THE FIGHT.

How we found the Dutch fleet at anchor on Friday half seas over,

between Dunkirke and Ostend, and made them let slip their

anchors. They about ninety, and we less than sixty. We fought

them, and put them to the run, till they met with about sixteen

sail of fresh ships, and so bore up again. The fight continued

till night, and then again the next morning from five till seven

at night. And so, too, yesterday morning they begun again, and

continued till about four o'clock, they chasing us for the most

part of Saturday, and yesterday we flying from them. The Duke

himself and then those people who were put into the catch, by and

by spied the Prince's fleet coming, upon which De Ruyter called a

little council, (being in chase at this time of us,) and

thereupon their fleet divided into two squadrons; forty in one,

and about thirty in the other (the fleet being at first about

ninety, but by one accident or other, supposed to be lessened to

about seventy); the bigger to follow the Duke, the less to meet

the Prince. But the Prince come up with the Generall's fleet,

and the Dutch come together again and bore towards their own

coast, and we with them; and now what the consequence of this day

will be, we know not. The Duke was forced to come to anchor on

Friday, having lost his sails and rigging. No particular person

spoken of to be hurt but Sir W. Clerke, who hath lost his leg,

and bore it bravely. The Duke himself had a little hurt in his

thigh, but signified little. The King did pull out of his pocket

about twenty pieces in gold, and did give it Daniel for himself

and his companion; and so parted, mightily pleased with the

account he did give him of the fight, and the success it ended

with, of the Prince's coming, though it seems the Duke did give

way again and again. The King did give order for care to be had

of Mr. Daniel and his companion; and so we parted from him, and

then met the Duke of York, and gave him the same account: and so

broke up, and I left them going to the surgeon's. To the Crown,

behind the 'Change, and there supped at the club with my Lord

Brouncker, Sir G. Ent, and others of Gresham College; and all our

discourse is of this fight at sea, and all are doubtful of the

success, and conclude all had been lost if the Prince had not

come in, they having chased us the greatest part of Saturday and

Sunday. Thence with my Lord Brouncker and Creed by coach to

White Hall, where fresh letters are come from Harwich, where the

Gloucester, Captain Clerke, is come in, and says that on Sunday

night upon coming in of the Prince, the Duke did fly; but all

this day they have been fighting; therefore they did face again

to be sure. Captain Bacon of the Bristoll is killed. They cry

up Jenings of the Ruby, and Saunders of the Sweepstakes. They

condemn mightily Sir Thomas Teddiman for a coward, but with what

reason time must show.

5th. At noon, though I should have dined with my Lord Mayor and

Aldermen at an entertainment of Commissioner Taylor's, yet it

being a time of expectation of the success of the fleet, I did

not go. No manner of news this day, but of the Rainbow's being

put in from the fleet maimed as the other ships are.

6th. By and by walking a little further, Sir Philip Frowde

[Secretary to the Duchess of York.] did meet the Duke with an

express to Sir W. Coventry (who was by) from Captain Taylor, the

Storekeeper at Harwich, being the narration of Captain Hayward of

the Dunkirke; who gives a very serious account, how upon Monday

the two fleets fought all day till seven at night, and then the

whole fleet of Dutch did betake themselves to a very plain

flight, and never looked back again. That Sir Christopher Mings

is wounded in the leg; that the Generall is well. That it is

conceived reasonably, that of all the Dutch fleet, which, with

what recruits they had, come to one hundred sail, there is not

above fifty got home; and of them, few if any of their flags.

And that little Captain Bell, in one of the fire-ships, did at

the end of the day fire a ship of 70 guns. We were also so

overtaken with this good news, that the Duke ran with it to the

King, who was gone to chapel, and there all the Court was in a

hubbub, being rejoiced over head and ears in this good news.

Away go I by coach to the new Exchange, and there did spread this

good news a little, though I find it had broke out before. And

so home to our own church, it being the common Fast-day, and it

was just before sermon; but, Lord! how all the people in the

church stared upon me to see me whisper to Sir John Minnes and my

Lady Pen. Anon I saw people stirring and whispering below, and

by and by comes up the sexton from my Lady Ford to tell me the

news, (which I had brought) being now sent into the church by Sir

W. Batten in writing, and passed from pew to pew. But that which

pleased me as much as the news, was, to have the fair Mrs.

Middleton at our church, who indeed is a very beautiful lady.

Idled away the whole night till twelve at night at the bonfire in

the streets. Some of the people thereabouts going about with

musquets, and did give me two or three vollies of their musquets,

I giving them a crown to drink; and so home. Mightily pleased

with this happy day's news, and the more, because confirmed by

Sir Daniel Harvy, [Ranger of Richmond Park.] who was in the

whole fight with the Generall, and tells me that there appear but

thirty-six in all of the Dutch fleet left at the end of the

voyage when they run home. The joy of the City was this night

exceeding great.

7th. Up betimes, and to my office about business, (Sir W.

Coventry having sent me word that he is gone down to the fleet to

see how matters stand, and to be back again speedily); and with

the same expectation of congratulating ourselves with the victory

that I had yesterday. But my Lord Brouncker and Sir T. H.

[Probably Sir Thomas Harvey.] that come from court, tell me the

contrary news, which astonishes me: that is to say, that we are

beaten, lost many ships and good commanders; have not taken one

ship of the enemy's; and so can only report ourselves a victory:

nor is it certain that we were left masters of the field. But,

above all, that the Prince run on shore upon the Galloper, and

there stuck; was endeavoured to be fetched off by the Dutch, but

could not; and so they burned her; and Sir G. Ascue is taken

prisoner, and carried into Holland. This news do much trouble

me, and the thoughts of the ill consequences of it, and the pride

and presumption that brought us to it. At noon to the 'Change,

and there find the discourse of town, and their countenances much

changed; but yet not very plain. By and by comes Mr. Wayth to

me; and discoursing of our ill success, he tells me plainly from

Captain Page's own mouth, (who hath lost his arm in the fight,)

that the Dutch did pursue us two hours before they left us, and

then they suffered us to go on homewards, and they retreated

towards their coast: which is very sad news. The Duke much

damped. In his discourse, touching the late fight, and all the

Court talk sadly of it. The Duke did give me several letters he

had received from the fleet, and Sir W. Coventry and Sir W. Pen,

who are gone down thither, for me to pick out some works to be

done for the setting out the fleet again; and so I took them home

with me, and was drawing out an abstract of them till midnight.

