t fell a-thundering and lightening, the
greatest flashes enlightening the whole body of the yard, that ever I
saw in my life.

6th. Up betimes and to my office a good while at my new rulers, then to
business, and towards noon to the Exchange with Creed, where we met with
Sir J. Minnes coming in his coach from Westminster, who tells us, in
great heat, that, by God, the Parliament will make mad work; that they
will render all men incapable of any military or civil employment that
have borne arms in the late troubles against the King, excepting some
persons; which, if it be so, as I hope it is not, will give great cause
of discontent, and I doubt will have but bad effects. I left them at the
Exchange and walked to Paul's Churchyard to look upon a book or two, and
so back, and thence to the Trinity House, and there dined, where, among
other discourse worth hearing among the old seamen, they tell us that
they have catched often in Greenland in fishing whales with the iron
grapnells that had formerly been struck into their bodies covered over
with fat; that they have had eleven hogsheads of oyle out of the tongue
of a whale. Thence after dinner home to my office, and there busy till
the evening. Then home and to supper, and while at supper comes Mr.
Pembleton, and after supper we up to our dancing room and there danced
three or four country dances, and after that a practice of my coranto I
began with him the other day, and I begin to think that I shall be able
to do something at it in time. Late and merry at it, and so weary to
bed.

7th. Up betimes and to my office awhile, and then by water with my wife,
leaving her at the new Exchange, and I to see Dr. Williams, and spoke
with him about my business with Tom Trice, and so to my brother's, who
I find very careful now-a-days, more than ordinary in his business and
like to do well. From thence to Westminster, and there up and down from
the Hall to the Lobby, the Parliament sitting. Sir Thomas Crew this
day tells me that the Queen, hearing that there was L40,000 per annum
brought into her account among the other expences of the Crown to the
Committee of Parliament, she took order to let them know that she hath
yet for the payment of her whole family received but L4,000, which is
a notable act of spirit, and I believe is true. So by coach to my Lord
Crew's, and there dined with him. He tells me of the order the House of
Commons have made for the drawing an Act for the rendering