nded to fight for the precedence! Our King, I heard,
ordered that no Englishman should meddle in the business,

[The Comte de Brienne insinuates, in his "Memoirs," that Charles
purposely abstained from interfering, in the belief that it was for
his interest to let France and Spain quarrel, in order to further
his own designs in the match with Portugal. Louis certainly held
that opinion; and he afterwards instructed D'Estrades to solicit
from the English court the punishment of those Londoners who had
insulted his ambassador, and to demand the dismissal of De
Batteville. Either no Londoner had interfered, or Louis's demand
had not in England the same force as in Spain; for no one was
punished. The latter part of his request it was clearly not for
Charles to entertain, much less enforce.--B.]

but let them do what they would. And to that end all the soldiers in the
town were in arms all the day long, and some of the train-bands in the
City; and a great bustle through the City all the day. Then I to the
Privy Seal, and there Mr. Moore and a gentleman being come with him,
we took coach (which was the business I come for) to Chelsy, to my
Lord Privy Seal, and there got him to seal the business. Here I saw by
day-light two very fine pictures in the gallery, that a little while ago
I saw by night; and did also go all over the house, and found it to be
the prettiest contrived house that ever I saw in my life. So to coach
back again; and at White Hall light, and saw the soldiers and people
running up and down the streets. So I went to the Spanish Embassador's
and the French, and there saw great preparations on both sides; but
the French made the most noise and vaunted most, the other made no stir
almost at all; so that I was afraid the other would have had too great
a conquest over them. Then to the Wardrobe, and dined there, end then
abroad and in Cheapside hear that the Spanish hath got the best of it,
and killed three of the French coach-horses and several men, and is gone
through the City next to our King's coach; at which, it is strange to
see how all the City did rejoice. And indeed we do naturally all love
the Spanish, and hate the French. But I, as I am in all things curious,
presently got to the water-side, and there took oars to Westminster
Palace, thinking to have seen them come in thither with all the coaches,
but they being come and returned, I ran after them