well last night as ever, flaying at tables in the house, and not very ill this morning at six o’clock, yet dead before seven:  they think, of an imposthume in his breast.  But it looks fearfully among people nowadays, the plague, as we hear, encreasing every where again.  To the Chappell, but could not get in to hear well.  But I had the pleasure once in my life to see an Archbishop (this was of Yorke) in a pulpit.  Then at a loss how to get home to dinner, having promised to carry Mrs. Hunt thither.  At last got my Lord Hinchingbroke’s coach, he staying at Court; and so took her up in Axe-yard, and home and dined.  And good discourse of the old matters of the Protector and his family, she having a relation to them.  The Protector

     [Richard Cromwell subsequently returned to England, and resided in
     strict privacy at Cheshunt for some years before his death in 1712]

lives in France:  spends about L500 per annum.  Thence carried her home again and then to Court and walked over to St. James’s Chappell, thinking to have heard a Jesuite preach, but come too late.  So got a hackney and home, and there to business.  At night had Mercer comb my head and so to supper, sing a psalm, and to bed.

9th.  Up betimes, and with my Joyner begun the making of the window in my boy’s chamber bigger, purposing it shall be a roome to eat and for having musique in.  To the office, where a meeting upon extraordinary business, at noon to the ’Change about more, and then home with Creed and dined, and then with him to the Committee of Tangier, where I got two or three things done I had a mind to of convenience to me.  Thence by coach to Mrs. Pierce’s, and with her and Knipp and Mrs. Pierce’s boy and girle abroad, thinking to have been merry at Chelsey; but being come almost to the house by coach near the waterside, a house alone, I think the Swan, a gentleman walking by called to us to tell us that the house was shut up of the sicknesse.  So we with great affright turned back, being holden to the gentleman; and went away (I for my part in great disorder) for Kensington, and there I spent about 30s. upon the jades with great pleasure, and we sang finely and staid till about eight at night, the night coming on apace and so set them down at Pierce’s, and so away home, where awhile with Sir W. Warren about business, and then to bed,

10th.  Up betimes, and many people to me about business.  To the office and there sat till noon, and then home and dined, and to the office again all the afternoon, where we sat all, the first time of our resolution to sit both forenoons and afternoons.  Much business at night and then home, and though late did see some work done by the plasterer to my new window in the boy’s chamber plastered.  Then to supper, and after having my head combed by the little girle to bed.  Bad news that the plague is decreased in the general again and two increased in the sickness.