And as to news, I do find great reason to think that we are

beaten in every respect, and that we are the losers. The Prince

upon the Galloper, where both the Royall Charles and Royall

Katharine had come twice aground, but got off. The Essex carried

into Holland; the Swiftsure missing (Sir W. Barkeley) ever since

the beginning of the fight. Captains Bacon, Tearne, Wood,

Mootham, Whitty, and Coppin, slayne. The Duke of Albemarle

writes, that he never fought with worse officers in his life, not

above twenty of them behaving themselves like men. Sir William

Clerke lost his leg; and in two days died. The Loyall George,

Seven Oakes, and Swiftsure, are still missing, having never, as

the Generall writes himself, engaged with them. It was as great

an alteration to find myself required to write a sad letter

instead of a triumphant one, to my Lady Sandwich this night, as

ever on any occasion I had in my life.

8th. To my very great joy I find Balty come home without any

hurt, after the utmost imaginable danger he hath gone through in

the Henery, being upon the quarter-deck with Harman all the time;

and for which service, Harman I heard this day commended most

seriously and most eminently by the Duke of York. As also the

Duke did do most utmost right to Sir Thomas Teddiman, of whom a

scandal was raised, but without cause, he having behaved himself

most eminently brave all the whole fight, and to extraordinary

great service and purpose, having given Trump himself such a

broadside as was hardly ever given to any ship. Mings is shot

through the face, and into the shoulder, where the bullet is

lodged. Young Holmes is also ill-wounded, and Atber in the

Rupert. Balty tells me the case of the Henery; and it was,

indeed, most extraordinary sad and desperate. After dinner Balty

and I to my office, and there talked a great deal of this fight;

and I am mightily pleased in him, and have great content in, and

hopes of his doing well. Thence out to White Hall to a Committee

for Tangier, but it met not. But, Lord! to see how melancholy

the Court is, under the thoughts of this last overthrow, (for so

it is,) instead of a victory, so much and so unreasonably

expected. We hear the Swiftsure, Sir W. Barkeley, is come in

safe to the Nowre, after her being absent ever since the

beginning of the fight, wherein she did not appear at all from

beginning to end.

9th. The Court is divided about the Swiftsure and the Essex's

being safe. And wagers and odds laid on both sides. Sir W.

Coventry is come to town; so I to his chamber. But I do not hear

that he is at all pleased or satisfied with the late fight; but

he tells me more news of our suffering, by the death of one or

two captains more than I knew before. But he do give over the

thoughts of the safety of the Swiftsure or Essex.

10th. I met with Pierce the surgeon, who is lately come from the

fleet, and tells me that all the commanders, officers, and even

the common seamen do condemn every part of the late conduct of

the Duke of Albemarle; both in his fighting at all, running among

them in his retreat, and running the ships on ground; so as

nothing can be worse spoken of. That Holmes, Spragg, and Smith

do all the business, and the old and wiser commanders nothing.

So as Sir Thomas Teddiman (whom the King and all the world speak

well of) is mightily discontented, as being wholly slighted. He

says we lost more after the Prince came, than before too. The

Prince was so maimed, as to be forced to be towed home. He says

all the fleet confess their being chased home by the Dutch; and

yet the body of the Dutch that did it, was not above forty sail

at most. And yet this put us into the fright, as to bring all

our ships on ground. He says, however, that the Duke of

Albemarle is as high almost as ever, and pleases himself to think

that he hath given the Dutch their bellies full, without sense of

what he hath lost us; and talks how he knows now the way to beat

them. But he says, that even Smith himself, one of his

creatures, did himself condemn the late conduct from the

beginning to the end. He tells me further, how the Duke of York

is wholly given up to his new mistress, my Lady Denham, [Miss

Brookes, a relative of the Earl of Bristol, married to Sir J.

Denham, frequently mentioned in the "Memoires de Grammont."]

going at noonday with all his gentlemen with him, to visit her in

Scotland Yard; she declaring she will not be his mistress, as

Mrs. Price, to go up and down the Privy-stairs, but will be owned

publicly; and so she is. Mr. Brouncker, [Henry Brouncker,

younger brother to Lord Brouncker, whom he succeeded in his

title. He was Groom of the Bed-chamber to the Duke of York, and

a famous chess-player.] it seems, was the pimp to bring it

about, and my Lady Castlemaine, who designs thereby to fortify

herself by the Duke; there being a falling-out the other day

between the King and her: on this occasion, the Queene, in

ordinary talk before the ladies in her drawing-room, did say to

my Lady Castlemaine that she feared the King did take cold, by

staying so late abroad at her house. She answered before them

all, that he did not stay so late abroad with her, for he went

betimes thence, (though he do not before one, two, or three in

the morning,) but must stay somewhere else. The King then coming

in and overhearing, did whisper in the eare aside, and told her

she was a bold impertinent woman, and bid her to be gone out of

the Court, and not to come again till he sent for her; which she

did presently, and went to a lodging in the Pell Mell, and kept

there two or three days, and then sent to the King to know

whether she might send for her things away out of her house. The

King went to her, she must first come and view them: and so she

come, and the King went to her, and all friends again. He tells

me she did, in her anger, say she would be even with the King,

and print his letters to her. So putting all together, we are

and are like to be in a sad condition. We are endeavouring to

raise money by borrowing it of the City; but I do not think the

City will lend a farthing. Sir G. Carteret and I walked an hour

in the church-yard, under Henry the Seventh's Chapel, he being

lately come from the fleet; and tells me, as I hear from every

body else, that the management in the late fight was bad from

top to bottom. That several said that this would not have been

if my Lord Sandwich had had the ordering of it. Nay, he tells me

that certainly had my Lord Sandwich had the misfortune to have

done as they have done, the King could not have saved him. There

is, too, nothing but discontent among the officers; and all the

old experienced men are slighted. He tells me to my question,

(but as a great secret,) that the dividing of the fleet did

proceed first from a proposition from the fleet, though agreed to

hence. But he confesses it arose from want of due intelligence.

He do, however, call the fleet's retreat on Sunday a very

honourable one, and that the Duke of Albemarle did do well in it,

and would have been well if he had done it sooner, rather than

venture the loss of the fleet and crown, as he must have done if

the Prince had not come. He was surprised when I told him I

heard that the King did intend to borrow some money of the City,

and would know who had spoke of it to me; I told him Sir Ellis

Layton this afternoon. He says it is a dangerous discourse, for

that the City certainly will not be invited to do it, and then

for the King to ask it and be denied, will be the beginning of

our sorrow. He seems to fear we shall all fall to pieces among

ourselves. This evening we hear that Sir Christopher Mings is

dead of his late wounds; and Sir W. Coventry did commend him to

me in a most extraordinary manner. But this day, after three

days' trial in vain, and the hazard of the spoiling of the ship

in lying till next spring, besides the disgrace of it, news is

brought that the Loyall London is launched at Deptford.

