's' book upon the Bills of
Mortality, new printed and enlarged. Thence to my office awhile, full of
business, and thence by coach to the Duke of Albemarle's, not meeting one
coach going nor coming from my house thither and back again, which is very
strange. One of my chief errands was to speak to Sir W. Clerke about my
wife's brother, who importunes me, and I doubt he do want mightily, but I
can do little for him there as to employment in the army, and out of my
purse I dare not for fear of a precedent, and letting him come often to me
is troublesome and dangerous too, he living in the dangerous part of the
town, but I will do what I can possibly for him and as soon as I can.
Mightily troubled all this afternoon with masters coming to me about Bills
of Exchange and my signing them upon my Goldsmiths, but I did send for
them all and hope to ease myself this weeke of all the clamour. These two
or three days Mr. Shaw at Alderman Backewell's hath lain sick, like to
die, and is feared will not live a day to an end. At night home and to
bed, my head full of business, and among others, this day come a letter to
me from Paris from my Lord Hinchingbroke, about his coming over; and I
have sent this night an order from the Duke of Albemarle for a ship of 36
guns to [go] to Calais to fetch him.

26th. Up, and after doing a little business, down to Deptford with Sir W.
Batten, and there left him, and I to Greenwich to the Park, where I hear
the King and Duke are come by water this morn from Hampton Court. They
asked me several questions. The King mightily pleased with his new
buildings there. I followed them to Castle's ship in building, and there,
met Sir W. Batten, and thence to Sir G. Carteret's, where all the morning
with them; they not having any but the Duke of Monmouth, and Sir W.
Killigrew, and one gentleman, and a page more. Great variety of talk, and
was often led to speak to the King and Duke. By and by they to dinner,
and all to dinner and sat down to the King saving myself, which, though I
could not in modesty expect, yet, God forgive my pride! I was sorry I was
there, that Sir W. Batten should say that he could sit down where I could
not, though he had twenty times more reason than I, but this was my pride
and folly. I down and walked with Mr. Castle, who told me the design of
Ford and Rider to oppose and do all the hurt they can to Captain Taylor in
his new ship "The London," and how it comes, and that they a