wind they had of us, by which they lost the benefit of their fire-ships.
The Earl of Falmouth, Muskerry, and Mr. Richard Boyle killed on board the
Duke's ship, the Royall Charles, with one shot: their blood and brains
flying in the Duke's face; and the head of Mr. Boyle striking down the
Duke, as some say. Earle of Marlborough, Portland, Rear-Admirall Sansum
(to Prince Rupert) killed, and Capt. Kirby and Ableson. Sir John Lawson
wounded on the knee; hath had some bones taken out, and is likely to be
well again. Upon receiving the hurt, he sent to the Duke for another to
command the Royall Oake. The Duke sent Jordan
[Afterwards Sir Joseph Jordan, commander of the "Royal Sovereign,"
and Vice-Admiral of the Red, 1672. He was knighted on July 1st,
1665.--B.]
out of the St. George, who did brave things in her. Capt. Jer. Smith of
the Mary was second to the Duke, and stepped between him and Captain
Seaton of the Urania (76 guns and 400 men), who had sworn to board the
Duke; killed him, 200 men, and took the ship; himself losing 99 men, and
never an officer saved but himself and lieutenant. His master indeed is
saved, with his leg cut off: Admirall Opdam blown up, Trump killed, and
said by Holmes; all the rest of their admiralls, as they say, but Everson
(whom they dare not trust for his affection to the Prince of Orange), are
killed: we having taken and sunk, as is believed, about 24 of their best
ships; killed and taken near 8 or 10,000 men, and lost, we think, not
above 700. A great[er] victory never known in the world. They are all
fled, some 43 got into the Texell, and others elsewhere, and we in pursuit
of the rest. Thence, with my heart full of joy; home, and to my office a
little; then to my Lady Pen's, where they are all joyed and not a little
puffed up at the good successe of their father;
[In the royal charter granted by Charles II. in 1680 to William Penn
for the government of his American province, to be styled
Pennsylvania, special reference is made to "the memory and merits of
Sir William Penn in divers services, and particularly his conduct,
courage, and discretion under our dearest brother, James, Duke of
York, in that signal battle and victory fought and obtained against
the Dutch fleet commanded by Heer van Opdam in 1665" ("Penn's
Memorials of Sir W. Penn," vol. ii., p. 359).]
and good service indeed is said to have been done by him. Had a great
bonefire at the gate; and I with my Lady Pen's people and others to Mrs.
Turner's great room, and then down into the streete. I did give the boys
4s. among them, and mighty merry. So home to bed, with my heart at great
rest and quiett, saving that the consideration of the victory is too great
for me presently to comprehend.
[Mrs. Ady (Julia Cartwright), in her fascinating life of Henrietta,
Duchess of Orleans, gives an account of the receipt of the news of
the great sea-fight in Paris, and quotes a letter of Charles II. to
his sister, dated, "Whitehall, June 8th, 1665" The first report
that reached Paris was that "the Duke of York's ship had been blown
up, and he himself had been drowned." "The shock was too much for
Madame . . . she was seized with convulsions, and became so
dangerously ill that Lord Hollis wrote to the king, 'If things had
gone ill at sea I really believe Madame would have died.'" Charles
wrote: "I thanke God we have now the certayne newes of a very
considerable victory over the Duch; you will see most of the
particulars by the relation my Lord Hopis will shew you, though I
have had as great a losse as 'tis possible in a good frinde, poore
C. Barckely. It troubles me so much, as I hope you will excuse the
shortnesse of this letter, haveing receaved the newes of it but two
houres agoe" ("Madame," 1894, pp. 215, 216).]
