13th.  Old East comes to me in the morning with letters, and I did give him a bottle of Northdown ale, which made the poor man almost drunk.  In the afternoon my wife went to the burial of a child of my cozen Scott’s, and it is observable that within this month my Aunt Wight was brought to bed of two girls, my cozen Stradwick of a girl and a boy, and my cozen Scott of a boy, and all died.  In the afternoon to Westminster, where Mr. Dalton was ready with his money to pay me for my house, but our writings not being drawn it could not be done to-day.  I met with Mr. Hawly, who was removing his things from Mr. Bowyer’s, where he has lodged a great while, and I took him and W. Bowyer to the Swan and drank, and Mr. Hawly did give me a little black rattoon,—­[Probably an Indian rattan cane.]—­painted and gilt.  Home by water.  This day the Duke of Gloucester died of the small-pox, by the great negligence of the doctors.

14th (Office day).  I got L42 15s. appointed me by bill for my employment of Secretary to the 4th of this month, it being the last money I shall receive upon that score.  My wife went this afternoon to see my mother, who I hear is very ill, at which my heart is very sad.  In the afternoon Luellin comes to my house, and takes me out to the Mitre in Wood Street, where Mr. Samford, W. Symons and his wife, and Mr. Scobell, Mr. Mount and Chetwind, where they were very merry, Luellin being drunk, and I being to defend the ladies from his kissing them, I kissed them myself very often with a great deal of mirth.  Parted very late, they by coach to Westminster, and I on foot.

15th.  Met very early at our office this morning to pick out the twenty-five ships which are to be first paid off:  After that to Westminster and dined with Mr. Dalton at his office, where we had one great court dish, but our papers not being done we could [not] make an end of our business till Monday next.  Mr. Dalton and I over the water to our landlord Vanly, with whom we agree as to Dalton becoming a tenant.  Back to Westminster, where I met with Dr. Castles, who chidd me for some errors in our Privy-Seal business; among the rest, for letting the fees of the six judges pass unpaid, which I know not what to say to, till I speak to Mr. Moore.  I was much troubled, for fear of being forced to pay the money myself.  Called at my father’s going home, and bespoke mourning for myself, for the death of the Duke of Gloucester.  I found my mother pretty well.  So home and to bed.

16th (Sunday).  To Dr. Hardy’s church, and sat with Mr. Rawlinson and heard a good sermon upon the occasion of the Duke’s death.  His text was, “And is there any evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it?” Home to dinner, having some sport with Win. [Hewer], who never had been at Common Prayer before.  After dinner I alone to Westminster, where I spent my time walking up and down in Westminster Abbey till sermon time with Ben.  Palmer and Fetters the watchmaker, who told me that my Lord of Oxford is also dead of the small-pox; in whom his family dies, after 600 years having that honour in their family and name.  From thence to the Park, where I saw how far they had proceeded in the Pell-mell, and in making a river through the Park, which I had never seen before since it was begun.