last sitting of Parliament as would hang [him], if there were nothing
else, would the King do what were fit for him; but nothing of that is now
likely to be. After having spent an hour or two in the hall, my cozen
Roger and I and Creed to the Old Exchange, where I find all the merchants
sad at this peace and breaking up of the Parliament, as men despairing of
any good to the nation, which is a grievous consideration; and so home,
and there cozen Roger and Creed to dinner with me, and very merry:--but
among other things they told me of the strange, bold sermon of Dr. Creeton
yesterday, before the King; how he preached against the sins of the Court,
and particularly against adultery, over and over instancing how for that
single sin in David, the whole nation was undone; and of our negligence in
having our castles without ammunition and powder when the Dutch come upon
us; and how we have no courage now a-days, but let our ships be taken out
of our harbour. Here Creed did tell us the story of the dwell last night,
in Coventgarden, between Sir H. Bellasses and Tom Porter. It is worth
remembering the silliness of the quarrell, and is a kind of emblem of the
general complexion of this whole kingdom at present. They two it seems
dined yesterday at Sir Robert Carr's, where it seems people do drink high,
all that come. It happened that these two, the greatest friends in the
world, were talking together: and Sir H. Bellasses talked a little louder
than ordinary to Tom Porter, giving of him some advice. Some of the
company standing by said, "What! are they quarrelling, that they talk so
high?" Sir H. Bellasses hearing it, said, "No!" says he: "I would have
you know that I never quarrel, but I strike; and take that as a rule of
mine!"--"How?" says Tom Porter, "strike! I would I could see the man in
England that durst give me a blow!" with that Sir H. Bellasses did give
him a box of the eare; and so they were going to fight there, but were
hindered. And by and by Tom Porter went out; and meeting Dryden the poet,
told him of the business, and that he was resolved to fight Sir H.
Bellasses presently; for he knew, if he did not, they should be made