better estate than I am. Yet, blessed be God! and I pray God make me
thankful for it, I do find myself worth in money, all good, above L6,200;
which is above L1800 more than I was the last year. This, I trust in God,
will make me thankfull for what I have, and carefull to make up by care
next year what by my negligence and prodigality I have lost and spent this
year. The doing of this, and entering of it fair, with the sorting of all
my expenses, to see how and in what points I have exceeded, did make it
late work, till my eyes become very sore and ill, and then did give over,
and supper, and to bed. Thus ends this year of publick wonder and mischief
to this nation, and, therefore, generally wished by all people to have an
end. Myself and family well, having four mayds and one clerk, Tom, in my
house, and my brother, now with me, to spend time in order to his
preferment. Our healths all well, only my eyes with overworking them are
sore as candlelight comes to them, and not else; publick matters in a most
sad condition; seamen discouraged for want of pay, and are become not to
be governed: nor, as matters are now, can any fleete go out next year.
Our enemies, French and Dutch, great, and grow more by our poverty. The
Parliament backward in raising, because jealous of the spending of the
money; the City less and less likely to be built again, every body
settling elsewhere, and nobody encouraged to trade. A sad, vicious,
negligent Court, and all sober men there fearful of the ruin of the whole
kingdom this next year; from which, good God deliver us! One thing I
reckon remarkable in my owne condition is, that I am come to abound in
good plate, so as at all entertainments to be served wholly with silver
plates, having two dozen and a half.