January 1st. Up, and all the morning in my chamber making up someaccounts against this beginning of the new year, and so about noonabroad with my wife, who was to dine with W. Hewer and Willet at Mrs.Pierces, but I had no mind to be with them, for I do clearly find thatmy wife is troubled at my friendship with her and Knepp, and so dinedwith my Lord Crew, with whom was Mr. Browne, Clerk of the House ofLords, and Mr. John Crew. Here was mighty good discourse, as there isalways: and among other things my Lord Crew did turn to a place inthe Life of Sir Philip Sidney, wrote by Sir Fulke Greville, which doforetell the present condition of this nation, in relation to theDutch, to the very degree of a prophecy; and is so remarkable that Iam resolved to buy one of them, it being, quite throughout, a gooddiscourse. Here they did talk much of the present cheapness of corne,even to a miracle; so as their farmers can pay no rent, but do flingup their lands; and would pay in corne: but, which I did observe to myLord, and he liked well of it, our gentry are grown so ignorant in everything of good husbandry, that they know not how to bestow this corne:which, did they understand but a little trade, they would be able tojoyne together, and know what markets there are abroad, and send itthither, and thereby ease their tenants and be able to pay themselves.They did talk much of the disgrace the Archbishop is fallen under withthe King, and the rest of the Bishops also. Thence I after dinner t