security.
I perceive by Mr. Moore today that he hath been with my Lord, and my
Lord how he takes it I know not, but he is looking after other security
and I am mighty glad of it. W. Howe was with me this afternoon, to
desire some things to be got ready for my Lord against his going down to
his ship, which will be soon; for it seems the King and both the Queenes
intend to visit him. The Lord knows how my Lord will get out of this
charge; for Mr. Moore tells me to-day that he is L10,000 in debt and
this will, with many other things that daily will grow upon him (while
he minds his pleasure as he do), set him further backward. But it was
pretty this afternoon to hear W. Howe mince the matter, and say that he
do believe that my Lord is in debt L2000 or L3000, and then corrected
himself and said, No, not so, but I am afraid he is in debt L1000. I
pray God gets me well rid of his Lordship as to his debt, and I care
not.

24th. Up and out with Captain Witham in several places again to look for
oats for Tangier, and among other places to the City granarys, where
it seems every company have their granary and obliged to keep such a
quantity of corne always there or at a time of scarcity to issue so much
at so much a bushell: and a fine thing it is to see their stores of
all sorts, for piles for the bridge, and for pipes, a thing I never saw
before.

[From the commencement of the reign of Henry VIII., or perhaps
earlier, it was the custom of the City of London to provide against
scarcity, by requiring each of the chartered Companies to keep in
store a certain quantity of corn, which was to be renewed from time
to time, and when required for that purpose, produced in the market
for sale, at such times and prices, and in such quantities, as the
Lord Mayor or Common Council should direct. See the report of a
case in the Court of Chancery, "Attorney-General v. Haberdashers'
Company" (Mylne and Keens "Reports," vol. i., p. 420).--B.]

Thence to the office, and there busy all the morning. At noon to my
uncle Wight's, and there dined, my wife being there all the morning.
After dinner to White Hall; and there met with Mr. Pierce, and he showed
me the Queene's bed-chamber, and her closett, where she had nothing but
some pretty pious pictures, and books of devotion; and her holy water at
her head as she sleeps, with her clock by her bed-side, wherein a lamp
burns that tells her the time of th