payne, and would take the King and his
affairs, during his minority, into his protection, nor would offer
to set his foot in Flanders, or any where else, to disturb him; and,
therefore, would not have him to trouble himself to make peace with any
body; only he hath a desire to offer an exchange, which he thinks may be
of moment to both sides: that is, that he [France] will enstate the King
of Spayne in the kingdom of Portugall, and he and the Dutch will put him
into possession of Lisbon; and, that being done, he [France] may have
Flanders: and this, they say; do mightily take in Spayne, which is
sensible of the fruitless expence Flanders, so far off, gives them; and
how much better it would be for them to be master of Portugall; and the
King of France offers, for security herein, that the King of England
shall be bond for him, and that he will countersecure the King of
England with Amsterdam; and, it seems, hath assured our King, that if
he will make a league with him, he will make a peace exclusive to the
Hollander. These things are almost romantique, but yet true, as Sir H.
Cholmly tells me the King himself did relate it all yesterday; and it
seems as if the King of France did think other princes fit for nothing
but to make sport for him: but simple princes they are, that are forced
to suffer this from him. So at noon with Sir W. Pen by coach to the
Sun in Leadenhall Streete, where Sir R. Ford, Sir W. Batten, and
Commissioner Taylor (whose feast it was) were, and we dined and had a
very good dinner. Among other discourses Sir R. Ford did tell me that he
do verily believe that the city will in few years be built again in all
the greatest streets, and answered the objections I did give to it.
Here we had the proclamation this day come out against the Duke of
Buckingham, commanding him to come in to one of the Secretaries, or to
the Lieutenant of the Tower. A silly, vain man to bring himself to this:
and there be many hard circumstances in the proclamation of the causes
of this proceeding of the King's, which speak great displeasure of the
King's, and crimes of his. Then to discourse of the business of the day,
that is, to see Commissioner Taylor's accounts for his ship he built,
The Loyall London, and it is pretty to see how dully this old fellow
makes his demands, and yet plaguy wise sayings will come from the man
sometimes, and also how Sir R. Ford and [Sir] W. Batten did with seeming
reliance advise him what to do, and