Carteret, and promise of present payment from Mr. Fenn, which do rejoice
my heart, it being one of the heaviest things I had upon me, that so much
of the little I have should lie (viz. near L1000) in the King's hands.
Here very merry and (Sir G. Carteret being gone presently after dinner) to
Captain Cocke's, and there merry, and so broke up and I by water to the
Duke of Albemarle, with whom I spoke a great deale in private, they being
designed to send a fleete of ships privately to the Streights. No news
yet from our fleete, which is much wondered at, but the Duke says for
certain guns have been heard to the northward very much. It was dark
before I could get home, and so land at Church-yard stairs, where, to my
great trouble, I met a dead corps of the plague, in the narrow ally just
bringing down a little pair of stairs. But I thank God I was not much
disturbed at it. However, I shall beware of being late abroad again.

16th. Up, and after doing some necessary business about my accounts at
home, to the office, and there with Mr. Hater wrote letters, and I did
deliver to him my last will, one part of it to deliver to my wife when I
am dead. Thence to the Exchange, where I have not been a great while.
But, Lord! how sad a sight it is to see the streets empty of people, and
very few upon the 'Change. Jealous of every door that one sees shut up,
lest it should be the plague; and about us two shops in three, if not
more, generally shut up. From the 'Change to Sir G. Smith's' with Mr.
Fenn, to whom I am nowadays very complaisant, he being under payment of my
bills to me, and some other sums at my desire, which he readily do. Mighty
merry with Captain Cocke and Fenn at Sir G. Smith's, and a brave dinner,
but I think Cocke is the greatest epicure that is, eats and drinks with
the greatest pleasure and liberty that ever man did. Very contrary newes
to-day upon the 'Change, some that our fleete hath taken some of the Dutch
East India ships, others that we did attaque it at Bergen and were
repulsed, others that our fleete is in great danger after this attaque by