y cold still upon me and hoarseness, but I was
forced to rise and to the office, where all the morning busy, and among
other things Sir W. Warren come to me, to whom of late I have been very
strange, partly from my indifference how more than heretofore to get
money, but most from my finding that he is become great with my Lord
Bruncker, and so I dare not trust him as I used to do, for I will not be
inward with him that is open to another. By and by comes Sir H. Cholmly
to me about Tangier business, and then talking of news he tells me how
yesterday the King did publiquely talk of the King of France's dealing
with all the Princes of Christendome. As to the States of Holland, he
[the King of France] hath advised them, on good grounds, to refuse to
treat with us at the Hague, because of having opportunity of spies, by
reason of our interest in the House of Orange; and then, it being a town
in one particular province, it would not be fit to have it, but in a
town wherein the provinces have equal interest, as at Mastricht, and
other places named. That he advises them to offer no terms, nor accept
of any, without his privity and consent, according to agreement; and
tells them, if not so, he hath in his power to be even with them, the
King of England being come to offer him any terms he pleases; and that
my Lord St. Albans is now at Paris, Plenipotentiary, to make what peace
he pleases; and so he can make it, and exclude them, the Dutch, if he
sees fit. A copy of this letter of the King of France's the Spanish
Ambassador here gets, and comes and tells all to our King; which our
King denies, and says the King of France only uses his power of saying
anything. At the same time, the King of France writes to the Emperor,
that he is resolved to do all things to express affection to the
Emperor, having it now in his power to make what peace he pleases
between the King of England and him, and the States of the United
Provinces; and, therefore, that he would not have him to concern himself
in a friendship with us; and assures him that, on that regard, he will
not offer anything to his disturbance, in his interest in Flanders, or
elsewhere. He writes, at the same time, to Spayne, to tell him that he
wonders to hear of a league almost ended between the Crown of Spayne and
England, by my Lord Sandwich, and all without his privity, while he was
making a peace upon what terms he pleased with England: that he is a
great lover of the Crown of S