they were, and I among them.  Here was old Mrs. Michell and Howlett, and several married women of the Hall, whom I knew mayds.  Here was also Mrs. Burroughs and Mrs. Bales, the young widow, whom I led home, and having staid till the moon was up, I took my pretty gossip to White Hall with us, and I saw her in her lodging, and then my owne company again took coach, and no sooner in the coach but something broke, that we were fain there to stay till a smith could be fetched, which was above an hour, and then it costing me 6s. to mend.  Away round by the wall and Cow Lane,

     [Cow Lane, West Smithfield (now named King Street), was famous for
     its coachmakers.]

for fear it should break again; and in pain about the coach all the way.  But to ease myself therein Betty Michell did sit at the same end with me . . . .  Being very much pleased with this, we at last come home, and so to supper, and then sent them by boat home, and we to bed.  When I come home I went to Sir W. Batten’s, and there I hear more ill newes still:  that all our New England fleete, which went out lately, are put back a third time by foul weather, and dispersed, some to one port and some to another; and their convoys also to Plymouth; and whether any of them be lost or not, we do not know.  This, added to all the rest, do lay us flat in our hopes and courages, every body prophesying destruction to the nation.

3rd.  Up, and, among a great many people that come to speak with me, one was my Lord Peterborough’s gentleman, who comes to me to dun me to get some money advanced for my Lord; and I demanding what newes, he tells me that at Court they begin to fear the business of Scotland more and more; and that the Duke of York intends to go to the North to raise an army, and that the King would have some of the Nobility and others to go and assist; but they were so served the last year, among others his Lord, in raising forces at their own charge, for fear of the French invading us, that they will not be got out now, without money advanced to them by the King, and this is like to be the King’s case for certain, if ever he comes to have need of any army.  He and others gone, I by water to Westminster, and there to the Exchequer, and put my tallys in a way of doing for the last quarter.  But my not following it the last week has occasioned the clerks some trouble, which I am sorry for, and they are mad at.  Thence at noon home, and there find Kate Joyce, who dined with me:  Her husband and she are weary of their new life of being an Innkeeper, and will leave it, and would fain get some office; but I know none the foole is fit for, but would be glad to help them, if I could, though they have enough to live on, God be thanked! though their loss hath been to the value of L3000 W. Joyce now has all the trade, she says, the trade being come to that end of the towne.  She dined with me, my wife being ill of her months in bed.  I left her with my wife,