d Creed, setting down the two
latter at the New Exchange. And Sir H. Cholmly and I to the Temple, and
there walked in the dark in the walks talking of newes; and he surprises
me with the certain newes that the King did last night in Council
declare his being in treaty with the Dutch: that they had sent him
a very civil letter, declaring that, if nobody but themselves were
concerned, they would not dispute the place of treaty, but leave it to
his choice; but that, being obliged to satisfy therein a Prince of equal
quality with himself, they must except any place in England or Spayne.
And so the King hath chosen the Hague, and thither hath chose my Lord
Hollis and Harry Coventry to go Embassadors to treat; which is so mean
a thing, as all the world will believe, that we do go to beg a peace of
them, whatever we pretend. And it seems all our Court are mightily for
a peace, taking this to be the time to make one, while the King hath
money, that he may save something of what the Parliament hath given
him to put him out of debt, so as he may need the help of no more
Parliaments, as to the point of money: but our debt is so great, and
expence daily so encreased, that I believe little of the money will
be saved between this and the making of the peace up. But that which
troubles me most is, that we have chosen a son of Secretary Morris,
a boy never used to any business, to go Embassador [Secretary] to the
Embassy, which shows how, little we are sensible of the weight of the
business upon us. God therefore give a good end to it, for I doubt it,
and yet do much more doubt the issue of our continuing the war, for we
are in no wise fit for it, and yet it troubles me to think what Sir H.
Cholmly says, that he believes they will not give us any reparation for
what we have suffered by the war, nor put us into any better condition
than what we were in before the war, for that will be shamefull for
us. Thence parted with him and home through the dark over the ruins
by coach, with my sword drawn, to the office, where dispatched some
business; and so home to my chamber and to supper and to bed. This
morning come up to my wife's bedside, I being up dressing myself, little
Will Mercer to be her Valentine; and brought her name writ upon blue
paper in gold letters, done by himself, very pretty; and we were both
well pleased with it. But I am also this year my wife's Valentine, and
it will cost me L5; but that I must have laid out if we had not