strange slavery that I stand in to beauty, that I value nothing near it.
So going home, and my coach stopping in Newgate Market over against a
poulterer's shop, I took occasion to buy a rabbit, but it proved a deadly
old one when I came to eat it, as I did do after an hour being at my
office, and after supper again there till past 11 at night. So home,, and
to bed. This day Mr. Coventry did tell us how the Duke did receive the
Dutch Embassador the other day; by telling him that, whereas they think us
in jest, he believes that the Prince (Rupert) which goes in this fleete to
Guinny will soon tell them that we are in earnest, and that he himself
will do the like here, in the head of the fleete here at home, and that
for the meschants, which he told the Duke there were in England, which did
hope to do themselves good by the King's being at warr, says he, the
English have ever united all this private difference to attend foraigne,
and that Cromwell, notwithstanding the meschants in his time, which were
the Cavaliers, did never find them interrupt him in his foraigne
businesses, and that he did not doubt but to live to see the Dutch as
fearfull of provoking the English, under the government of a King, as he
remembers them to have been under that of a Coquin. I writ all this story
to my Lord Sandwich tonight into the Downes, it being very good and true,
word for word from Mr. Coventry to-day.

7th. Lay long to-day, pleasantly discoursing with my wife about the
dinner we are to have for the Joyces, a day or two hence. Then up and
with Mr. Margetts to Limehouse to see his ground and ropeyarde there,
which is very fine, and I believe we shall employ it for the Navy, for the
King's grounds are not sufficient to supply our defence if a warr comes.
Thence back to the 'Change, where great talke of the forwardnesse of the
Dutch, which puts us all to a stand, and particularly myself for my Lord
Sandwich, to think him to lie where he is for a sacrifice, if they should
begin with us. So home and Creed with me, and to dinner, and after dinner