[The French ambassadors were Henri de Bourbon, Duc de Verneuil,
     natural son of Henry iv. and brother of Henrietta Maria, and M. de
     Courtin.—­B.]

are come incognito before their train, which will hereafter be very pompous.  It is thought they come to get our King to joyne with the King of France in helping him against Flanders, and they to do the like to us against Holland.  We have laine a good while with a good fleete at Harwich.  The Dutch not said yet to be out.  We, as high as we make our shew, I am sure, are unable to set out another small fleete, if this should be worsted.  Wherefore, God send us peace!  I cry.

9th (Lord’s day).  To church with my wife in the morning, in her new light-coloured silk gowne, which is, with her new point, very noble.  Dined at home, and in the afternoon to Fanchurch, the little church in the middle of Fanchurch Streete, where a very few people and few of any rank.  Thence, after sermon, home, and in the evening walking in the garden, my Lady Pen and her daughter walked with my wife and I, and so to my house to eat with us, and very merry, and so broke up and to bed.

10th.  Up, and to the Duke of Albemarle’s, and thence to White Hall to a Committee for Tangier, where new disorder about Mr. Povy’s accounts, that I think I shall never be settled in my business of Treasurer for him.  Here Captain Cooke met me, and did seem discontented about my boy Tom’s having no time to mind his singing nor lute, which I answered him fully in, that he desired me that I would baste his coate.  So home and to the ’Change, and thence to the “Old James” to dine with Sir W. Rider, Cutler, and Mr. Deering, upon the business of hemp, and so hence to White Hall to have attended the King and Lord Chancellor about the debts of the navy and to get some money, but the meeting failed.  So my Lord Brunkard took me and Sir Thomas Harvy in his coach to the Parke, which is very troublesome with the dust; and ne’er a great beauty there to-day but Mrs. Middleton, and so home to my office, where Mr. Warren proposed my getting of L100 to get him a protection for a ship to go out, which I think I shall do.  So home to supper and to bed.

11th.  Up and betimes to Alderman Cheverton to treat with him about hempe, and so back to the office.  At noon dined at the Sun, behind the ’Change, with Sir Edward Deering and his brother and Commissioner Pett, we having made a contract with Sir Edward this day about timber.  Thence to the office, where late very busy, but with some trouble have also some hopes of profit too.  So home to supper and to bed.