11th. I with my Lady Pen and her daughter to see Harman; whom we

find lame in bed. His bones of his ancle are broke, but he hopes

to do well soon; and a fine person by his discourse he seems to

be: and he did plainly tell me that at the Council of War before

the fight, it was against his reason to begin the fight then, and

the reasons of most sober men there, the wind being such, and we

to windward, that they could not use their lower tier of guns.

Late comes Sir Jo. Bankes to see me, who tells me that coming up

from Rochester he overtook three or four hundred seamen, and he

believes every day they come flocking from the fleet in like

numbers; which is a sad neglect there, when it will be impossible

to get others, and we have little reason to think these will

return presently again. Walking in the galleries at White Hall,

I find the Ladies of Honour dressed in their riding garbs, with

coats and doublets with deep skirts, just for all the world like

mine, and buttoned their doublets up the breast, with perriwigs

and with hats; so that, only for a long petticoat dragging under

their men's coats, nobody could take them for women in any point

whatever; which was an odde sight, and a sight did not please me.

It was Mrs. Wells and another fine lady that I saw thus.

13th. Sir H. C. Cholmly [Sir Hugh Cholmely of Whitby, Yorkshire,

Bart., was employed in constructing the Mole at Tangier, and

resided there some years. Ob. 1688.] tells me there are great

jarrs between the Duke of York and the Duke of Albemarle, about

the latter's turning out one or two of the commanders put in by

the Duke of York. Among others, Captain Du Tell, a Frenchman,

put in by the Duke of York, and mightily defended by him; and is

therein led by Monsieur Blancford, that it seems hath the same

command over the Duke of York as Sir W. Coventry hath; which

raises ill blood between them. And I do in several little things

observe that Sir W. Coventry hath of late, by the by, reflected

on the Duke of Albemarle and his captains, particularly in that

of old Teddiman, who did deserve to be turned out this fight, and

was so; but I heard Sir W. Coventry say that the Duke of

Albemarle put in one as bad as he in his room, and one that did

as little. Invited to Sir Christopher Mings's funeral, but find

them gone to church. However I into the church (which is a fair

large church, and a great chapel) and there heard the service,

and staid till they buried him, and then out. And there met with

Sir W. Coventry (who was there out of great generosity, and no

person of quality there but he) and went with him into his coach,

and being in it with him there happened this extraordinary case,

--one of the most romantique that ever I heard in my life, and

could not have believed, but that I did see it; which was this.

--About a dozen able, lusty, proper men come to the coach-side

with tears in their eyes, and one of them that spoke for the rest

begun and said to Sir W. Coventry, "We are here a dozen of us,

that have long known and loved, and served our dead commander,

Sir Christopher Mings, and have now done the last office of

laying him in the ground. We would be glad we had any other to

offer after him, and in revenge of him. All we have is our

lives; if you will please to get His Royal Highness to give us a

fire-ship among us all, here are a dozen of us, out of all which

choose you one to be commander, and the rest of us, whoever he

is, will serve him; and, if possible, do that which shall show

our memory of our dead commander, and our revenge." Sir W.

Coventry was herewith much moved, (as well as I, who could hardly

abstain from weeping,) and took their names, and so parted;

telling me that he would move his Royal Highness as in a thing

very extraordinary. The truth is, Sir Christopher Mings was a

very stout man, and a man of great parts, and most excellent

tongue among ordinary men: and as Sir W. Coventry says, could

have been the most useful man at such a pinch of time as this.

He was come into great renowne here at home, and more abroad in

the West Indys. He had brought his family into a way of being

great; but dying at this time, his memory and name (his father

being always and at this day a shoemaker, and his mother a

hoyman's daughter; of which he was used frequently to boast) will

be quite forgot in a few months as if he had never been, nor any

of his name be the better by it; he having not had time to will

any estate, but is dead poor rather than rich. So we left the

church and crowd.

14th. With my wife and father to Hales's, and there looked only

on my father's picture, (which is mighty like); and so away to

White Hall to a committee for Tangier. Where the Duke of York

was, and Sir W. Coventry, and a very full committee: and instead

of having a very prejudiced meeting, they did, though inclined

against Yeabsly, yield to the greatest part of his account, so as

to allow of his demands to the value of 7000l. and more, and only

give time for him to make good his pretence to the rest; which

was mighty joy to me: and so we rose up. But I must observe the

force of money, which did make my Lord Ashly to argue and behave

himself in the business with the greatest friendship, and yet

with all the discretion imaginable; and it will be a business of

admonition and instruction to me concerning him (and other men,

too, for aught I know) as long as I live.

16th. The King, Duke of York, and Sir W. Coventry are gone down

to the fleet. It seems the Dutch do mightily insult of their

victory, and they have great reason. Sir William Barkeley was

killed before his ship taken; and there he lies dead in a sugar-

chest, for every body to see, with his flag standing up by him.

And Sir George Ascue is carried up and down the Hague for people

to see.

18th. Sir W. Coventry is returned this night from the fleet; he

being the activest man, in the world, and we all (myself

particularly) more afraid of him than of the King or his service,

for aught I see; God forgive us! This day the great news is come

of the French, their taking the island of St. Christopher from

us; and it is to be feared they have done the like of all those

islands thereabouts: this makes me mad.

19th. I to Sir G. Carteret's by appointment; where I perceive by

him the King is going to borrow some money of the City; but I

fear it will do no good, but hurt. He tells me how the Generall

is displeased, and there have been some high words between the

Generall and Sir W. Coventry. And it may be so; for I do not

find Sir W. Coventry so highly commending the Duke as he used to

be, but letting fall now and then some little jerkes: as this

day, speaking of news from Holland, he says, "I find their

victory begins to shrinke there as well as ours here." Here I

met with Captain Cocke, and he tells me that the first thing the

Prince said to the King upon his coming was, complaining of the

Commissioners of the Navy: that they could have been abroad in

three or four days but for us; that we do not take care of them:

which I am troubled at, and do fear may in violence break out

upon this office some time or other; for we shall not be able to

carry on the business.

21st. Up, and at the office all the morning; where by several

circumstances I find Sir W. Coventry and the Duke of Albemarle do

not agree as they used to do; Sir W. Coventry commending Aylett,

(in some reproach to the Duke), whom the Duke hath put out for

want of courage; and found fault with Steward, whom the Duke

keeps in, though as much in fault as any commander in the fleet.

Sir George Smith tells me that this day my Lord Chancellor and

some of the Court have been with the City, and that the City have

voted to lend the King 100,000l.; which, if soon paid, (as he

says he believes it will,) will be a greater service than I did

ever expect at this time from the City.

