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insists upon to have it observed； as being the only thing that makes up the loss of his dear bargain all the rest of the year。 This day I heard my Lord Barkeley tell Sir G。 Carteret that he hath letters from France that the King hath emduked twelve Dukes； only to show his power； and to crush his nobility； who he said he did see had heretofore laboured to cross him。 And this my Lord Barkeley did mightily magnify； as a sign of a brave and vigorous mind that what he saw fit to be done he dares do。
14th。 To the Duke； where I heard a large discourse between one that goes over an agent from the King to Legorne and thereabouts； to remove the inconveniences his ships are put to by denial of pratique； which is a thing that is now…a…days made use of only as a cheat； for a man may buy a bill of health for a piece of eight； and my enemy may agree with the Intendent of the Sante for ten pieces of eight or so； that he shall not give me a bill of health； and so spoil me in my design； whatever it be。 This the King will not endure； and so resolves either to have it removed； or to keep all ships from coming in； or going out there； so long as his ships are stayed for want hereof。 But among other things； Lord！ what an account did Sir J。 Minnes and Sir W。 Batten make of the pulling down and burning of the head of the Charles； where Cromwell was placed with people under his horse； and Peter； as the Duke called him； is praying to him； and Sir J。 Minnes would needs infer the temper of the people from their joy at the doing of this and their building a gibbet for the hanging of his head up； when； God knows； it is even the flinging away of 100l。 out of the King's purse； to the building of another； which it seems must be a Neptune。 To the King's Head ordinary； and there dined among a company of fine gentlemen； some of them discoursed of the King of France's greatness； and how he is come to make the Princes of the Blood to take place of all foreign Embassadors； which it seems is granted by them of Venice and other States； and expected from my Lord Hollis； ＇Denzil Hollis； second son of John； first Earl of Clare； created in 1661 Baron Hollis of Ifield； afterwards Plenipotentiary for the Treaty of Breda。 Ob。 1679…80； aged 82。＇ our King's Embassador there； and that either upon that score or something else he hath not had his entry yet in Paris； but hath received several affronts； and among others his harnesse cut； and his gentlemen of his horse killed； which will breed bad blood if true。 They say also that the King of France hath hired threescore ships of Holland； and forty of the Swede； but nobody knows what to do： but some great designs he hath on foot； against the next year。
2lst。 To Shoe Lane to see a cocke…fighting at a new pit there； a spot I was never at in my life： but Lord！ to see the strange variety of people； from Parliament…man （by name Wildes； that was Deputy Governor of the Tower when Robinson was Lord Mayor） to the poorest 'prentices； bakers； brewers； butchers； draymen； and what not； and all these fellows one with； another cursing and betting。 I soon had enough of it。 It is strange to see how people of this poor rank； that look as if they had not bread to put in their mouths； shall bet three or four pounds at a time； and lose it； and yet bet as much the next battle； so that one of them will lose 10 or 20l。 at a meeting。 Thence to my Lord Sandwich's； where I find him within with Captain Cooke and his boys； Dr。 Childe； Mr。 Madge； and Mallard； playing and singing over my Lord's anthem which he hath made to sing in the King's Chapel： my Lord took me into the withdrawing room to hear it； and indeed it sounds very pretty； and is a good thing； I believe to be made by him； and they all commend it。
22nd。 I hear for certain that my Lady Castlemaine is turned Papist； which the Queene for all do not much like； thinking that she do it not for conscience sake。 ＇〃Le marriage du Chevalier de Grammont；〃 （says the Count d'Estrades in a letter written to his Royal Master； Louis XIV。 about this time。） 〃et la conversion de Madame de Castlemaine se sont publiez le meme jour： et le Roy d'Angleterre estant tant prie par les parents de la Dame d'aporter quelque obstacle a cette action； repondit galamment que pour l'ame des Dames； il ne s'en meloit point。〃＇ I heard to…day of a great fray lately between Sir H。 Finch's coachman； who struck with his whip a coachman of the King's； to the loss of one of his eyes； at which the people of the Exchange seeming to laugh and make sport with some words of contempt to him； my Lord Chamberlin did come from the King to shut up the 'Change； and by the help of a justice； did it； but upon petition to the King it was opened again。 At noon I to Sir R。 Ford's； where Sir Richard Browne and I met upon the freight of a barge sent to France to the Duchesse of Orleans； and here by discourse I find they greatly cry out against the choice of Sir John Cutler to be treasurer of Paul's； upon condition that he gives 1500l。 towards it； and it seems he did give it upon condition that he might be Treasurer for the work； which； they say will be worth three times as much money： and talk as if his being chosen to the office will make people backward to give； but I think him as likely a man as either of them； and better。
28th。 Walking through White Hall I heard the King was gone to play at Tennis； so I down to the New Tennis Court； and saw him and Sir Arthur Slingsby play against my Lord of Suffolke and my Lord Chesterfield。 The King beat three； and lost two sets； they all； and he particularly playing well； I thought。 Thence went and spoke with the Duke of Albemarle about his wound at Newhall； but I find him a heavy dull man； methinks； by his answers to me。
3lst。 The Queene after a long and sore sickness is become well again； and the King minds his mistress a little too much； if it pleased God！ but I hope all things will go well； and in the Navy particularly； wherein I shall do my duty whatever comes of it。 The great talk is the design of the King of France； whether against the Pope or King of Spain nobody knows； but a great and a most promising Prince he is； and all the Princes of Europe have their eye upon him。 The Turke very far entered into Germany； and all that part of the world at a loss what to expect from his proceedings。 Myself； blessed be God！ in a good way； and design and resolution of sticking to my business to get a little money with； doing the best service I can to the King also； which God continue！ So ends the old year。
JANUARY 1； 1663…4。 At the Coffee…house； where much talking about a very rich widow； young and handsome； of one Sir Nicholas Gold's； a merchant； lately fallen； and of great courtiers that； already look after her： her husband not dead a week yet。 She is reckoned worth 80；000l。 Went to the Duke's house； the first play I have been at these six months； according to my last vowe； and here saw the so much cried…up play of 〃Henry the Eighth；〃 which； though I went with resolution to like it； is so simple a thing made up of a great many patches； that； besides the shows and processions in it； there is nothing in the world good or well done。
4th。 I to my Lord Sandwich's lodgings； but he