Diary, July 1667 | Page 5

old mistress my wife. They gone, I to my chamber, and
there dallied a little with my maid Nell . . . . and so to the office where
busy till night, and then comes Mrs. Turner, and walks with me in the
garden to talk with me about her husband's business, and to tell me how
she hears at the other end of the town how bad our office is spoken of
by the King and Prince and Duke of Albemarle, and that there is not a
good word said of any of us but of me; and me they all do speak
mightily of, which, whether true or no, I am mighty glad to hear, but
from all put together that I hear from other people, I am likely to pass
as well as anybody. So, she gone, comes my wife and to walk in the
garden, Sir J. Minnes being still ill and so keeping us from singing, and
by and by Sir W. Pen come and walked with us and gave us a bottle of
Syder, and so we home to supper and to bed. This day I am told that
poor Tooker is dead, a very painfull poor man as ever I knew.

3rd. Up, and within most of the morning, my tailor's boy coming to
alter something in my new suit I put on yesterday. Then to the office
and did business, and then (my wife being a little ill of those in bed) I
to Sir W. Batten's and dined, and there comes in Sir Richard Ford, tells
us how he hath been at the Sessions-house, and there it is plain that

there is a combination of rogues in the town, that do make it their
business to set houses on fire, and that one house they did set on fire in
Aldersgate Streete last Easter; and that this is proved by two young
men, whom one of them debauched by degrees to steal their fathers'
plate and clothes, and at last to be of their company; and they had their
places to take up what goods were flung into the streets out of the
windows, when the houses were on fire; and this is like to be proved to
a great number of rogues, whereof five are already found, and some
found guilty this day. One of these boys is the son of a Montagu, of my
Lord Manchester's family; but whose son he could not tell me. This is a
strange thing methinks, but I am glad that it is proved so true and
discovered. So home, and to enter my Journall of my late journey to
this hour, and then to the office, where to do a little business, and then
by water to White Hall (calling at Michell's in my way, but the rogue
would not invite me in, I having a mind para voir his wife), and there to
the Council- chamber, to deliver a letter to their Lordships about the
state of the six merchantmen which we have been so long fitting out.
When I come, the King and the whole table full of Lords were hearing
of a pitifull cause of a complaint of an old man, with a great grey beard,
against his son, for not allowing him something to live on; and at last
come to the ordering the son to allow his father L10 a year. This cause
lasted them near two hours; which, methinks, at this time to be the
work of the Council-board of England, is a scandalous thing, and
methought Sir W. Coventry to me did own as much. Here I find all the
newes is the enemy's landing 3,000 men near Harwich,
[Richard Browne, writing to Williamson from Aldeburgh, on July 2nd,
says: "The Dutch fleet of 80 sail has anchored in the bay; they were
expected to land, but they tacked about, and stood first northward and
then southward, close by Orford lighthouse, and have now passed the
Ness towards Harwich; they have fired no guns, but made false fires"
("Calendar of State Papers," 1667, p. 258).]
and attacking Landguard Fort, and being beat off thence with our great
guns, killing some of their men, and they leaving their ladders behind
them; but we had no Horse in the way on Suffolk side, otherwise we
might have galled their Foot. The Duke of York is gone down thither
this day, while the General sat sleeping this afternoon at the
Council-table. The news so much talked of this Exchange, of a peace, I

find by Sir Richard Browne arises from a letter the Swedes' agent hath
received from Bredah and shewed at Court to-day, that they are come
very near it, but I do not find anybody here relying upon