23rd. Reading Pompey the Great, (a play translated from the

French by several noble persons; among others, my Lord

Buckhurst,) that to me is but a mean play, and the words and

sense not very extraordinary. From Deptford I walked to

Redriffe, and in my way was overtaken by Bagwell, lately come

from sea in the Providence, who did give me an account of several

particulars in the late fight, and how his ship was deserted

basely by the York, Captain Swanly, commander.

24th. In the gallery among others met with Major Halsey, a great

creature of the Duke of Albemarle's: who tells me that the Duke

by name hath said that he expected to have the work here up in

the River done, having left Sir W. Batten and Mr. Phipps there.

He says that the Duke of Albemarle do say that this is a victory

we have had, having, as he was sure, killed them 8000 men, and

sunk about fourteen of their ships; but nothing like this appears

true. He lays much of the little success we have had, however,

upon the fleet's being divided by order from above, and the want

of spirit in the commanders; and that he was commanded by order

to go out of the Downes to the Gunfleete, and in the way meeting

the Dutch fleet, what should he do? should he not fight them?

especially having beat them heretofore at as great disadvantage.

He tells me further, that having been downe with the Duke of

Albemarle, he finds that Holmes and Spragge do govern most

business of the Navy; and by others I understand that Sir Thomas

Allen is offended thereat: that he is not so much advised with

as he ought to be. He tells me also, as he says of his own

knowledge, that several people before the Duke went out did offer

to supply the King with 100,000l. provided he would be treasurer

of it, to see it laid out for the Navy; which he refused, and so

it died. But I believe none of this. This day I saw my Lady

Falmouth, [Elizabeth, daughter of Hervey Bagot, Esq., and widow

of Charles Berkeley, Earl of Falmouth, married secondly, Charles

first Duke of Dorset. She had been Maid of Honour to the Duchess

of York.] with whom I remember now I have dined at my Lord

Barkeley's heretofore, a pretty woman: she was now in her second

or third mourning, and pleasant in her looks. By and by the

Council rises, and Sir W. Coventry come out; and he and I went

aside; and discoursed of much business of the Navy; and

afterwards took his coach, and to Hide-Parke, he and I alone:

there we had much talk. First, he stated a discourse of a talk

he hears about the town, which, says he, is a very bad one, and

fit to be suppressed, if we knew how: which is, the comparing of

the success of the last year with that of this; saying that that

was good, and that bad. I was as sparing in speaking as I could,

being jealous of him and myself also, but wished it could be

stopped; but said I doubted it could not otherwise than by the

fleet's being abroad again, and so finding other work for men's

minds and discourse. Then to discourse of himself, saying, that

he heard that he was under the lash of people's discourse about

the Prince's not having notice of the Dutch being out, and for

him to come back again, nor the Duke of Albemarle notice that the

Prince was sent for back again: to which he told me very

particularly how careful he was the very same night that it was

resolved to send for the Prince back, to cause orders to be writ,

and waked the Duke, who was then in bed, to sign them; and that

they went by express that very night, being the Wednesday night

before the fight, which begun on the Friday; and that for sending

them by the post express, and not by gentlemen on purpose, he

made a sport of it, and said, I knew of none to send it with but

would at least have lost more time in fitting themselves out,

than any diligence of theirs beyond that of the ordinary post

would have recovered. I told him that this was not so much the

towne talk as the reason of dividing the fleete. To this he told

me he ought not to say much; but did assure me in general that

the proposition did first come from the fleet, and the resolution

not being prosecuted with orders so soon as the Generall thought

fit, the Generall did send Sir Edward Spragge up on purpose for

them; and that there was nothing in the whole business which was

not done with the full consent and advice of the Duke of

Albemarle. But he did adde, (as the Catholiques call LE SECRET

DE LA MASSE) that Sir Edward Spragge--who had even in Sir

Christopher Mings's time, put in to be the great favourite of the

Prince, but much more now had a mind to be the great man with

him, and to that end had a mind to have the Prince at a distance

from the Duke of Albemarle, that they might be doing something

alone--did, as he believed, put on this business of dividing the

fleet, and that thence it came. He tells me as to the business

of intelligence, the want whereof the world did complain much of,

that for that it was not his business, and as he was therefore to

have no share in the blame, so he would not meddle to lay it any

where else. That De Ruyter was ordered by the States not to make

it his business to come into much danger, but to preserve himself

as much as was fit out of harm's way, to be able to direct the

fleet. He do, I perceive, with some violence, forbear saying any

thing to the reproach of the Duke of Albemarle; but, contrarily,

speaks much of his courage; but I do as plainly see that he do

not like the Duke of Albemarle's proceedings, but, contrarily, is

displeased therewith. And he do plainly diminish the commanders

put in by the Duke, and do lessen the miscarriages of any that

have been removed by him. He concurs with me, that the next bout

will be a fatal one to one side or other, because, if we be

beaten, we shall not be able to set out our fleet again. He do

confess with me that the hearts of our seamen are much saddened;

and for that reason, among others, wishes Sir Christopher Mings

was alive, who might inspire courage and spirit into them.

Speaking of Holmes, how great a man he is, and that he do for the

present, and hath done all the voyage, kept himself in good order

and within bounds: but, says he, a cat will be a cat still, and

some time or other out his humours must break again. He do not

disowne but that the dividing of the fleet upon the presumptions

that were then had (which, I suppose, was the French fleet being

come this way,) was a good resolution.

25th. News from Sir W. Coventry that the Dutch are certainly

come out. Mrs. Pen carried us to two gardens at Hackny, (which I

every day grow more and more in love with,) Mr. Drake's one,

where the garden is good, and house and the prospect admirable;

the other my Lord Brooke's [Robert Lord Brooke, ob. 1676. Evelyn

mentions this garden as Lady Brooke's. Brooke House at Clapton,

was lately occupied as a private madhouse.] where the gardens

are much better, but the house not so good, nor the prospect good

at all. But the gardens are excellent; and here I first saw

oranges grow: some green, some half, some a quarter, and some

full ripe, on the same tree, and one fruit of the same tree do

come a year or two after the other. I pulled off a little one by

stealth (the man being mightily curious of them) and eat it, and

it was just as other little green small oranges are: as big as

half the end of my little finger. Here were also great variety

of other exotique plants, and several labarinths, and a pretty

aviary.

26th. In the morning come Mr. Chichly [Mr., afterwards Sir

Thomas Chicheley, a Privy-Counsellor and Commissioner of the

Ordnance.] to Sir W. Coventry, to tell him the ill success of

the guns made for the Loyall London; which is, that in the trial

every one of the great guns, the whole cannon of seven (as I take

it), broke in pieces.

