9th. Thence to Westminster, to the Exchequer, about my Tangier
business, and so to Westminster Hall, where the first day of the
Terme and the hall very full of people, and much more than was
expected, considering the plague that hath been.
11th (Lord's day). Up; and put on a new black cloth suit to an
old coat that I make to be in mourning at Court, where they are
all, for the King of Spain. I to the Park, and walked two or
three times of the Pell Mell with the company about the King and
Duke: the Duke speaking to me a good deal. There met Lord
Brouncker and Mr. Coventry, and discoursed about the Navy
business; and all of us much at a loss that we yet can hear
nothing of Sir Jeremy Smith's fleet, that went away to the
Straights the middle of December, through all the storms that we
have had since that have driven back three or four of them with
their masts by the board. Yesterday come out the King's
Declaration of War against the French, but with such mild
invitations of both them and the Dutch to come over here with
promise of their protection, that every body wonders at it.
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