up, and
merely about the King's business, which is a worthy thing of him, and I
believe him to be a worthy good man, and I will do him the right to tell
the Duke of it, who did speak well of him the other day. It was about
helping the King in the business of bringing down his timber to the
sea-side, in the Forest of Deane.

16th. Up, and to the office, whe