King of France offers, for security herein, that the King of England shall
be bond for him, and that he will countersecure the King of England with
Amsterdam; and, it seems, hath assured our King, that if he will make a
league with him, he will make a peace exclusive to the Hollander. These
things are almost romantique, but yet true, as Sir H. Cholmly tells me the
King himself did relate it all yesterday; and it seems as if the King of
France did think other princes fit for nothing but to make sport for him:
but simple princes they are, that are forced to suffer this from him. So
at noon with Sir W. Pen by coach to the Sun in Leadenhall Streete, where
Sir R. Ford, Sir W. Batten, and Commissioner Taylor (whose feast it was)
were, and we dined and had a very good dinner. Among other discourses Sir
R. Ford did tell me that he do verily believe that the city will in few
years be built again in all the greatest streets, and answered the
objections I did give to it. Here we had the proclamation this day come
out against the Duke of Buckingham, commanding him to come in to one of
the Secretaries, or to the Lieutenant of the Tower. A silly, vain man to
bring himself to this: and there be many hard circumstances in the
proclamation of the causes of this proceeding of the King's, which speak
great displeasure of the King's, and crimes of his. Then to discourse of
the business of the day, that is, to see Commissioner Taylor's accounts
for his ship he built, The Loyall London, and it is pretty to see how
dully this old fellow makes his demands, and yet plaguy wise sayings will
come from the man sometimes, and also how Sir R. Ford and [Sir] W. Batten
did with seeming reliance advise him what to do, and how to come prepared
to answer objections to the Common Council. Thence away to the office,
where late busy, and then home to supper, mightily pleased with my wife's
trill, and so to bed. This night Mr. Carcasse did come to me again to
desire favour, and that I would mediate that he might be restored, but I
did give him no kind answer at all, but was very angry, and I confess a
good deal of it from my Lord Bruncker's simplicity and passion.