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s little charge； and no trouble； as there is in a country…house。
17th。 Home； where I was saluted with the news of Hogg's bringing a rich Canary prize to Hull： and Sir W。 Batten do offer me 1000l。 down for my particular share； beside Sir Richard Ford's part； which do tempt me； but yet I would not take it；； but will stand and fall with the company。 He and two more； the Panther and Fanfan； did enter into consortship； and so they have all brought in each a prize； though ours worth as much as both theirs； and more。 However； it will be well worth having； God be thanked for it！ This news makes us all very glad。 I at Sir W。 Batten's did hear the particulars of it； and there for joy he did give the company that were there a bottle or two of his own last year's wine growing at Walthamstow； than which the whole company said they never drank better foreign wine in their lives。 The Duke of Buckingham is； it seems； set at liberty without any further charge against him or other clearing of him； but let to go out； which is one of the strangest instances of the fool's play； with which all publick things are done in this age； that is to be apprehended。 And it is said that when he was charged with making himself popular； （as indeed he is； for many of the discontented Parliament； Sir Robert Howard； and Sir Thomas Meres； and others； did attend at the Council…chamber when he was examined；） he should answer； that whoever was committed to prison by my Lord Chancellor or my Lord Arlington； could not want being popular。 But it is worth considering the ill state a Minister of State is in； under such a Prince as ours is； for； undoubtedly； neither of those two great men would have been so fierce against the Duke of Buckingham at the Council…table the other day； had they not been assured of the King's good liking； and supporting them therein： whereas； perhaps at the desire of my Lady Castlemaine； （who I suppose； hath at last overcome the King；） the Duke of Buckingham is well received again； and now these men delivered up to the interest he can make for his revenge。 He told me over the story of Mrs。 Stewart； much after the manner which I was told it by Mr。 Evelyn： only he says it is verily believed that the King did never intend to marry her to any but himself； and that the Duke of York and Lord Chancellor were jealous of it： and that Mrs。 Stewart might be got with child by the King； or somebody else； and the King own a marriage before his contract （for it is but a contract； as he tells me to this day；） with the Queene； and so wipe their noses of the Crown； and that； therefore； the Duke of York and Chancellor did do all they could to forward the match with my Lord Duke of Richmond； that she might be married out of the way： but above all； it is a worthy part that this good lady hath acted。 My sister Michell ＇The wife of Balthazar St。 Michel； Mrs。 Pepys's brother。＇ come from Lee to see us； but do tattle so much of the late business of the Dutch coming thither that I am weary of it。 Yet it is worth remembering what she says： that she hath heard both seamen and soldiers swear they would rather serve the Dutch than the King； for they should be better used。 She saw 〃The Royal Charles〃 brought into the river by them； and how they shot off their great guns for joy； when they got her out of Chatham river。
19th。 One tells me that； by letter from Holland； the people there are made to believe that our condition in England is such as they may have whatever they will ask； and that so they are mighty high； and despise us； or a peace with us： and there is too much reason for them to do so。 The Dutch fleet are in great squadrons everywhere still about Harwich； and were lately at Portsmouth； and the last letters say at Plymouth； and now gone to Dartmouth to destroy our Streights' fleet lately got in thither： but God knows whether they can do it any hurt； or no。
22nd。 Up to my Lord Chancellor's； where was a Committee of Tangier in my Lord's roome； where he sits to hear causes； and where all the Judges' pictures hung up； very fine。 But to see how Sir W。 Coventry did oppose both my Lord Chancellor and the Duke of York himself； about the Order of the Commissioners of the Treasury to me for not paying of pensions； and with so much reason； and eloquence so natural； was admirable。 And another thing； about his pressing for the reduction of the charge of Tangier； which they would have put off to another time； 〃But；〃 says he； 〃the King suffers so much by the putting off of the consideration of reductions of charge； that he is undone； and therefore I do pray you； Sir； （to his Royal Highness；） that when any thing offers of the kind； you will not let it escape you。〃 Here was a great bundle of letters brought hither； sent up from sea； from a vessel of ours that hath taken them after they had been flung over by a Dutchman； wherein； among others； the Duke of York did read superscription of one to De Witt； thus〃To the most wise； foreseeing； and discreet； These； &c。；〃 which； I thought with myself； I could have been glad might have been duly directed to any one of them at the table； though the greatest men in this kingdom。 The Duke of York； the Lord Chancellor； my Lord Duke of Albemarle； Arlington； Ashly； Peterborough； and Coventry； （the best of them all for parts；） I perceive they do all profess their expectation of a peace； and that suddenly。 Sir W。 Coventry did declare his opinion that if Tangier were offered us now； as the King's condition is； he would advise against the taking it； saying； that the King's charge is too great； and must be brought down； it being like the fire of this City； never to be mastered till you have brought it under you； and that these places abroad are but so much charge to the King； and we do rather herein strive to greaten them than lessen them； and then the King is forced to part with them 〃as；〃 says he； 〃he did with Dunkirke； by my Lord Tiviott's making it so chargeable to the King as he did that； and would have done Tangier； if he had lived。〃 I perceive he is the only man that do seek the King's profit； and is bold to deliver what he thinks on every occasion。 With much pleasure reflecting upon our discourse to…day at the Tangier meeting； and crying up the worth of Sir W。 Coventry。 Creed tells me of the fray between the Duke of Buckingham at the Duke's playhouse the last Saturday； （and it is the first day I have heard that they have acted at either the King's or Duke's houses this month or six weeks）； and Henry Killigrew； whom the Duke of Buckingham did soundly beat and take away his sword； and make a fool of； till the fellow prayed him to spare his life； and I am glad of it； for it seems in this business the Duke of Buckingham did carry himself very innocently and well； and I wish he had paid this fellow's coat well。 I heard something of this at the 'Change to… day： and it is pretty to hear how people do speak kindly of the Duke of Buckingham； as one that will enquire into faults； and therefore they do mightily favour him。 And it puts me in mind that； this afternoon； Billing the Quaker meeting me in the Hall； come to me； and after a little discourse did say； 〃Well；〃 says he； 〃now you will be all called to an account；〃 meanin