to the office will make people backward to give, but I think him as likely a man as either of them, and better.

28th Walking through White Hall I heard the King was gone to play at Tennis, so I down to the New Tennis Court, and saw him and Sir Arthur Slingsby play against my Lord of Suffolke and my Lord Chesterfield The King beat three, and lost two sets, they all, and he particularly playing well, I thought Thence went and spoke with the Duke of Albemarle about his wound at Newhall, hut I find him a heavy dull man, methinks, by his answers to me.

31st The Queene after a long and sore sickness is become well again, and the King minds his mistress a little too much, if it pleased God! but I hope all things will go well, and in the Navy particularly, wherein I shall do my duty whatever comes of it The great talk is the design of the King of France, whether against the Pope or King of Spain nobody knows, but a great and a most promising Prince he is, and all the Princes of Europe have their eye upon him The Turke very far entered into Germany, and all that part of the world at a loss what to expect from his proceedings Myself, blessed be God! in a good way, and design and resolution of sticking to my business to get a little money with, doing the best service I can to the King also, which God continue! So ends the old year.