particular vain humours of Mr. Povy, which are very extraordinary indeed.
After supper I to Sir W. Batten's, where I found him, Sir W. Pen, Sir J.
Robinson, Sir R. Ford and Captain Cocke and Mr. Pen, junior. Here a great
deal of sorry disordered talk about the Trinity House men, their being
exempted from land service. But, Lord! to see how void of method and
sense their discourse was, and in what heat, insomuch as Sir R. Ford (who
we judged, some of us, to be a little foxed) fell into very high terms
with Sir W. Batten, and then with Captain Cocke. So that I see that no
man is wise at all times. Thence home to prayers and to bed.

30th. This is solemnly kept as a Fast all over the City, but I kept my
house, putting my closett to rights again, having lately put it out of
order in removing my books and things in order to being made clean. At
this all day, and at night to my office, there to do some business, and
being late at it, comes Mercer to me, to tell me that my wife was in bed,
and desired me to come home; for they hear, and have, night after night,
lately heard noises over their head upon the leads. Now it is strange to
think how, knowing that I have a great sum of money in my house, this puts
me into a most mighty affright, that for more than two hours, I could not
almost tell what to do or say, but feared this and that, and remembered
that this evening I saw a woman and two men stand suspiciously in the
entry, in the darke; I calling to them, they made me only this answer, the
woman said that the men came to see her; but who she was I could not tell.
The truth is, my house is mighty dangerous, having so many ways to be come
to; and at my windows, over the stairs, to see who goes up and down; but,
if I escape to-night, I will remedy it. God preserve us this night safe!
So at almost two o'clock, I home to my house, and, in great fear, to bed,
thinking every running of a mouse really a thiefe; and so to sleep, very
brokenly, all night long, and found all safe in the morning.