27th. To Sir W. Coventry's chamber (where I saw his father my

Lord Coventry's picture hung up, done by Stone, who then brought

it home. It is a good picture, drawn in his judge's robes, and

the great seal by him. And while it was hanging up, "This," says

Sir W. Coventry, merrily, "is the use we make of our fathers.")

But what I observed most from the discourse was this of Sir W.

Coventry, that he do look upon ourselves in a desperate

condition. The issue of all standing upon this one point, that

by the next fight, if we beat, the Dutch will certainly be

content to take eggs for their money, (that was his expression);

or if we be beaten, we must be contented to make peace, and glad

if we can have it without paying too dear for it. And withall we

do rely wholly upon the Parliament's giving us more money the

next sitting, or else we are undone. I did this afternoon visit

my Lord Bellasses, who professes all imaginable satisfaction in

me. My Lord is going down to his garrison to Hull, by the King's

command, to put it in order for fear of an invasion: which

course I perceive is taken upon the sea-coasts round; for we have

a real apprehension of the King of France's invading us.

28th. The Dutch are now known to be out, and we may expect them

every hour upon our coast. But our fleet is in pretty good

readiness for them.

29th. To the office; where I met with a letter from Dover, which

tells me (and it did come by express) that news is brought over

by a gentleman from Callice that the Dutch fleet, 130 sail, are

come upon the French coast; and that the country is bringing in

picke-axes, and shovells, and wheel-barrows into Callice; that

there are 6000 men armed with head, back, and breast, (Frenchmen)

ready to go on board the Dutch fleet, and will be followed by

1200 more. That they pretend they are to come to Dover; and that

thereupon the Governor of Dover Castle is getting the

victuallers' provision out of the town into the Castle to secure

it. But I do think this is a ridiculous conceit; but a little

time will show.

30th. Mightily troubled all this morning with going to my Lord

Mayor, (Sir Thomas Bludworth, a silly man I think, [As his

conduct during the Great Fire fully proved.]) and other places,

about getting shipped some men that they have these two last

nights pressed in the City out of houses: the persons wholly

unfit for sea, and many of them people of very good fashion,

which is a shame to think of, and carried to Bridewell they are,

yet without being impressed with money legally as they ought to

be. But to see how the King's business is done; my Lord Mayor

himself did scruple at this time of extremity to do this thing,

because he had not money to pay the pressed-money to the men. I

did out of my own purse disburse 15l. to pay for their pressing

and diet last night and this morning; which is a thing worth

record of my Lord Mayor. Busy about this all the morning, and

about the getting off men pressed by our officers of the fleet

into the service; even our own men that are at the office, and

the boats that carry us. So that it is now become impossible to

have so much as a letter carried from place to place, or any

message done for us: nay, out of Victualling ships full loaden

to go down to the fleet, and out of the vessels of the officers

of the Ordnance, they press men, so that for want of discipline

in this respect I do fear all will be undone.

July 1, 1666. Comes Sir W. Pen to town, which I little expected,

having invited my Lady and her daughter Pegg to dine with me to-

day; which at noon they did, and Sir W. Pen with them: and

pretty merry we were. And though I do not love him, yet I find

it necessary to keep in with him: his good service at Shearnesse

in getting out the fleet being much taken notice of; and reported

to the King and Duke, even from the Prince and Duke of Albemarle

themselves, and made the most of to me and them by Sir W.

Coventry; therefore I think it discretion, great and necessary

discretion, to keep in with him. To the Tower several times,

about the business of the pressed men, and late at it till twelve

at night shipping of them. But, Lord! how some poor women did

cry; and in my life I never did see such natural expression of

passion as I did here in some women's bewailing themselves, and

running to every parcel of men that were brought, one after

another, to look for their husbands, and wept over every vessel

that went off, thinking they might be there, and looking after

the ship as far as ever they could by moone-light, that it

grieved me to the heart to hear them. Besides, to see poor

patient labouring men and housekeepers leaving poor wives and

families, taken up on a sudden by strangers, was very hard, and

that without press-money, but forced against all law to be gone.

It is a great tyranny.

2nd. Up betimes, and forced to go to my Lord Mayor's, about the

business of the pressed men; and indeed I find him a mean man of

understanding and dispatch of any publick business. Thence out

of curiosity to Bridewell to see the pressed men, where there are

about 300; but so unruly that I durst not go among them: and

they have reason to be so, having been kept these three days

prisoners, with little or no victuals, and pressed out and

contrary to all course of law, without press-money, and men that

are not liable to it. Were I met with prating Colonel Cox, one

of the City collonells, heretofore a great presbyter: but to

hear how the fellow did commend himself, and the service he do

the King; and, like an asse, at Paul's did take me out of my way

on purpose to show me the gate, (the little north gate) where he

had two men shot close by him on each time, and his own hair

burnt by a bullet-shot in the insurrection of Venner, and himself

escaped. I found one of the vessels loaden with the Bridewell

birds in a great mutiny, and they would not sail, not they; but

with good words, and cajoling the ringleader into the Tower,

(where, when he was come, he was clapped up in the Hole) they

were got very quietly; but I think it is much if they do not run

the vessel on ground.

3rd. Mr. Finch, one of the Commissioners of Excise, and I fell

to discourse of the Parliament, and the great men there; and

among others, Mr. Vaughan, whom he reports as a man of excellent

judgement and learning, but most passionate and opiniastre. He

had done himself the most wrong (though he values it not), that

is, the displeasure of the King in his standing so long against

the breaking of the Act for a triennial parliament; but yet do

believe him to be a most loyall gentleman. He told me Mr. Prin's

character; that he is a man of mighty labour and reading, and

memory, but the worst judge of matters, or layer together of what

he hath read, in the world, (which I do not, however, believe him

in;) that he believes him very true to the King in his heart, but

can never be reconciled to episcopacy; that the House do not lay

much weight upon him, or any thing he says. News came yesterday

from Harwich, that the Dutch had appeared upon our coast with

their fleet, and we believe did go to the Gun-fleete, and they

are supposed to be there now, but I have heard nothing of them

to-day. Yesterday Dr. Whistler, at Sir W. Pen's, told me that

Alexander Broome, [Alexander Broome, an attorney in the Lord

Mayor's Court, author of "Loyal Songs and Madrigals," much sung

by the Cavaliers, and of a translation of Horace. He was

regretted as an agreeable companion.] the great song-maker, is

lately dead.

