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r that person about the King。 God forgive us all！
8th。 Mr。 Coventry is come from Bredah； as was expected； but； contrary to expectation； brings with him two or three articles which do not please the King： as to retrench the Act of Navigation； and then to ascertain what are contraband goods； and then that those exiled persons； who are or shall take refuge in their country； may be secure from any further prosecution。 Whether these will be enough to break the Peace upon； or no； he cannot tell； but I perceive the certainty of peace is blown over。 To Charing Cross； there to see the great boy and girle that are lately come out of Ireland； the latter eight； the former but four years old； of most prodigious bigness for their age。 I tried to weigh them in my arms； and and them twice as heavy as people almost twice their age； and yet I am apt to believe they are very young。 Their father a little sorry fellow； and their mother an old Irish woman。 They have had four children of this bigness； and four of ordinary growth； whereof two of each are dead。 If （as my Lord Ormond certifies） it be true that they are no older； it is very monstrous。
9th。 This evening news comes for certain that the Dutch are with their fleet before Dover； and that it is expected they will attempt something there。 The business of the peace is quite dashed again。
12th。 The Duke of Buckingham was before the Council the other day； and there did carry it very submissively and pleasingly to the King； but to my Lord Arlington； who do prosecute the business； he was most bitter and sharp； and very slighting。 As to the letter about his employing a man to cast the King's nativity； says he to the King； 〃Sir； this is none of my hand； and I refer it to your Majesty whether you do not know this hand。〃 The King answered； that it was indeed none of his； and that he knew whose it was； but could not recall it presently。 〃Why；〃 says he； 〃it is my sister of Richmond's； ＇Mary； daughter of George Villiers first Duke of Buckingham； married first； to Charles Lord Herbert； secondly； to James Duke of Richmond and Lenox； and thirdly； to Thomas Howard； brother to Charles Earl of Carlisle。 She left no issue by any of her husbands。＇ some frolick or other of hers about some certain person： and there is nothing of the King's name in it； but it is only said to be his by supposition； as is said。〃 The King； it seems； was not very much displeased with what the Duke had said； but however； he is still in the Tower； and no discourse of his being out in haste； though my Lady Caatlemaine hath so far solicited for him that the King and she are quite fallen out： he comes not to her； nor hath for some three or four days； and parted with very foul words； the King calling her a jade that meddled with things she had nothing to do with at all： and she calling him fool； and told him if he was not a fool he would not suffer his businesses to be carried on by fools that did not understand them； and cause his best subjects； and those best able to serve him； to be imprisoned； meaning the Duke of Buckingham。 And it seems she was not only for his liberty； but to be restored to all his places； which； it is thought； he will never be。 It was computed that the Parliament had given the King for this war only； besides all prizes； and besides the 200；000l。 which he was to spend of his own revenue； to guard the sea above 5；000；000l。 and odd 100；000l。； which is a most prodigious sum。 It is strange how everybody do now…a…days reflect upon Oliver； and commend him； what brave things he did； and made all the neighbour princes fear him； while here a prince； come in with all the love and prayers and good liking of his people； who have given greater signs of loyalty and willingness to serve him with their estates that ever was done by any people； hath lost all so soon； that it is a miracle what way a man could devise to lose so much in so little time。 Sir Thomas Crewe tells me how I am mightily in esteem with the Parliament； there being harangues made in the House to the Speaker； of Mr。 Pepys's readiness and civility to show them everything。
13th。 Mr。 Pierce tells us what troubles me； that my Lord Buckhurst hath got Nell away from the King's house； and gives her 100l。 a…year； so as she hath sent her parts to the house； and will act no more and yesterday Sir Thomas Crewe told me that Lacy lies a…dying； nor will receive any ghostly advice from a bishop； an old acquaintance of his； that went to see him。 It is an odd and sad thing to say； that though this be a peace worse than we had before； yet everybody's fear almost is； that the Dutch will not stand by their promise； now the King hath consented to all they would have。 And yet no wise man that I meet with； when he comes to think of it； but wishes with all his heart a war； but that the King is not a man to be trusted with the management of it。 It was pleasantly said by a man in this City； a stranger； to one that told him the peace was concluded； 〃Well；〃 says he； 〃and have you a peace？〃 〃Yes；〃 says the other。 〃Why then；〃 says he； 〃hold your peace！〃 Partly reproaching us with the disgracefulness of it； that it is not fit to be mentioned； and next； that we are not able to make the Dutch keep it； when they have a mind to break it。
14th。 To Epsum； by eight o'clock； to the well； where much company。 And to the towne to the King's Head； and hear that my Lord Buckhurst and Nelly are lodged at the next house； and Sir Charles Sedley with them： and keep a merry house。 Poor girl！ I pity her； but more the loss of her at the King's house。 Here Tom Wilson come to see me； and sat and talked an hour： and I perceive he hath been much acquainted with Dr。 Fuller （Tom） and Dr。 Pierson； and several of the great cavalier parsons during the late troubles； and I was glad to hear him talk of them； which he did very ingenuously； and very much of Dr。 Fuller's art of memory； which he did tell me several instances of。 By and by he parted； and I talked with the two women that farm the well at 12l。 per annum of the lord of the manor。 Mr。 Evelyn with his lady； and also my Lord George Barkeley's lady； ＇Elizabeth； daughter and co…heir of John Maasingberd； Esq。＇ and their fine daughter； that the King of France liked so well； and did dance so rich in jewells before the King at the Ball I was at at our Court last winter； and also their son； a Knight of the Bath； ＇Charles； eldest son； summoned to Parliament as Baron Berkeley； VITA PATRIS； 1680； Ob。 1710； having succeeded his father in the Earldom 1698。＇ were at church this morning。 I walked upon the Downes； where a flock of sheep was； and the most pleasant and innocent sight that ever I saw in my life。 We found a shepherd and his little boy reading； far from any houses or sight of people； the Bible to him； and we took notice of his wooling knit stockings； of two colours mixed。 Mrs。 Turner mightily pleased with my resolution； which； I tell her； is never to keep a country…house； but to keep a coach； and with my wife on the Saturday to go sometimes for a day to this place； and then quit to another place； and there is more variety and as little charge； and no trouble； as there is in a country…house。
17th。 Home； where I was saluted