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t the reason of it； or occasion。
28th。 Mr。 Holland gives it me as his opinion； that the City will never be built again together； as is expected； while any restraint is laid upon them。 I did within these six days see smoke still remaining of the late fire in the City。 Sir J。 Minnes this night tells me that he hears for certain that ballads are made of us in Holland for begging of a peace； which I expected； but am vexed at。 So ends this month with nothing of weight upon my mind but for my father and mother； who are both very ill； and have been so for some weeks： whom God help！ but I do fear my poor father will hardly be ever naturally well again。
March 1； 1666…7。 In Mark…lane I do observe （it being St。 David's day） the picture of a man； dressed like a Welchman； hanging by the neck upon one of the poles that stand out at the top of one of the merchant's houses； in full proportion； and very handsomely done； which is one of the oddest sights I have seen a good while。 Tom Woodall； the known chyrurgeon； is killed at Somerset House by a Frenchman in a drunken quarrel。
2nd。 After dinner with my wife to the King's house to see 〃The Mayden Queene；〃 a new play of Dryden's； mightily commended for the regularity of it； and the strain and wit： and the truth is； there is a comical part done by Nell； which is Florimell； that I never can hope ever to see the like done again by man or woman。 The King and Duke of York were at the play。 But so great performance of a comical part was never； I believe； in the world before as Nell do this； both as a mad girle； then most and best of all when she comes in like a young gallant； and hath the motions and carriage of a spark the most that ever I saw any man have。 It makes me； I confess； admire her。
3rd。 it is believed that the Dutch will yield to have the treaty at London or Dover； neither of which will get our King any credit； we having already consented to have it at the Hague； which； it seems； De Witt opposed； as a thing wherein the King of England must needs have some profound design； which in my conscience he hath not。 They do also tell me that news is this day come to the King； that the King of France is come with his army to the frontiers of Flanders； demanding leave to pass through their country towards Poland； but is denied； and thereupon that he is gone into the country。 How true this is I dare not believe till I hear more。 I walked into the Park； it being a fine but very cold day； and there took two or three turns the length of the Pell Mell： and there I met Serjeant Bearcroft； who was sent for the Duke of Buckingham； to have brought him prisoner to the Tower。 He come to town this day； and brings word that being overtaken and outrid by the Duchesse of Buckingham within a few miles of the Duke's house of Westhorp； he believes she got thither about a quarter of an hour before him； and so had time to consider； so that when he come the doors were kept shut against him。 The next day coming with officers of the neighbour market…town to force open the doors； they were open for him； but the Duke gone： so he took horse presently； and heard upon the road that the Duke of Buckingham was gone before him for London： so that he believes he is this day also come to town before him； but no news is yet heard of him。 This is all he brings。 Thence to my Lord Chancellor's； and there meeting Sir H。 Cholmly； he and I walked in my Lord's garden； and talked among other things； of the treaty； and he says there will certainly be a peace； but I cannot believe it。 He tells me that the Duke of Buckingham his crimes； as far as he knows； are his being of a cabal with some discontented persons of the late House of Commons； and opposing the desires of the King in all his matters in that House： and endeavouring to become popular； and advising how the Commons' House should proceed； and how he would order the House of Lords。 And that he hath been endeavouring to have the King's nativity calculated： which was done； and the fellow now in the Tower about it： which itself hath heretofore； as he says； been held treason； and people died for it： but by the Statute of Treason in Queen Mary's time and since； it hath been left out。 He tells me that this silly Lord hath provoked by his ill carriage the Duke of York； my Lord Chancellor； and all the great persons； and therefore most likely will die。 He tells me too many pratices of treachery against this King； as betraying him in Scotland； and giving Oliver an account of the King's private councils： which the King knows very well； and yet hath pardoned him。
6th。 To White Hall； and here the Duke of York did acquaint us （and the King did the like also afterwards coming in） with his resolution of altering the manner of the war this year： that is； we shall keep what fleet we have abroad in several squadrons： so that now all is come out； but we are to keep it as close as we can； without hindering the work that is to be done in preparation to this。 Great preparations there are to fortify Sheerenesse and the yard at Portsmouth； and forces are drawing down to both those places； and elsewhere by the sea…side； so that we have some fear of invasion： and the Duke of York himself did declare his expectation of the enemy's blocking us up here in the river； and therefore directed that we should send away all the ships that we have to fit out hence。 Sir W。 Pen told me； going with me this morning to White Hall； that for certain the Duke of Buckingham is brought into the Tower； and that he hath had an hour's private conference with the King before he was sent thither。 Every body complains of the dearness of coals； being at 4l。 per chaldron； the weather too being become most bitter cold； the King saying to…day that it was the coldest day he ever knew in England。 Thence by coach to my Lord Crewe's； where very welcome。 Here I find they are in doubt where the Duke of Buckingham is； which makes me mightily reflect on the uncertainty of all history； when in a business of this moment； and of this day's growth； we cannot tell the truth。
7th。 To Devonshire House； to a burial of a kinsman of Sir R。 Viner's； and there I received a ring。 To the Duke's playhouse； and saw 〃The English Princesse； or Richard the Third；〃 ＇A tragedy； by J。 Caryl。＇ a most sad； melancholy play； and pretty good； but nothing eminent in it； as some tragedys are； only little Miss Davis did dance a jigg after the end of the play； and there telling the next day's play； so that it come in by force only to please the company to see her dance in boy's clothes； and the truth is； there is no comparison between Nell's dancing the other day at the King's house in boy's clothes and this； this being infinitely beyond the other。 ＇Mary Davis； some time a comedian in the Duke of York's troop； was； according to Pepys； natural daughter of the Earl of Berkshire： she afterwards became the King's mistress； and had by him a child named Mary Tudor； married to Francis Ratcliffe； 2nd Earl of Derwentwater； whose son James； the 3rd Earl； was attainted and beheaded for High Treason。 There is a fine whole…length portrait of Miss Davis； by Kneller； lately removed to Audley End； from the collection at Billingbear； in which s