4th. Thanks be to God, the plague is, as I hear, encreased but

two this week; but in the country in several places it rages

mightily, and particularly in Colchester, where it hath, long

been, and is believed will quite depopulate the place. With the

Duke, all of us discoursing about the places where to build ten

great ships: the King and Council have resolved on none to be

under third-rates; but it is impossible to do it, unless we have

more money towards the doing it than yet we have in any view.

But, however, the show must be made to the world. In the evening

Sir W. Pen came to me, and we walked together, and talked of the

late fight. I find him very plain, that the whole conduct of the

late fight was ill; that two-thirds of the commanders of the

whole fleet have told him so: they all saying, that they durst

not oppose it at the Council of War, for fear of being called

cowards, though it was wholly against their judgement to fight

that day with the disproportion of force, and then we not being

able to use one gun of our lower tier, which was a greater

disproportion than the other. Besides, we might very well have

staid in the Downs without fighting, or any where else, till the

Prince could have come up to them; or at least till the weather

was fair, that we might have the benefit of our whole force in

the ships that we had. He says three things must be remedied, or

else we shall be undone by this fleet. 1. That we must fight in

a line, whereas we fight promiscuously, to our utter and

demonstrable ruine: the Dutch fighting otherwise; and we,

whenever we beat them,--2. We must not desert ships of our own in

distress, as we did, for that makes a captain desperate, and he

will fling away his ship, when there are no hopes left him of

succour.--3. That ships when they are a little shattered, must

not take the liberty to come in of themselves, but refit

themselves the best they can, and stay out--many of our ships

coming in with very small disableness. He told me that our very

commanders, nay, our very flag-officers, do stand in need of

exercising among themselves, and discoursing the business of

commanding a fleet: he telling me that even one of our flag-men

in the fleet, did not know which tacke lost the wind, or kept it,

in the last engagement. He says it was pure dismaying and fear

that made them all run upon the Galloper, not having their wits

about them: and that it was a miracle they were not all lost.

He much inveighs upon my discoursing of Sir John Lawson's saying

heretofore, that sixty sail would do as much as one hundred; and

says that he was a man of no counsel at all, but had got the

confidence to say as the gallants did, and did propose to himself

to make himself great by them, and saying as they did: but was

no man of judgement in his business, but hath been out in the

greatest points that have come before them. And then in the

business of fore-castles, which he did oppose, all the world sees

now the use of them for shelter of men. He did talk very

rationally to me, insomuch that I took more pleasure this night

in hearing him discourse, than I ever did in my life in any thing

that he said.

6th. I believe not less than one thousand people in the streets.

But it is a pretty thing to observe that both there and every

where else, a man shall see many women now-a-days of mean sort in

the streets, but no men; men being so afraid of the press. I

dined with Sir G. Carteret, and after dinner had much discourse

about; our public business; and he do seem to fear every day more

and more what I do; which is a general confusion in the State;

plainly answering me to the question, who is it that the weight

of the warr depends upon? that it is only Sir W. Coventry. He

tells me, too, the Duke of Albemarle is dissatisfied, and that

the Duchesse do curse Coventry as the man that betrayed her

husband to the sea: though I believe that it is not so. Thence

to Lumburd-streete, and received 2000l., and carried it home:

whereof 1000l. in gold. This I do for security sake, and

convenience of carriage; though it costs me above 70l. the change

of it, at 18 1/2d per peece. Creed tells me he finds all things

mighty dull at Court; and that they now begin to lie long in bed;

it being, as we suppose, not seemly for them to be found playing

and gaming as they used to be; nor that their minds are at ease

enough to follow those sports, and yet not knowing how to employ

themselves, (though there be work enough for their thoughts and

councils and pains,) they keep long in bed. But he thinks with

me, that there is nothing in the world can help us but the King's

personal looking after his business and his officers, and that

with that we may yet do well; but otherwise must be undone:

nobody at this day taking care of anything, nor hath any body to

call him to account for it.

10th. To the office; the yard being very full of women, (I

believe above three hundred) coming to get money for their

husbands and friends that are prisoners in Holland; and they lay

clamouring and swearing and cursing us, that my wife and I were

afraid to send a venison-pasty that we have for supper to-night,

to the cook's to be baked, for fear of their offering violence to

it: but it went, and no hurt done. To the Tower to speak with

Sir John Robinson about the bad condition of the pressed men for

want of clothes.

11th. I away by coach to St. James's, and there hear that the

Duchesse is lately brought to bed of a boy. By and by called to

wait on the Duke, the King being present; and there agreed, among

other things, of the places to build the ten new great ships

ordered to be built; and as to the relief of prisoners is

Holland. And then, about several stories of the basenesse of the

King of Spain's being served with officers: they in Flanders

having as good common men as any Prince in the world, but the

veriest cowards for the officers, nay for the general officers,

as the Generall and Lieutenant-generall, in the whole world.

But, above all things, the King did speak most in contempt of the

ceremoniousnesse of the King of Spain, that he do nothing but

under some ridiculous form or other. I shall get in near 2000l.

into my own hands, which is in the King's, upon tallies; which

will be a pleasure to me, and satisfaction to have a good sum in

my own hands, whatever evil disturbances should be in the State;

though it troubles me to lose so great a profit as the King's

interest of ten per cent. for that money.

12th. With Sir W. Coventry into London, to the office. And all

the way I observed him mightily to make mirth of the Duke of

Albemarle and his people about him, saying, that he was the

happiest man in the world for doing of great things by sorry

instruments. And so particularized in Sir W. Clerke, and Riggs,

and Halsey, and others. And then again said that the only

duality eminent in him was, that he did persevere; and indeed he

is a very drudge, and stands by the King's business.

14th. Up betimes to the office, to write fair a laborious letter

I wrote as from the Board to the Duke of York, laying out our

want of money again; and particularly the business of Captain

Cocke's tender of hemp, which my Lord Brouncker brought in under

an unknown hand without name. Wherein his Lordship will have no

great success, I doubt. That being done, I down to Thames-

streete, and there agreed for four or five tons of corke, to send

this day to the fleet, being a new device to make barricados

with, instead of junke. After a song in the garden, which is now

the greatest pleasure I take, and indeed do please me mightily,

to bed. This evening I had Davila brought home to me and find it

a most excellent history as ever I read.

16th. A wonderful dark sky, and shower of rain this morning. At

Harwich a shower of hail as big as walnuts.

