Miss Davis； by Kneller； lately removed to Audley End； from the collection at Billingbear； in which she is represented as a tall handsome woman； and her general appearance ill accords with time description given of her in the Diary。＇ This day was reckoned by all people the coldest day that ever was remembered in England； and； God knows； coals at a very great price。
8th。 Sir H。 Cholmly and I to the Temple； and there parted； he telling me of my Lord Bellasses's want of generosity； and that he will certainly be turned out of his government； and he thinks himself stands fair for it。
9th。 Captain Cocke； who was here to…night； did tell us that he is certain that yesterday a proclamation was voted at the council touching the proclaiming of my Lord Duke of Buckingham a traytor； and that it will be out on Monday。
11th。 Yesterday the King did publicly talk of the King of France's dealing with all the Princes of Christendome。 As to the States of Holland he hath advised them； on good grounds； to refuse to treat with us at the Hague； because of having opportunity of spies by reason of our interest in the House of Orange； and then； it being a town in one particular province； it would not be fit to have it but in a town wherein the provinces have equal interest； as at Mastricht and other places named。 That he advises them to offer no terms； nor accept of any； without his privity and consent； according to agreement； and tells them； if not so； he hath in his power to be even with them； the King of England being come to offer any terms he pleases： and that my Lord St。 Albans is now at Paris； Plenipotentiary； to make what peace he pleases； and so he can make it and exclude them （the Dutch） if he sees fit。 A copy of this letter of the King of France's the Spanish Ambassador here gets； and comes and tells all to our King； which our King denies； and says the King of France only uses his power of saying anything。 At the same time the King of France writes to the Emperor； that he is resolved to do all things to express affection to the Emperor； having it now in his power to make what peace he pleases between the King of England and him； and the States of the United Provinces； and therefore； that he would not have him to concern himself in a friendship with us； and assures him that on that regard he will not offer anything to his disturbance in his interest in Flanders or elsewhere。 He writes at the same time to Spain； to tell him that he wonders to hear of a league almost ended between the Crown of Spain and England； by my Lord Sandwich； and all without his privity； while he was making a peace upon what terms he pleased with England。 That he is a great lover of the Crown of Spain； and would take the King and his affairs during his minority into his protection； nor would offer to set； his foot in Flanders or any where else to disturb him； and therefore would not have him to trouble himself to make peace with any body； only he hath a desire to offer an exchange； which he thinks may be of moment to both sides： that is； that he will enstate the King of Spain in the kingdom of Portugall； and he and the Dutch will put； him into possession of Lisbon； and that being done； he may have Flanders： and this； they say； do mightily take in Spain； which is sensible of the fruitless expence Flanders； so far off； gives them； and how much better it would be for them to be master of Portugall： and the King of France offers for security herein that the King of England shall be bond for him； and that he will counter…secure 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。 The proclamation has 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。
13th。 The Duke of Buckingham is concluded gone over sea； and； it is thought； to France。
14th。 To my Lord Treasurer's。 By and by comes the King and Duke of York； and presently the officers of the Ordnance were called； my Lord Barkeley； Sir John Duncomb； and Mr。 Chichly； then my Lord Brouncker； W。 Batten； W。 Pen； and myself； where we find only the King and Duke of York； and my Lord Treasurer； and Sir G。 Carteret； when I only did speak； laying down the state of our wants； which the King and Duke of York seemed very well pleased with； and we did get what we asked； 500；000l。； signed upon the eleven months' tax： but that is not so much ready…money； or what will raise 40；000l。 per week； which we desired； and the business will want。 The King did prevent my offering any thing by and by as Treasurer for Tangier； telling me that he had ordered us 30；000l。 on the same tax； but that is not what we would have to bring our payments to come within a year。 So we gone out； in went others； viz。 one after another； Sir Stephen Fox for the Army； Captain Cocke for sick and wounded； Mr。 Ashburnham for the household。 Thence W。 Batten； W。 Pen； and I back again； I mightily pleased with what I had said and done； and the success thereof。
15th。 Letters this day come to Court do tell us that we are likely not to agree； the Dutch demanding high terms； and the King of France the like in a most braveing manner。 This morning I was called up by Sir John Winter； poor man！ come in a sedan from the other end of the town； about helping the King in the business of bringing down his timber to the sea…side in the forest of Deane。
18th。 The weather is now grown warm again after much cold； and it is observable that within these eight days I did see smoke remaining； coming out of some cellars from the late great fire； now above six months since。
17th。 I to the Duke of York's lodging； where in his dressing… chamber； he talking of his journey to…morrow or next day to Harwich； to prepare some fortifications there； so that we are wholly upon the defensive part this year。 I to walke in the Parke； where to the Queene's chapel； and there heard a fryer preach with his cord about his middle in Portuguese； something I could understand； showing that God did respect the meek and humble as well as the high and rich。 He was full of action； but very decent and good； I thought； and his manner of delivery very good。 Then I went back to White Hall； and there up to the closet； and spoke with several people till sermon was ended； which was preached by the Bishop of Hereford； ＇Dr。 Herbert Croft was made Bishop of Hereford 1661； but he could not then be very old； as he lived till 1691。 The Bishop's father was a knight and his son a Baronet。＇ an old good man； that they say made an excellent sermon。 He was by birth a Catholique； and a great gallant； having 1500l。 per annum patrimony； and is a Knight Barronet： was turned from his persuasion by the late Archbishop Laud。 He and the Bishop of Exeter； Dr。 Ward； are the two Bishops that the King do say he cannot have bad sermons from。 Here I met with Sir H。 Cholmly； who tells me； that undoubtedly my Lord Bellasses do go no more to Tangier； and that he do believe he do stand in a likely way to go governor； though he sees and showed me a young silly lord （one Lord Allington ＇William 2nd Baron Allington of Killard； Ireland； created an English Peer 1682； which title was extinct 1692。 He was thrice married。＇） who hath offered a great sum of money to go； and will put hard for it； he having a fine lady； and a great man would be glad to have him out of the way。 The King is very kind to my Lord Sandwich； and did himself observe to him （Sir G。 Carteret） how those very people （meaning the Prince； and Duke of Albemarle） are punished in the same kind as they did seek to abuse my Lord Sandwich。
18th。 Comes my old good friend Mr。 Richard Cumberland ＇Richard Cumberland educated at St。 Paul's School； and Magdalene College； Cambridge； made Bishop of Peterborough 1691。 Ob。 1718； aged 86。＇ to see me； being newly come to town； whom I have not seen almost； if not quite these seven years。 In a plain country…parson's dress。 I could not spend much time with him； but prayed him to come with his brother； who was with him； to dine with me to…day； which he did do： and I had a great deal of his good company； and a most excellent person he is as any I know； and one that I am sorry should be lost and buried in a little country town； and would be glad to remove him thence； and the truth is； if he would accept of my sister's fortune； I should give 100l。 more with him than to a man able to settle her four times as much as I fear he is able to do。 Comes Captain Jenifer to me； a great servant of my Lord Sandwich's； who tells me that he do hear for certain； though I do not yet believe it； that Sir W。 Coventry is to be Secretary of State； a