interfered when he was in prison in Austria and in danger of
execution.]

to discourse with us about his engine to blow up ships. We doubted not
the matter of fact, it being tried in Cromwell's time, but the safety of
carrying them in ships; but he do tell us, that when he comes to tell the
King his secret (for none but the Kings, successively, and their heirs
must know it), it will appear to be of no danger at all. We concluded
nothing; but shall discourse with the Duke of York to-morrow about it. In
the afternoon, after we had done with him, I went to speak with my uncle
Wight and found my aunt to have been ill a good while of a miscarriage, I
staid and talked with her a good while. Thence home, where I found that
Sarah the maid had been very ill all day, and my wife fears that she will
have an ague, which I am much troubled for. Thence to my lute, upon which
I have not played a week or two, and trying over the two songs of "Nulla,
nulla," &c., and "Gaze not on Swans," which Mr. Berkenshaw set for me a
little while ago, I find them most incomparable songs as he has set them,
of which I am not a little proud, because I am sure none in the world has
them but myself, not so much as he himself that set them. So to bed.

15th. With Sir G. Carteret and both the Sir Williams at Whitehall to wait
on the Duke in his chamber, which we did about getting money for the Navy
and other things. So back again to the office all the morning. Thence to
the Exchange to hire a ship for the Maderas, but could get none. Then
home to dinner, and Sir G. Carteret and I all the afternoon by ourselves
upon business in the office till late at night. So to write letters and
home to bed. Troubled at my maid's being ill.

16th (Lord's day). This morning, till churches were done, I spent going
from one church to another and hearing a bit here and a bit there. So to