18th. To St. James's after my fellows; and here, among other

things, before us all, the Duke of York did say, that now at

length is come to a sure knowledge that the Dutch did lose in the

late engagements twenty-nine captains and thirteen ships. Upon

which Sir W. Coventry did publickly move, that if his Royal

Highness had this of a certainty, it would be of use to send this

down to the fleet, and to cause it to be spread about the fleet,

for the recovering of the spirits of the officers and seamen; who

are under great dejectednes, for want of knowing that they did do

any thing against the enemy, notwithstanding all that they did to

us. Which, though it be true, yet methought was one of the most

dishonourable motions to our countrymen that ever was made; and

is worth remembering. Thence with Sir W. Pen home, calling at

Lilly's, to have a time appointed when to be drawn among the

other Commanders of Flags the last year's fight. And so full of

work Lilly is, that he was fain to take his table-book out to see

how his time is appointed, and appointed six days hence for him

to come between seven and eight in the morning. Thence with him

home; and there by appointment I find Dr. Fuller, now Bishop of

Limericke, in Ireland; whom I knew in his low condition at

Twittenham and find the Bishop the same good man that ever; and

in a word, kind to us, and, methinks, one of the comeliest and

most becoming prelates in all respects that ever I saw in my

life. During dinner comes an acquaintance of his, Sir Thomas

Littleton [Afterwards made Treasurer of the Navy in conjunction

with Sir Thomas Osborn.] whom I knew not while he was in my

house, but liked his discourse: and afterwards, by Sir W. Pen,

do come to know that he is one of the greatest speakers in the

House of Commons, and the usual second to the great Vaughan. So

was sorry I did observe him no more, and gain more of his

acquaintance. Walked to Woolwich, reading "the Rivall Ladys" [A

Tragi-comedy by Dryden.] all the way, and find it a most

pleasant and fine writ play.

19th. Full of wants of money, and much stores to buy, for to

replenish the stores, and no money to do it with. The fleet is

sailed this morning; God send us good news of them!

21st. At noon walked in the garden with Commissioner Pett,

(newly come to town) who tells me how infinite the disorders are

among the commanders and all officers of the fleet. No

discipline: nothing but swearing and cursing, and every body

doing what they please; and the Generalls, understanding no

better, suffer it, to the reproaching of this Board, or whoever

it will be. He himself hath been challenged twice to the field,

or something as good, by Sir Edward Spragge and Capt. Seamons

[QUERY Seymour?] He tells me that captains carry, for all the

late orders, what men they please. So that he fears, and I do no

less, that God Almighty can bless us while we keep in this

disorder that we are in: he observing to me too, that there is

no man of counsel or advice in the fleet; and the truth is, that

the gentlemen captains will undo us for they are not to be kept

in order, their friends about the King and Duke, and their own

houses are so free, that it is not for any person but the Duke

himself to have any command over them.

22nd. Walked to White Hall, where saw nobody almost, but walked

up and down with Hugh May, [An architect, and Comptroller of the

works at Windsor Castle. Ob 1684.] who is a very ingenious man.

Among other things, discoursing of the present fashion of gardens

to make them plain, that we have the best walks of gravell in the

world, France having none, nor Italy: and our green of our

bowling allies is better than any they have. So our business

here being ayre, this is the best way, only with a little mixture

of statues, or pots, which may be handsome, and so filled with

another pot of such or such a flower or greene as the season of

the year will bear. And then for flowers, they are best seen in

a little plat by themselves; besides, their borders spoil the

walks of another garden; and then for fruit, the best way is to

have walls built circularly one within another, to the South, on

purpose for fruit, and leave the walking garden only for that

use. Sir Richard Fanshaw is lately dead at Madrid. The fleet

cannot get clear of the River, but expect the first wind to be

out, and then to be sure to fight. The Queene and Maids of

Honour are at Tunbridge.

23rd. All full of expectation of the fleet's engagement, but it

is not yet. Sir W. Coventry says they are eighty-nine men-of-

war, but one fifth-rate; and that the Sweepstakes, which carries

forty guns. They are most infinitely manned. He tells me the

Loyal London, Sir J. Smith, (which, by the way, he commends to be

the best ship in the world, large and small) hath above eight

hundred men; and moreover takes notice, which is worth notice,

that the fleet hath lain now near fourteen days without any

demand for a farthing-worth of any thing of any kind, but only to

get men. He also observes, that with this excess of men,

nevertheless, they have thought fit to leave behind them sixteen

ships, which they have robbed of their men, which certainly might

have been manned, and they have been serviceable in the fight,

and yet the fleet well-manned, according to the excess of

supernumeraries, which we hear they have. At least two or three

of them might have been left manned, and sent away with the

Gottenburgh ships. They conclude this to be much the best fleet,

for force of guns, greatness and number of ships and men, that

ever England did see; being as Sir W. Coventry reckons, besides

those left behind, eighty-nine men-of-war, and twenty-five ships,

though we cannot hear that they have with them above eighteen.

The French are not yet joined with the Dutch, which do dissatisfy

the Hollanders, and if they should have a defeat, will undo De

Witt; the people generally of Holland do hate this league with

France.

25th. At White Hall; we find the Court gone to Chapel, it being

St. James's-day. And by and by, while they are at chapel, and we

waiting chapel being done, come people out of the Park, telling

us that the guns are heard plainly. And so every body to the

Park, and by and by the chapel done, and the King and Duke into

the bowling green, and upon the leads, whither I went, and there

the guns were plain to be heard; though it was pretty to hear how

confident some would be in the lowdnesse of the guns, which it

was as much as ever I could do to hear them. By and by the King

to dinner, and I waited there his dining; but, Lord! how little

I should be pleased, I think, to have so many people crowding

about me; and among other things it astonished me to see my Lord

Barkeshire [Thomas Howard, second son of Thomas first Earl of

Suffolk created Earl of Berkshire 1625-6, K.G. Ob. 1669, aged

nearly 90.] waiting at table, and serving the King drink, in

that dirty pickle as I never saw man in my life. Here I met Mr.

Williams, who would have me to dine where he was invited to dine,

at the Backe-stayres. So after the King's meat was taken away,

we thither; but he could not stay, but left me there among two or

three of the King's servants, where we dined with the meat that

come from his table; which was most excellent, with most brave

drink cooled in ice, (which at this hot time was welcome,) and I

drinking no wine, had metheglin for the King's own drinking,

which did please me mightily.

27th. To Sir W. Coventry's lodging, and there he showed me

Captain Talbot's letter, wherein he says that the fight begun on

the 25th: that our White squadron begun with one of the Dutch

squadrons, and then the Red with another, so hot that we put them

both to giving way, and so they continued in pursuit all the day,

and as long as he stayed with them: that the blow fell to the

Zealand squadron; and after a long dispute, he against two or

three great ships, received eight or nine dangerous shots, and so

come away; and says, he saw the Resolution burned by one of their

fire-ships, and four or five of the enemy's. But says that two

or three of our great ships were in danger of being fired by our

fire-ships, which Sir W. Coventry nor I cannot understand. But

upon the whole, he and I walked two or three turns in the Park

under the great trees, and no doubt that this gallant is come

away a little too soon, having lost never a mast nor sail. And

then we did begin to discourse of the young genteel captains,

which he was very free with me in speaking his mind of the

unruliness of them; and what a loss the King hath of his old men,

and now of this Hannam, of the Resolution, if he be dead. He

told me how he is disturbed to hear the commanders at sea called

cowards here on shore.