9th. Lay long in bed, my head akeing with too much thoughts I think last
night. Up and to White Hall, and my Lord Treasurer's to Sir Ph. Warwicke,
about Tangier business, and in my way met with Mr. Moore, who eases me in
one point wherein I was troubled; which was, that I heard of nothing said
or done by my Lord Sandwich: but he tells me that Mr. Cowling, my Lord
Chamberlain's secretary, did hear the King say that my Lord Sandwich had
done nobly and worthily. The King, it seems, is much troubled at the fall
of my Lord of Falmouth; but I do not meet with any man else that so much
as wishes him alive again, the world conceiving him a man of too much
pleasure to do the King any good, or offer any good office to him. But I
hear of all hands he is confessed to have been a man of great honour, that
did show it in this his going with the Duke, the most that ever any man
did. Home, where my people busy to make ready a supper against night for
some guests, in lieu of my stonefeast. At noon eat a small dinner at home,
and so abroad to buy several things, and among others with my taylor to
buy a silke suit, which though I had one lately, yet I do, for joy of the
good newes we have lately had of our victory over the Dutch, which makes
me willing to spare myself something extraordinary in clothes; and after
long resolution of having nothing but black, I did buy a coloured silk
ferrandin. So to the Old Exchange, and there at my pretty seamstresses
bought a pair of stockings of her husband, and so home, where by and by
comes Mr. Honiwood and Mrs. Wilde, and Roger Pepys and, after long time
spent, Mrs. Turner, The. and Joyce. We had a very good venison pasty, this
being instead of my stone-feast the last March, and very merry we were,
and the more I know the more I like Mr. Honiwood's conversation. So after
a good supper they parted, walking to the 'Change for a coach, and I with
them to see them there. So home and to bed, glad it was over.
10th. Lay long in bed, and then up and at the office all the morning. At
noon dined at home, and then to the office busy all the afternoon. In the
evening home to supper; and there, to my great trouble, hear that the
plague is come into the City (though it hath these three or four weeks
since its beginning been wholly out of the City); but where should it
begin but in my good friend and neighbour's, Dr. Burnett, in Fanchurch
Street: which in both points troubles me mightily. To the office to
finish my letters and then home to bed, being troubled at the sicknesse,
and my head filled also with other business enough, and particularly how
to put my things and estate in order, in case it should please God to call
me away, which God dispose of to his glory!
11th (Lord's day). Up, and expected long a new suit; but, coming not,
dressed myself in my late new black silke camelott suit; and, when fully
ready, comes my new one of coloured ferrandin, which my wife puts me out
of love with, which vexes me, but I think it is only my not being used to
wear colours which makes it look a little unusual upon me. To my chamber
and there spent the morning reading. At noon, by invitation, comes my two
cozen Joyces and their wives, my aunt James and he-cozen Harman, his wife
being ill. I had a good dinner for them, and as merry as I could be in
such company. They being gone, I out of doors a little, to shew,
forsooth, my new suit, and back again, and in going I saw poor Dr.
Burnett's door shut; but he hath, I hear, gained great goodwill among his
neighbours; for he discovered it himself first, and caused himself to be
shut up of his own accord: which was very handsome. In the evening comes
Mr. Andrews and his wife and Mr. Hill, and staid and played, and sung and
supped, most excellent pretty company, so pleasant, ingenious, and
harmless, I cannot desire better. They gone we to bed, my mind in great
present ease.
12th. Up, and in my yesterday's new suit to the Duke of Albemarle, and
after a turne in White Hall, and then in Westminster Hall, returned, and
with my taylor bought some gold lace for my sleeve hands in Pater Noster
Row. So home to dinner, and then to the office, and down the River to
Deptford, and then back again and to my Lord Treasurer's, and up and down
to look after my Tangier business, and so home to my office, then to
supper and to bed. The Duke of Yorke is sent for last night and expected
to be here to-morrow.
13th. Up and to the office, where all the morning doing business. At
noon with Sir G. Carteret to my Lord Mayor's to dinner, where much company
in a little room, and though a good, yet no extraordinary table. His name,
Sir John Lawrence, whose father, a very ordinary old man, sat there at
table, but it seems a very rich man. Here were at table three Sir Richard
Brownes, viz.: he of the Councill, a clerk, and the Alderman, and his son;
and there was a little grandson also Richard, who will hereafter be Sir
Richard Browne. The Alderman did here openly tell in boasting how he had,
only upon suspicion of disturbances, if there had been any bad newes from
sea, clapped up several persons that he was afeard of; and that he had
several times done the like and would do, and take no bail where he saw it
unsafe for the King. But by and by he said that he was now sued in the
Exchequer by a man for false imprisonment, that he had, upon the same
score, imprisoned while he was Mayor four years ago, and asked advice upon
it. I told him I believed there was none, and told my story of Field, at
which he was troubled, and said that it was then unsafe for any man to
serve the King, and, I believed, knows not what to do therein; but that
Sir Richard Browne, of the Councill, advised him to speak with my Lord
Chancellor about it. My Lord Mayor very respectfull to me; and so I after
dinner away and found Sir J. Minnes ready with his coach and four horses
at our office gate, for him and me to go out of towne to meet the Duke of
Yorke coming from Harwich to-night, and so as far as Ilford, and there
'light. By and by comes to us Sir John Shaw and Mr. Neale, that married
the rich widow Gold, upon the same errand. After eating a dish of creame,
we took coach again, hearing nothing of the Duke, and away home, a most
pleasant evening and road. And so to my office, where, after my letters
wrote, to supper and to bed. All our discourse in our way was Sir J.
