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the King's musique。 I with Lord Bellasses； to Lord Chancellor's。 Lord Bellasses tells me how the King of France hath caused the stop to be made to our proposition of treating in the Hague； that he being greater than they； we may better come and treat at Paris： so that God knows what will become of the peace！ He tells me； too； as a grand secret； that he do believe the offensive and defensive between Spain and us is quite finished； but must not be known； to prevent the King of France's present falling upon Flanders。 He do believe the Duke of York will be made General of the Spanish Armies there； and Governor of Flanders； if the French should come against it； and we assist the Spaniard： that we have done the Spaniard abundance of mischief in the West Indys by our privateers at Jamaica； which they lament mightily； and I am sorry for it to have it done at this time。 By and by come to my Lord Chancellor； who heard mighty quietly my complaints for lack of money； and spoke mighty kind to me； but little hopes of help therein。
24th。 To White Hall； and there meeting my Lord Arlington； he by I know not what kindness offered to carry me along with him to my Lord Treasurer's； whither I told him I was going。 I believe he had a mind to discourse of some Navy businesses； but Sir Thomas Clifford coming into the coach to us； we were prevented； which I was sorry for； for I had a mind to begin an acquaintance with him。 He speaks well； and hath pretty slight superficial parts； I believe。 He； in our going； talked much of the plain habit of the Spaniards； how the King and Lords themselves wear but a cloak of Colchester bayze； and the ladies mantles in cold weather of white flannell： and that the endeavours frequently of setting up the manufactory of making these stuffs there； have only been prevented by the Inquisition。 Captain Cocke did tell me what I must not forget： that the answer of the Dutch； refusing the Hague for a place of treaty； and proposing Boysse； Bredah； Bergen…op…Soome； or Mastricht； was seemingly stopped by the Swedes Embassador （though he did show it the King； but the King would take no notice of it； nor does not；） from being delivered to the King； and he hath wrote to desire them to consider better of it。 So that； though we know their refusal of the place； yet they know not that we know it； nor the King obliged to show his sense of the affront。 That the Dutch are in very great straits； so as to be said to be not able to set out their fleet this year。 By and by comes Sir Robert Viner and Lord Mayor ＇Sir William Bolton。＇ to ask the King's direction about measuring out the streets according to the new Act for building of the City； wherein the King is to be pleased。 But he says that the way proposed in Parliament by Colonel Birch would have been the best； to have chosen some persons in trust； and sold the whole ground； and let it be sold again by them with preference to the old owner； which would have certainly caused the City to be built where these Trustees pleased； whereas now great differences will be； and the streets built by fits； and not entire till all differences be decided。 This； as he tells it； I think would have been the best way。 I enquired about the Frenchman that was said to fire the City； and was hanged for it by his own confession； that he was hired for it by a Frenchman of Roane； and that he did with a stick reach in a fire…ball in at a window of the house： whereas the master of the house； who is the King's baker； and his son； and daughter； do all swear there was no such window； and that the fire did not begin there…abouts。 Yet the fellow； who； though a mopish besotted fellow； did not speak like a madman； did swear that he did fire it： and did not this like a madman； for being tried on purpose and landed with his keeper at the Town… Wharf； he could carry the keeper to the very house。 Asking Sir R。 Viner what he thought was the cause of the fire； he tells me； that the baker； son； and his daughter； did all swear again and again； that their oven was drawn by ten o'clock at night： that having occasion to light a candle about twelve； there was not so much fire in the bakehouse as to light a match for a candle； so that they were fain to go into another place to light it： that about two in the morning they felt themselves almost choked with smoke； and rising did find the fire coming upstairs； so they rose to save themselves； but that at that time the bavins were not on fire in the yard。 So that they are； as they swear； in absolute ignorance how this fire should come； which is a strange thing； that so horrid an effect should have so mean and uncertain a beginning。
25th。 Lay long in bed； talking with pleasure with my poor wife； how she used to make coal fires； and wash my foul clothes with her own hand for me； poor wretch！ in our little room at my Lord Sandwich's； for which I ought for ever to love and admire her； and do： and persuade myself she would do the same thing again； if God should reduce us to it。 At my goldsmith's did observe the King's new medall； where in little there is Mrs。 Stewart's face as well done as ever I saw any thing in my whole life； I think： and a pretty thing it is； that he should choose her face to represent Brittannia by。
27th。 This day at a leisure； the King and Duke of York being gone down to Sheerenesse this morning to lay out the design for a fortification there to the river Medway； and so we do not attend the Duke or York as we should otherwise have done。 To the Dock Yard； and went into Mr。 Pett's； and there beyond expectation he did present me with a Japan cane with a silver head； and his wife sent me by him a ring with a Woolwich stone； now much in request； which I accepted； the values not being great： and then at my asking did give me an old draught of an ancient…built ship； given him by his father； of the Beare in Queene Elizabeth's time。 Mr。 Hunt； newly come out of the country； tells me the country is much impoverished by the greatness of taxes： the farmers do break every day almost； and 1000l。 a year become not worth 500l。 He told me some ridiculous pieces of thrift of Sir G。 Downing's； who is his countryman； in inviting some poor people at Christmas last； to charm the country people's mouths； but did give them nothing but beef； porridge； pudding； and pork； and nothing said all dinner； but only his mother would say； 〃It's good broth； son。〃 He would answer； 〃Yes； it is good broth。〃 Then says his lady； 〃Confirm all； and say； Yes； very good broth。〃 By and by she would begin and say； 〃Good pork：〃 〃Yes；〃 says the mother； 〃good pork。〃 Then he cries； 〃Yes； very good pork。〃 And so they said of all things； to which nobody made any answer； they going there not out of love or esteem of them； but to eat his victuals； knowing him to be a； niggardly fellow； and with this he is jeered now all over the country。 Met Mr。 Cooling； who tells me of my Lord Duke of Buckingham's being sent for last night by a Sergeant at Armes to the Tower for treasonable practices； and that the King is infinitely angry with him； and declared him no longer one of his Council。 I know not the reason of it； or occasion。
28th。 Mr。 Holland gives it me as his opinion； that the City wil