him to pay me above L400 of my wages, and W. Hewer received it for me, and
brought it home this night. Thence I meeting Mr. Moore went toward the
other end of the town by coach, and spying Mercer in the street, I took
leave of Moore and 'light and followed her, and at Paul's overtook her and
walked with her through the dusty street almost to home, and there in
Lombard Street met The. Turner in coach, who had been at my house to see
us, being to go out of town to-morrow to the Northward, and so I promised
to see her tomorrow, and then home, and there to our business, hiring some
fire-ships, and receiving every hour almost letters from Sir W. Coventry,
calling for more fire-ships; and an order from Council to enable us to
take any man's ships; and Sir W. Coventry, in his letter to us, says he do
not doubt but at this time, under an invasion, as he owns it to be, the
King may, by law, take any man's goods. At this business late, and then
home; where a great deal of serious talk with my wife about the sad state
we are in, and especially from the beating up of drums this night for the
trainbands upon pain of death to appear in arms to-morrow morning with
bullet and powder, and money to supply themselves with victuals for a
fortnight; which, considering the soldiers drawn out to Chatham and
elsewhere, looks as if they had a design to ruin the City and give it up
to be undone; which, I hear, makes the sober citizens to think very sadly
of things. So to bed after supper, ill in my mind. This afternoon Mrs.
Williams sent to me to speak with her, which I did, only about news. I
had not spoke with her many a day before by reason of Carcasses business.

12th. Up very betimes to our business at the office, there hiring of more
fire-ships; and at it close all the morning. At noon home, and Sir W. Pen
dined with us. By and by, after dinner, my wife out by coach to see her
mother; and I in another, being afraid, at this busy time, to be seen with
a woman in a coach, as if I were idle, towards The. Turner's; but met Sir
W. Coventry's boy; and there in his letter find that the Dutch had made no