Minnes's telling me passages of the late King's and his father's, which I
was mightily pleased to hear for information, though the pride of some
persons and vice of most was but a sad story to tell how that brought the
whole kingdom and King to ruine.
14th. Up, and to Sir Ph. Warwicke's and other places, about Tangier
business, but to little purpose. Among others to my Lord Treasurer's,
there to speak with him, and waited in the lobby three long hours for to
speake with him, to the trial of my utmost patience, but missed him at
last, and forced to go home without it, which may teach me how I make
others wait. Home to dinner and staid Mr. Hater with me, and after dinner
drew up a petition for Mr. Hater to present to the Councill about his
troublesome business of powder, desiring a trial that his absence may be
vindicated, and so to White Hall, but it was not proper to present it
to-day. Here I met with Mr. Cowling, who observed to me how he finds
every body silent in the praise of my Lord Sandwich, to set up the Duke
and the Prince; but that the Duke did both to the King and my Lord
Chancellor write abundantly of my Lord's courage and service.
[Charles II.'s letter of thanks to Lord Sandwich, dated "Whitehall,
June 9th, 1665," written entirely in the king's hand, is printed in
Ellis's "Original Letters," 1st series, vol. iii., p. 327.]
And I this day met with a letter of Captain Ferrers, wherein he tells [us]
my Lord was with his ship in all the heat of the day, and did most
worthily. Met with Creed, and he and I to Westminster; and there saw my
Lord Marlborough
[Of the four distinguished men who died after the late action with
the Dutch and were buried in Westminster Abbey, the Earl of
Marlborough was interred on June 14th, Viscount Muskerry on the
19th, the Earl of Falmouth on the 22nd, and Sir Edward Broughton on
the 26th. After the entries in the Abbey Registers is this note:
"These four last Honble Persons dyed in his Majy's service against
the Dutch, excepting only that ST Ed Br received his death's wound
at sea, but dyed here at home" (Chester's "Westminster Abbey
Registers," p. 162).]
brought to be buried, several Lords of the Council carrying him, and with
the herald in some state. Thence, vexed in my mind to think that I do so
little in my Tangier business, and so home, and after supper to bed.
15th. Up, and put on my new stuff suit with close knees, which becomes me
most nobly, as my wife says. At the office all day. At noon, put on my
first laced band, all lace; and to Kate Joyce's to dinner, where my
mother, wife, and abundance of their friends, and good usage. Thence,
wife and Mercer and I to the Old Exchange, and there bought two lace bands
more, one of my semstresse, whom my wife concurs with me to be a pretty
woman. So down to Deptford and Woolwich, my boy and I. At Woolwich,
discoursed with Mr. Sheldon about my bringing my wife down for a month or
two to his house, which he approves of, and, I think, will be very
convenient. So late back, and to the office, wrote letters, and so home
to supper and to bed. This day the Newes book upon Mr. Moore's showing
L'Estrange
["The Public Intelligencer," published by Roger L'Estrange, the
predecessor of the "London Gazette."]
(Captain Ferrers's letter) did do my Lord Sandwich great right as to the
late victory. The Duke of Yorke not yet come to towne. The towne grows
very sickly, and people to be afeard of it; there dying this last week of
the plague 112, from 43 the week before, whereof but [one] in
Fanchurch-streete, and one in Broad-streete, by the Treasurer's office.
16th. Up and to the office, where I set hard to business, but was
informed that the Duke of Yorke is come, and hath appointed us to attend
him this afternoon. So after dinner, and doing some business at the
office, I to White Hall, where the Court is full of the Duke and his
courtiers returned from sea. All fat and lusty, and ruddy by being in the
sun. I kissed his hands, and we waited all the afternoon. By and by saw
Mr. Coventry, which rejoiced my very heart. Anon he and I, from all the
rest of the company, walked into the Matted Gallery; where after many
expressions of love, we fell to talk of business. Among other things, how
my Lord Sandwich, both in his counsells and personal service, hath done
most honourably and serviceably. Sir J. Lawson is come to Greenwich; but
his wound in his knee yet very bad. Jonas Poole, in the Vantguard, did
basely, so as to be, or will be, turned out of his ship. Captain Holmes
[Captain Robert Holmes (afterwards knighted). Sir William Coventry,
in a letter to Lord Arlington (dated from "The Royal Charles,"
Southwold Bay, June 13th), writes: "Capt. Holmes asked to be rear
admiral of the white squadron in place of Sansum who was killed, but
the Duke gave the place to Captain Harman, on which he delivered up
his commission, which the Duke received, and put Captain Langhorne
in his stead" ("Calendar of State Papers," Domestic, 1664-65, p.
