account of what the debts
of nineteen of the twenty-five ships that should have been paid off,
is increased since the adjournment of the Parliament, they being to sit
again to-morrow. This 5th of November is observed exceeding well in the
City; and at night great bonfires and fireworks. At night Mr. Moore came
and sat with me, and there I took a book and he did instruct me in many
law notions, in which I took great pleasure. To bed.

6th. In the morning with Sir W. Batten and Pen by water to Westminster,
where at my Lord's I met with Mr. Creed. With him to see my Lord's
picture (now almost done), and thence to Westminster Hall, where we
found the Parliament met to-day, and thence meeting with Mr. Chetwind,
I took them to the Sun, and did give them a barrel of oysters, and had
good discourse; among other things Mr. Chetwind told me how he did fear
that this late business of the Duke of York's would prove fatal to my
Lord Chancellor. From thence Mr. Creed and I to Wilkinson's, and dined
together, and in great haste thence to our office, where we met all, for
the sale of two ships by an inch of candle

[The old-fashioned custom of sale by auction by inch of candle was
continued in sales by the Admiralty to a somewhat late date. See
September 3rd, 1662.]

(the first time that ever I saw any of this kind), where I observed how
they do invite one another, and at last how they all do cry,--[To cry
was to bid.]--and we have much to do to tell who did cry last. The ships
were the Indian, sold for L1,300, and the Half-moon, sold for L830.
Home, and fell a-reading of the tryalls of the late men that were hanged
for the King's death, and found good satisfaction in reading thereof. At
night to bed, and my wife and I did fall out about the dog's being put
down into the cellar, which I had a mind to have done because of his
fouling the house, and I would have my will, and so we went to bed and
lay all night in a quarrel. This night I was troubled all night with a
dream that my wife was dead, which made me that I slept ill all night.

7th (Office day). This day my father came to dine at my house, but being
sent for in the morning I could not stay, but went by water to my Lord,
where I dined with him, and he in a very merry humour (present Mr.
Borfett and Childe) at dinner: he, in discourse of the great opinion of
the virtue--gratitude (which he did account the greatest thing in the
world to him, and had, therefore,