him, and may, possibly, prove of good use to the King; for it is possible,
in the hurry of business, they may not think of it at Court, and the
charge of an express is not considerable to the King. So though I intend
Gibson no further than to Huntingdon I direct him to send the packet
forward. My business the most of the afternoon is listening to every body
that comes to the office, what news? which is variously related, some
better, some worse, but nothing certain. The King and Duke of York up and
down all the day here and there: some time on Tower Hill, where the City
militia was; where the King did make a speech to them, that they should
venture themselves no further than he would himself. I also sent, my mind
being in pain, Saunders after my wife and father, to overtake them at
their night's lodgings, to see how matters go with them. In the evening,
I sent for my cousin Sarah [Gyles] and her husband, who come; and I did
deliver them my chest of writings about Brampton, and my brother Tom's
papers, and my journalls, which I value much; and did send my two silver
flaggons to Kate Joyce's: that so, being scattered what I have, something
might be saved. I have also made a girdle, by which, with some trouble, I
do carry about me L300 in gold about my body, that I may not be without
something in case I should be surprised: for I think, in any nation but
our's, people that appear (for we are not indeed so) so faulty as we,
would have their throats cut. In the evening comes Mr. Pelling, and
several others, to the office, and tell me that never were people so
dejected as they are in the City all over at this day; and do talk most
loudly, even treason; as, that we are bought and sold--that we are
betrayed by the Papists, and others, about the King; cry out that the
office of the Ordnance hath been so backward as no powder to have been at
Chatham nor Upnor Castle till such a time, and the carriages all broken;
that Legg is a Papist; that Upnor, the old good castle built by Queen
Elizabeth, should be lately slighted; that the ships at Chatham should not
be carried up higher. They look upon us as lost, and remove their
families and rich goods in the City; and do think verily that the French,
being come down with his army to Dunkirke, it is to invade us, and that we
shall be invaded. Mr. Clerke, the, solicitor, comes to me about business,
and tells me that he hears that the King hath chosen Mr. Pierpont and
Vaughan of the W