423).]
expecting upon Sansum's death to be made Rear-admirall to the Prince (but
Harman is
[John Harman, afterwards knighted. He had served with great
reputation in several naval fights, and was desperately wounded in
1673, while]
put in) hath delivered up to the Duke his commission, which the Duke took
and tore. He, it seems, had bid the Prince, who first told him of
Holmes's intention, that he should dissuade him from it; for that he was
resolved to take it if he offered it. Yet Holmes would do it, like a
rash, proud coxcombe. But he is rich, and hath, it seems, sought an
occasion of leaving the service. Several of our captains have done ill.
The great ships are the ships do the business, they quite deadening the
enemy. They run away upon sight of "The Prince."
["The Prince" was Lord Sandwich's ship; the captain was Roger
Cuttance. It was put up at Chatham for repair at this date.]
It is strange to see how people do already slight Sir William Barkeley,
[Sir William Berkeley, see note, vol. iii., p. 334. His behaviour
after the death of his brother, Lord Falmouth, is severely commented
on in "Poems on State Affairs," vol. i., p. 29
"Berkeley had heard it soon, and thought not good
To venture more of royal Harding's blood;
To be immortal he was not of age,
And did e'en now the Indian Prize presage;
And judged it safe and decent, cost what cost,
To lose the day, since his dear brother's lost.
With his whole squadron straight away he bore,
And, like good boy, promised to fight no more."--B.]
my Lord FitzHarding's brother, who, three months since, was the delight of
the Court. Captain Smith of "The Mary" the Duke talks mightily of; and
some great thing will be done for him. Strange to hear how the Dutch do
relate, as the Duke says, that they are the conquerors; and bonefires are
made in Dunkirke in their behalf; though a clearer victory can never be
expected. Mr. Coventry thinks they cannot have lost less than 6000 men,
and we not dead above 200, and wounded about 400; in all about 600. Thence
home and to my office till past twelve, and then home to supper and to
bed, my wife and mother not being yet come home from W. Hewer's chamber,
who treats my mother tonight. Captain Grovel the Duke told us this day,
hath done the basest thing at Lowestoffe, in hearing of the guns, and
could not (as others) be got out, but staid there; for which he will be
tried; and is reckoned a prating coxcombe, and of no courage.
17th. My wife come to bed about one in the morning. I up and abroad
about Tangier business, then back to the office, where we sat, and at noon
home to dinner, and then abroad to Mr. Povy's, after I and Mr. Andrews had
been with Mr. Ball and one Major Strange, who looks after the getting of
money for tallys and is helping Mr. Andrews. I had much discourse with
Ball, and it may be he may prove a necessary man for our turns. With Mr.
Povy I spoke very freely my indifference as to my place of Treasurer,
being so much troubled in it, which he took with much seeming trouble,
that I should think of letting go so lightly the place, but if the place
can't be held I will. So hearing that my Lord Treasurer was gone out of
town with his family because of the sicknesse, I returned home without
staying there, and at the office find Sir W. Pen come home, who looks very
well; and I am gladder to see him than otherwise I should be because of my
hearing so well of him for his serviceablenesse in this late great action.
To the office late, and then home to bed. It struck me very deep this
afternoon going with a hackney coach from my Lord Treasurer's down
Holborne, the coachman I found to drive easily and easily, at last stood
still, and come down hardly able to stand, and told me that he was
suddenly struck very sicke, and almost blind, he could not see; so I
'light and went into another coach, with a sad heart for the poor man and
trouble for myself, lest he should have been struck with the plague, being
at the end of the towne that I took him up; but God have mercy upon us
all! Sir John Lawson, I hear, is worse than yesterday: the King went to
see him to-day most kindly. It seems his wound is not very bad; but he
hath a fever, a thrush, and a hickup, all three together, which are, it
seems, very bad symptoms.
