Volume II Part 41 (2/2)

26th July, 1696 So little money in the nation that Exchequer Tallies, of which I had for 2,000 on the best fund in England, the Post Office, nobody would take at 30 per cent discount

3d August, 1696 The Bank lending the 200,000 to pay the array in Flanders, that had done nothing against the enemy, had so exhausted the treasure of the nation, that one could not have borrowed money under 14 or 15 per cent on bills, or on Exchequer Tallies under 30 per cent

Reasonable good harvest weather I went to Lambeth and dined with the Archbishop, who had been at Court on the coainst Dr Thomas Watson, Bishop of St David's, as suspended for simony The Archbishop told me how unsatisfied he ith the Canon law, and how exceedingly unreasonable all their pleadings appeared to hireat harvest after a cold, wet summer Scarcity in Scotland

6th Septehter of Mr Boscawen to the son of Sir Philip Meadows; she is niece to my Lord Godolphin, ust

After above six months' stay in London about Greenwich Hospital, I returned to Wotton

24th October, 1696 Unseasonable stormy weather, and an ill seedtime

November, 1696 Lord Godolphin retired from the Treasury, as the first Coer of all

8th Novean fiercely, but lasted not long

More plots talked of Search for Jacobites so called

15th-23d November, 1696 Very stormy weather, rain, and inundations

13th December, 1696 Continuance of extreme frost and snow

17th January, 1696-7 The severe frost and weather relented, but again froze with snow Conspiracies continue against King William Sir John Fenas beheaded

7th February, 1697 Severe frost continued with snow Soldiers in the ararrison towns frozen to death on their posts

(Here a leaf of the MS is lost)

17th August, 1697 I came to Wotton after three ht weather, but with sharp east wind My son came from London in his melancholy indisposition

12th September, 1697 Mr Duncombe, the rector, cah only living seven or eight s of the Peace

3d October, 1697 So great were the stor into the Texel

[Sidenote: LONDON]

16th Nove approaching that of King Charles II

2d Decereat Court at Whitehall The Bishop of Salisbury preached, or ratherconcluded with fireworks and illureat expense

5th December, 1697 Was the first Sunday that St Paul's had had service performed in it since it was burned in 1666

6th Decehts, and chief gentle The Duke of Norfolk promised to introduce it, but canificant cereht in in Cromwell's time, and has ever since continued with offers of life and fortune to whoever happened to have the power I dined at Sir Richard Onsloho treated alentlemen of Surrey When we had half dined, the Duke of Norfolk came in to make his excuse

12th Dece before the service began, staying for the Comptroller of the Inner Te Christ to custom

18th December, 1697 At Lambeth, to Dr Bentley, about the Library at St James's

23d December, 1697 I returned to Wotton