bout 17 of her men. Thence
to Jervas's, my mind, God forgive me, running too much after some folly,
but 'elle' not being within I away by coach to the 'Change, and thence
home to dinner. And finding Mrs. Bagwell waiting at the office after
dinner, away she and I to a cabaret where she and I have eat before,
and there I had her company 'tout' and had 'mon plaisir' of 'elle'. But
strange to see how a woman, notwithstanding her greatest pretences of
love 'a son mari' and religion, may be 'vaincue'. Thence to the Court of
the Turkey Company at Sir Andrew Rickard's to treat about carrying some
men of ours to Tangier, and had there a very civil reception, though a
denial of the thing as not practicable with them, and I think so too.
So to my office a little and to Jervas's again, thinking 'avoir
rencontrais' Jane, 'mais elle n'etait pas dedans'. So I back again and
to my office, where I did with great content 'ferais' a vow to mind my
business, and 'laisser aller les femmes' for a month, and am with all
my heart glad to find myself able to come to so good a resolution, that
thereby I may follow my business, which and my honour thereby lies a
bleeding. So home to supper and to bed.

24th. Up and by coach to Westminster Hall and the Parliament House, and
there spoke with Mr. Coventry and others about business and so back to
the 'Change, where no news more than that the Dutch have, by consent of
all the Provinces, voted no trade to be suffered for eighteen months,
but that they apply themselves wholly to the warr.

[This statement of a total prohibition of all trade, and for so long
a period as eighteen months, by a government so essentially
commercial as that of the United Provinces, seems extraordinary.
The fact was, that when in the beginning of the year 1665 the States
General saw that the war with England was become inevitable, they
took several vigorous measures, and determined to equip a formidable
fleet, and with a view to obtain a sufficient number of men to man
it, prohibited all navigation, especially in the great and small
fisheries as they were then called, and in the whale fishery. This
measure appears to have resembled the embargoes so commonly resorted
to in this country on similar occasions, rather than a total
prohibition of trade.--B.]

And they say it is very true, but very strange, for we use to believe
they cannot support themselves without trad