all the morning hiring of ships to go to Guinny, where we believe the warr
with Holland will first break out. At noon dined at home, and after
dinner my wife and I to Sir W. Pen's, to see his Lady, the first time, who
is a well-looked, fat, short, old Dutchwoman, but one that hath been
heretofore pretty handsome, and is now very discreet, and, I believe, hath
more wit than her husband. Here we staid talking a good while, and very
well pleased I was with the old woman at first visit. So away home, and I
to my office, my wife to go see my aunt Wight, newly come to town. Creed
came to me, and he and I out, among other things, to look out a man to
make a case, for to keep my stone, that I was cut of, in, and he to buy
Daniel's history, which he did, but I missed of my end. So parted upon
Ludgate Hill, and I home and to the office, where busy till supper, and
home to supper to a good dish of fritters, which I bespoke, and were done
much to my mind. Then to the office a while again, and so home to bed.
The newes of the Emperour's victory over the Turkes is by some doubted,
but by most confessed to be very small (though great) of what was talked,
which was 80,000 men to be killed and taken of the Turke's side.

20th. Up and to the office a while, but this day the Parliament meeting
only to be adjourned to November (which was done, accordingly), we did not
meet, and so I forth to bespeak a case to be made to keep my stone in,
which will cost me 25s. Thence I walked to Cheapside, there to see the
effect of a fire there this morning, since four o'clock; which I find in
the house of Mr. Bois, that married Dr. Fuller's niece, who are both out
of towne, leaving only a mayde and man in towne. It begun in their house,
and hath burned much and many houses backward, though none forward; and
that in the great uniform pile of buildings in the middle of Cheapside. I
am very sorry for them, for the Doctor's sake. Thence to the 'Change, and
so home to dinner. And thence to Sir W. Batten's, whither Sir Richard
Ford came, the Sheriffe, who hath been at this fire all the while; and he