5th (A holyday).  Lay long; then up, and to the office, where vexed to meet with people come from the fleete at the Nore, where so many ships are laid up and few going abroad, and yet Sir Thomas Allen hath sent up some Lieutenants with warrants to presse men for a few ships to go out this winter, while every day thousands appear here, to our great trouble and affright, before our office and the ticket office, and no Captains able to command one-man aboard.  Thence by water to Westminster, and there at the Swan find Sarah is married to a shoemaker yesterday, so I could not see her, but I believe I shall hereafter at good leisure.  Thence by coach to my Lady Peterborough, and there spoke with my Lady, who had sent to speak with me.  She makes mighty moan of the badness of the times, and her family as to money.  My Lord’s passionateness for want thereof, and his want of coming in of rents, and no wages from the Duke of York.  No money to be had there for wages nor disbursements, and therefore prays my assistance about his pension.  I was moved with her story, which she largely and handsomely told me, and promised I would try what I could do in a few days, and so took leave, being willing to keep her Lord fair with me, both for his respect to my Lord Sandwich and for my owne sake hereafter, when I come to pass my accounts.  Thence to my Lord Crew’s, and there dined, and mightily made of, having not, to my shame, been there in 8 months before.  Here my Lord and Sir Thomas Crew, Mr. John, and Dr. Crew, and two strangers.  The best family in the world for goodness and sobriety.  Here beyond my expectation I met my Lord Hinchingbroke, who is come to towne two days since from Hinchingbroke, and brought his sister and brother Carteret with him, who are at Sir G. Carteret’s.  After dinner I and Sir Thomas Crew went aside to discourse of public matters, and do find by him that all the country gentlemen are publickly jealous of the courtiers in the Parliament, and that they do doubt every thing that they propose; and that the true reason why the country gentlemen are for a land-tax and against a general excise, is, because they are fearful that if the latter be granted they shall never get it down again; whereas the land-tax will be but for so much; and when the war ceases, there will be no ground got by the Court to keep it up.  He do much cry out upon our accounts, and that all that they have had from the King hath been but estimates both from my Lord Treasurer and us, and from all people else, so that the Parliament is weary of it.  He says the House would be very glad to get something against Sir G. Carteret, and will not let their inquiries die till they have got something.  He do, from what he hath heard at the Committee for examining the burning of the City, conclude it as a thing certain that it was done by plots; it being proved by many witnesses that endeavours were made in several places to encrease the fire, and that both in City and country