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my Lord Ashly； and afterwards to my Lord Chancellor； who is very well pleased with me； and my carrying of his business。 And so to the 'Change； where mighty busy； and so home to dinner； where Mr。 Creed and Moore： and after dinner I to my Lord Treasurer's； to Sir Philip Warwick there； and then to White Hall； to the Duke of Albemarle； about Tangier； and then homeward to the Coffee…house to hear news。 And it seems the Dutch； as I afterwards found by Mr。 Coventry's letters； have stopped a ship of masts of Sir W。 Warren's； coming for us in a Swede's ship； which they will not release upon Sir G。 Downing's claiming her： which appears as the first act of hostility； and is looked upon as so by Mr。 Coventry。 The Elias； coming from New England （Captain Hill； commander；） is sunk； only the captain and a few men saved。 She foundered in the sea。
21st。 This day for certain news is come that Teddiman hath brought in eighteen or twenty Dutchmen； merchants； their Bourdeaux fleet and two men of warr to Portsmouth。 And I had letters this afternoon； that three are brought into the Downes and Dover： so that the warr is begun： God give a good end to it！
22nd。 To my Lord Treasurer's； where with Sir Philip Warwick； studying all we could to make the last year swell as high as we could。 And it is much to see how he do study for the King； to do it to get all the money from the Parliament he can： and I shall be serviceable to him therein； to help him to heads upon which to enlarge the report of the expence。 He did observe to me how obedient this Parliament was for a while； and the last Session how they began to differ； and to carp at the King's officers； and what they will do now； he says； is to make agreement for the money； for there is no guess to be made of it。 He told me he was prepared to convince the Parliament that the Subsidys are a most ridiculous tax （the four last not rising to 40；000l。） and unequall。 He talks of a tax of assessment of 70；000l。 for five years； the people to be secured that it shall continue no longer than there is really a warr； and the charges thereof to be paid。 He told me； that one year of the late Dutch war； cost 1；623；000l。 Thence to my Lord Chancellor's and there staid long with Sir W。 Batten； and Sir J。 Minnes； to speak with my lord about our Prize Office business； but； being sick and full of visitants； we could not speak with him； and so away home。 Where Sir Richard Ford did meet us with letters from Holland this day； that it is likely the Dutch fleet will not come out this year； they have not victuals to keep them out； and it is likely they will be frozen before they can get back。 Captain Cocke is made Steward for sick and wounded seamen。
23rd。 Sir G。 Carteret was here this afternoon； and strange to see how we plot to make the charge of this war to appear greater than it is； because of getting money。
25th。 At my office all the morning； to prepare an account of the charge we have been put to extraordinary by the Dutch already； and I have brought it to appear 852；700l。： but God knows this is only a scare to the Parliament； to make them give the more money。 Thence to the Parliament House； and there did give it to Sir Philip Warwick； the House being hot upon giving the King a supply of money。 Mr。 Jenings tells me the mean manner that Sir Samuel Morland lives near him； in a house he hath bought and laid out money upon； in all to the value of 1200l。； but is believed to be a beggar。 At Sir W。 Batten's I hear that the House have given the King 2；500；000l。 to be paid for this war； only for the Navy； in three years' time： which is a joyful thing to all the King's party I see； but was much opposed by Mr。 Vaughan and others； that it should be so much。
28th。 Certain news of our peace made by Captain Allen with Argier； and that the Dutch have sent part of their fleet round by Scotland； and resolve to pay off the rest half…pay； promising the rest in the spring； hereby keeping their men。 But how true this； I know not。
DECEMBER 3； 1664。 The Duke of York is expected to…night with great joy from Portsmouth； after his having been abroad at sea； three or four days with the fleet； and the Dutch are all drawn into their harbours。 But it seems like a victory： and a matter of some reputation to us it is； and blemish to them； but in no degree like what it is esteemed at； the weather requiring them to do so。
5th。 Up； and to White Hall with Sir J。 Minnes； and there； among an infinite crowd of great persons； did kiss the Duke's hand； but had no time to discourse。
6th。 To the Old Exchange； and there hear that the Dutch are fitting their ships out again； which puts us to new discourse； and to alter our thoughts of the Dutch； as to their want of courage or force。
15th。 It seems； of all mankind there is no man so led by another as the Duke is by Lord Muskerry ＇Eldest son of the Earl of Cloncarty。 He had served with distinction in Flanders； as colonel of an infantry regiment； and was killed on board the Duke of York's ship； in the sea fight； 1665。＇ and this FitzHarding。 Insomuch； as when； the King would have him to be Privy…Purse； the Duke wept； and said； 〃But； Sir； I must have your promise； if you will have my dear Charles from me； that if ever you have an occasion for an army again； I may have him with me； believing him to be the best commander of an army in the world。〃 But Mr。 Cholmly thinks； as all other men I meet with do； that he is a very ordinary fellow。 It is strange how the Duke also do love naturally； and affect the Irish above the English。 He； of the company he carried with him to sea； took above two thirds Irish and French。 He tells me the King do hate my Lord Chancellor； and that they； that is the King and Lord FitzHarding； do laugh at him for a dull fellow； and in all this business of the Dutch war do nothing by his advice； hardly consulting him。 Only he is a good minister in other respects； and the King cannot be without him； but； above all； being the Duke's father…in…law； he is kept in； otherwise FitzHarding were able to fling down two of him。 This； all the wise and grave lords see； and cannot help it； but yield to it。 But he bemoans what the end of it may be； the King being ruled by these men； as he hath been all along since his coming to the rasing all the strong…holds in Scotland； and giving liberty to the Irish in Ireland； whom Cromwell had settled all in one corner； who are now able； and it is feared every day a massacre beginning among them。
17th。 Mighty talk there is of this Comet that is seen a'nights； and the King and Queene did sit up last night to see it； and did； it seems。 And to…night I thought to have done so too； but it is cloudy； and so no stars appear。 But I will endeavour it。 Mr。 Gray did tell me to…night； for certain； that the Dutch； as high as they seem； do begin to buckle； and that one man in this kingdom did tell the King that he is offered 40；000l。 to make a peace； and others have been offered money also。 It seems the taking of their Bourdeaux fleet thus； arose from a printed Gazette of the Dutch's boasting of fighting； and having beaten the English： in confidence whereof； （it coming to Bourdeaux；） all the fleet comes out； and so falls into our