also, in the way he telling me that undoubtedly the
peace is concluded; for he did stand yesterday where he did hear part
of the discourse at the Council table, and there did hear the King argue
for it. Among other things, that the spirits of the seamen were down,
and the forces of our enemies are grown too great and many for us, and
he would not have his subjects overpressed; for he knew an Englishman
would do as much as any man upon hopeful terms; but where he sees he is
overpressed, he despairs soon as any other; and, besides that, they have
already such a load of dejection upon them, that they will not be in
temper a good while again. He heard my Lord Chancellor say to the King,
"Sir," says he, "the whole world do complain publickly of treachery,
that things have been managed falsely by some of his great
ministers."--"Sir," says he, "I am for your Majesty's falling into a
speedy enquiry into the truth of it, and, where you meet with it, punish
it. But, at the same time, consider what you have to do, and make use of
your time for having a peace; for more money will not be given without
much trouble, nor is it, I fear, to be had of the people, nor will a
little do it to put us into condition of doing our business." But Sir
H. Cholmly tells me he [the] Chancellors did say the other day at his
table, "Treachery!" says he; "I could wish we could prove there
was anything of that in it; for that would imply some wit and
thoughtfulness; but we are ruined merely by folly and neglect." And
so Sir H. Cholmly tells me they did all argue for peace, and so he
do believe that the King hath agreed to the three points Mr. Coventry
brought over, which I have mentioned before, and is gone with them back.
He tells me further that the Duke of Buckingham was before the Council
the other day, and there did carry it very submissively and pleasingly
to the King; but to my Lord Arlington, who do prosecute the business,
he was most bitter and sharp, and very slighting. As to the letter about
his employing a man to cast the King's nativity, says he to the King,
"Sir," says he, "this is none of my hand, and I refer it to your Majesty
whether you do not know this hand." The King answered, that it was
indeed none of his, and that he knew whose it was, but could not recall
it presently. "Why," says he, "it is my sister of Richmond's, some
frolick or other of hers of some certain person; and there is nothing of
the King's name in it, but it is only