[("And hail the treason though we hate the traitor.”) On the 21st
     Charles returned his formal thanks to the States for their
     assistance in the matter.—­B.]

yet he cannot with any good conscience do it) hath taken Okey, Corbet, and Barkestead at Delfe, in Holland, and sent them home in the Blackmore.  Sir W. Pen, talking to me this afternoon of what a strange thing it is for Downing to do this, he told me of a speech he made to the Lords States of Holland, telling them to their faces that he observed that he was not received with the respect and observance now, that he was when he came from the traitor and rebell Cromwell:  by whom, I am sure, he hath got all he hath in the world,—­and they know it too.

[Charles, when residing at Brussels, went to the Hague at night to pay a secret visit to his sister, the Princess of Orange.  After his arrival, “an old reverend-like man, with a long grey beard and ordinary grey clothes,” entered the inn and begged for a private interview.  He then fell on his knees, and pulling off his disguise, discovered himself to be Mr. Downing, then ambassador from Cromwell to the States-General.  He informed Charles that the Dutch had guaranteed to the English Commonwealth to deliver him into their hands should he ever set foot in their territory.  This warning probably saved Charles’s liberty.—­M.  B.]

13th.  All day, either at the office or at home, busy about business till late at night, I having lately followed my business much, I find great pleasure in it, and a growing content.

14th.  At the office all the morning.  At noon Sir W. Pen and I making a bargain with the workmen about his house, at which I did see things not so well contracted for as I would have, and I was vexed and made him so too to see me so critical in the agreement.  Home to dinner.  In the afternoon came the German Dr. Kuffler,

[This is the secret of Cornelius van Drebbel (1572-1634), which is referred to again by Pepys on November 11th, 1663.  Johannes Siberius Kuffler was originally a dyer at Leyden, who married Drebbel’s daughter.  In the “Calendar of State Papers, Domestic,” 1661-62 (p. 327), is the following entry:  “Request of Johannes Siberius Kuffler and Jacob Drebble for a trial of their father Cornelius Drebble’s secret of sinking or destroying ships in a moment; and if it succeed, for a reward of L10,000.  The secret was left them by will, to preserve for the English crown before any other state.”  Cornelius van Drebbel settled in London, where he died.  James I. took some interest in him, and is said to have interfered when he was in prison in Austria and in danger of execution.]

to discourse with us about his engine to blow up ships.  We doubted not the matter of fact, it being tried in Cromwell’s time, but the safety of carrying them in ships; but he do tell us, that when he comes to tell the King his secret (for none but the Kings,