it was bragged by several Papists that upon such a
day or in such a time we should find the hottest weather
that ever was in England, and words of plainer sense.
But my Lord Crew was discoursing at table how the
judges have determined in the case whether the landlords
or the tenants (who are, in their leases, all of them
generally tied to maintain and uphold their houses)
shall bear the losse of the fire; and they say that
tenants should against all casualties of fire beginning
either in their owne or in their neighbour’s;
but, where it is done by an enemy, they are not to
do it. And this was by an enemy, there having
been one convicted and hanged upon this very score.
This is an excellent salvo for the tenants, and for
which I am glad, because of my father’s house.
After dinner and this discourse I took coach, and at
the same time find my Lord Hinchingbroke and Mr. John
Crew and the Doctor going out to see the ruins of
the City; so I took the Doctor into my hackney coach
(and he is a very fine sober gentleman), and so through
the City. But, Lord! what pretty and sober
observations he made of the City and its desolation;
till anon we come to my house, and there I took them
upon Tower Hill to shew them what houses were pulled
down there since the fire; and then to my house, where
I treated them with good wine of several sorts, and
they took it mighty respectfully, and a fine company
of gentlemen they are; but above all I was glad to
see my Lord Hinchingbroke drink no wine at all.
Here I got them to appoint Wednesday come se’nnight
to dine here at my house, and so we broke up and all
took coach again, and I carried the Doctor to Chancery
Lane, and thence I to White Hall, where I staid walking
up and down till night, and then got almost into the
play house, having much mind to go and see the play
at Court this night; but fearing how I should get
home, because of the bonefires and the lateness of
the night to get a coach, I did not stay; but having
this evening seen my Lady Jemimah, who is come to
towne, and looks very well and fat, and heard how Mr.
John Pickering is to be married this week, and to
a fortune with L5000, and seen a rich necklace of
pearle and two pendants of dyamonds, which Sir G.
Carteret hath presented her with since her coming to
towne, I home by coach, but met not one bonefire through
the whole town in going round by the wall, which is
strange, and speaks the melancholy disposition of the
City at present, while never more was said of, and
feared of, and done against the Papists than just
at this time. Home, and there find my wife and
her people at cards, and I to my chamber, and there
late, and so to supper and to bed.
6th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning sitting. At noon home to dinner, and after dinner down alone by water to Deptford, reading “Duchesse of Malfy,” the play, which is pretty good, and there did some business, and so up again, and all the evening at the office. At night home, and there find Mr. Batelier, who supped with us, and good company he is, and so after supper to bed.