the first thing of that
nature I did ever give her. Great fears we have that the plague will be a
great Bill this weeke.

15th. Up by 4 o'clock and walked to Greenwich, where called at Captain
Cocke's and to his chamber, he being in bed, where something put my last
night's dream into my head, which I think is the best that ever was
dreamt, which was that I had my Lady Castlemayne in my armes and was
admitted to use all the dalliance I desired with her, and then dreamt that
this could not be awake, but that it was only a dream; but that since it
was a dream, and that I took so much real pleasure in it, what a happy
thing it would be if when we are in our graves (as Shakespeere resembles
it) we could dream, and dream but such dreams as this, that then we should
not need to be so fearful of death, as we are this plague time. Here I
hear that news is brought Sir G. Carteret that my Lord Hinchingbrooke is
not well, and so cannot meet us at Cranborne to-night. So I to Sir G.
Carteret's; and there was sorry with him for our disappointment. So we
have put off our meeting there till Saturday next. Here I staid talking
with Sir G. Carteret, he being mighty free with me in his business, and
among other things hath ordered Rider and Cutler to put into my hands
copper to the value of L5,000 (which Sir G. Carteret's share it seems come
to in it), which is to raise part of the money he is to layout for a
purchase for my Lady Jemimah. Thence he and I to Sir J. Minnes's by
invitation, where Sir W. Batten and my Lady, and my Lord Bruncker, and all
of us dined upon a venison pasty and other good meat, but nothing well
dressed. But my pleasure lay in getting some bills signed by Sir G.
Carteret, and promise of present payment from Mr. Fenn, which do rejoice
my heart, it being one of the heaviest things I had upon me, that so much
of the little I have should lie (viz. near L1000) in the King's hands.
Here very merry and (Sir G. Carteret being gone presently after dinner) to
Captain Cocke's, and there merry, and so broke up and I by water to the
Duke of Albemarle, with whom I spoke a great deale in private, they being
designed to send a fleete of ships privately to the Streights. No news
yet from our fleete, which is much wondered at, but the Duke says for
certain guns have been heard to the northward very much. It was dark
before I could get home, and so land at Church-yard stairs, where, to my
great trouble, I met a dead corps of th