18th (Lord's day). Up, and to church, where Sir W. Pen was the first time
[since he] come from sea, after the battle. Mr. Mills made a sorry sermon
to prove that there was a world to come after this. Home and dined and
then to my chamber, where all the afternoon. Anon comes Mr. Andrews to
see and sing with me, but Mr. Hill not coming, and having business, we
soon parted, there coming Mr. Povy and Creed to discourse about our
Tangier business of money. They gone, I hear Sir W. Batten and my Lady
are returned from Harwich. I went to see them, and it is pretty to see
how we appear kind one to another, though neither of us care 2d. one for
another. Home to supper, and there coming a hasty letter from
Commissioner Pett for pressing of some calkers (as I would ever on his
Majesty's service), with all speed, I made a warrant presently and issued
it. So to my office a little, and then home to bed.
19th. Up, and to White Hall with Sir W. Batten (calling at my Lord
Ashly's, but to no purpose, by the way, he being not up), and there had
our usual meeting before the Duke with the officers of the Ordnance with
us, which in some respects I think will be the better for us, for despatch
sake. Thence home to the 'Change and dined alone (my wife gone to her
mother's), after dinner to my little new goldsmith's,
[John Colvill of Lombard Street, see ante, May 24th. He lost
L85,832 17s. 2d. by the closing of the Exchequer in 1672, and he
died between 1672 and 1677 (Price's "Handbook of London Bankers ").]
whose wife indeed is one of the prettiest, modest black women that ever I
saw. I paid for a dozen of silver salts L6 14s. 6d. Thence with Sir W.
Pen from the office down to Greenwich to see Sir J. Lawson, who is better,
but continues ill; his hickupp not being yet gone, could have little
discourse with him. So thence home and to supper, a while to the office,
my head and mind mightily vexed to see the multitude of papers and
business before [me] and so little time to do it in. So to bed.
20th. Thankes-giving-day for victory over ye Dutch. Up, and to the
office, where very busy alone all the morning till church time, and there
heard a mean sorry sermon of Mr. Mills. Then to the Dolphin Taverne,
where all we officers of the Navy met with the Commissioners of the
Ordnance by agreement, and dined: where good musique at my direction. Our
club--[share]
["Next these a sort of Sots there are,
Who crave more wine than they can bear,
Yet hate, when drunk, to pay or spend
Their equal Club or Dividend,
But wrangle, when the Bill is brought,
And think they're cheated when they're not."
The Delights of the Bottle, or the Compleat Vintner, 3rd ed., 1721,
p. 29.]
--come to 34s. a man, nine of us. Thence after dinner, to White Hall with
Sir W. Berkely in his coach, and so walked to Herbert's and there spent a
little time . . . . Thence by water to Fox-hall, and there walked an
hour alone, observing the several humours of the citizens that were there
this holyday, pulling of cherries,--[The game of bob-cherry]--and God
knows what, and so home to my office, where late, my wife not being come
home with my mother, who have been this day all abroad upon the water, my
mother being to go out of town speedily. So I home and to supper and to
bed, my wife come home when I come from the office. This day I informed
myself that there died four or five at Westminster of the plague in one
alley in several houses upon Sunday last, Bell Alley, over against the
Palace-gate; yet people do think that the number will be fewer in the
towne than it was the last weeke! The Dutch are come out again with 20
sail under Bankert; supposed gone to the Northward to meete their East
India fleete.
21st. Up, and very busy all the morning. At noon with Creed to the
Excise Office, where I find our tallys will not be money in less than
sixteen months, which is a sad thing for the King to pay all that interest
for every penny he spends; and, which is strange, the goldsmiths with whom
I spoke, do declare that they will not be moved to part with money upon
the increase of their consideration of ten per cent. which they have, and
therefore desire I would not move in it, and indeed the consequence would
be very ill to the King, and have its ill consequences follow us through
all the King's revenue. Home, and my uncle Wight and aunt James dined
with me, my mother being to go away to-morrow. So to White Hall, and
there before and after Council discoursed with Sir Thomas Ingram about our
ill case as to Tangier for money. He hath got the King to appoint a
meeting on Friday, which I hope will put an end one way or other to my
pain. So homewards and to the Cross Keys at Cripplegate, where I find all
the towne almost going out of towne, the coaches and waggons being all
full of people going into the country. Here I had some of the company of
the tapster's wife a while, and so home to my office, and then home to
supper and to bed.