28th. To my Lord Lauderdale's, where we find some Scotch people

at supper. Pretty odd company; though my Lord Brouncker tells

me, my Lord Lauderdale is a man of mighty good reason and

judgement. But at supper there played one of their servants upon

the viallin some Scotch tunes only; several, and the best of

their country, as they seemed to esteem them, by their praising

and admiring them: but, Lord! the strangest ayre that ever I

heard in my life, and all of one cast. But strange to hear my

Lord Lauderdale say himself that he had rather hear a cat mew

than the best musique in the world; and the better the musique,

the more sick it makes him; and that of all instruments, he hates

the lute most, and next to that, the baggpipe.

29th. All the town is full of a victory. By and by a letter

from Sir W. Coventry tells me that we have the victory. Beat

them into the Weelings: had taken two of their great ships; but

by the orders of the Generalls they are burned. This being,

methought, but a poor result after the fighting of two so great

fleets, and four days having no tidings of them: I was still

impatient; but could know no more. I to Sir W. Batten, where the

Lieutenant of the Tower was, and Sir John Minnes, and the news I

find is what I had heard before; only that our Blue squadron, it

seems, was pursued the most of the time, having more ships, a

great many, than its number allotted to its share. Young Seamour

is killed, the only captain slain. The Resolution burned; but,

as they say, most of her crew and commander saved. This is all,

only we keep the sea, which denotes a victory, or at least that

we are not beaten; but no great matters to brag of, God knows.

30th. To Sir W. Coventry, at St. James's, where I find him in

his new closet, which is very fine, and well supplied with

handsome books. I find him speak very slightly of the late

victory: dislikes their staying with the fleet up their coast;

believing that the Dutch will come out in fourteen days, and then

we with our unready fleet, by reason of some of the ships being

maymed, shall be in bad condition to fight them upon their own

coast: is much dissatisfied with the great number of men, and

their fresh demands of twenty-four victualling ships, they going

out the other day as full as they could stow. He spoke slightly

of the Duke of Albemarle, saying, when De Ruyter come to give him

a broadside--"Now," says he, (chewing of tobacco the while) "will

this fellow come and give me two broadsides, and then he shall

run;" but it seems he held him to it two hours, till the Duke

himself was forced to retreat to refit, and was towed off, and De

Ruyter staid for him till he come back again to fight. One in

the ship saying to the Duke, "Sir, methinks De Ruyter hath given

us more than two broadsides;"-- "Well," says the Duke, "but you

shall find him run by and by," and so he did, says Sir W.

Coventry; but after the Duke himself had been first made to fall

off. The Resolution had all brass guns, being the same that Sir

J. Lawson had in her in the Straights. It is observed, that the

two fleets were even in number to one ship. Thence home; and to

sing with my wife and Mercer [Mrs. Pepys's maid.] in the garden;

and coming in I find my wife plainly dissatisfied with me, that I

can spend so much time with Mercer, teaching her to sing, and

could never take the pains with her. Which I acknowledge; but it

is because that the girl do take musick mighty readily, and she

do not, and musick is the thing of the world that I love most,

and all the pleasure almost that I can now take. So to bed in

some little discontent, but no words from me.

31st. The court empty, the King being gone to Tunbridge, and the

Duke of York a-hunting. I had some discourse with Povy, who is

mightily discontented, I find, about his disappointments at

Court; and says, of all places, if there be hell, it is here. No

faith, no truth, no love, nor any agreement between man and wife,

nor friends. He would have spoke broader, but I put it off to

another time; and so parted, Povy discoursed with me about my

Lord Peterborough's 50l. which his man did give me from him, the

last year's salary I paid him, which he would have Povy pay him

again; but I have not taken it to myself yet, and therefore will

most heartily return him, and mark him put for a coxcomb. Povy

went down to Mr. Williamson's, and brought me up this extract out

of the Flanders' letters to day come:--That Admiral Everson, and

the Admiral and Vice-Admiral of Freezeland with many captains and

men, are slain; that De Ruyter is safe, but lost 250 men out of

his own ship; but that he is in great disgrace, and Trump in

better favour; that Bankert's ship is burned, himself hardly

escaping with a few men on board De Haes; that fifteen captains

are to be tried the seventh of August; and that the hangman was

sent from Flushing to assist the Council of Warr. How much of

this is true, time will show.

August 1, 1666. Walked over the Park with Sir W. Coventry, who I

clearly see is not thoroughly pleased with the late management of

the fight, nor with any thing that the Generalls do; only is glad

to hear that De Ruyter is out of favour, and that this fight hath

cost them 5000 men, as they themselves do report. And it is a

strange thing, as he observes, how now and then the slaughter

runs on one hand; there being 5000 killed on theirs, and not

above 400 or 500 killed and wounded on ours, and as many flag-

officers on theirs as ordinary captains in ours.

3rd. The death of Everson, and the report of our success, beyond

expectation, in the killing of so great a number of men, hath

raised the estimation of the late victory considerably; but it is

only among fools: for all that was but accidental. But this

morning, getting Sir W. Pen to read over the Narrative with me,

he did sparingly, yet plainly, say that we might have intercepted

their Zealand squadron coming home, if we had done our parts; and

more, that we might have run before the wind as well as they, and

have overtaken their ships in the pursuite, in all the while.

4th. This evening, Sir W. Pen come into the garden, and walked

with me, and told me that he had certain notice that at Flushing

they are in great distraction. De Ruyter dares not come on shore

for fear of the people: nor any body open their houses or shops

for fear of the tumult: which is a very good hearing.

6th. In Fenchurch-street met with Mr. Battersby; says he, "Do

you see Dan Rawlinson's door shut up?" (which I did, and

wondered.) "Why," says he, "after all this sickness, and himself

spending all the last year in the country, one of his men is now

dead of the plague, and his wife and one of his maids sick, and

himself shut up;" which troubles me mightily. So home; and there

do hear also from Mrs. Sarah Daniel, that Greenwich is at this

time much worse than ever it was, and Deptford too: and she told

us that they believed all the town would leave the town, and come

to London; which is now the receptacle of all the people from all

infected places. God preserve us!

7th. I receive fresh intelligence that Deptford and Greenwich

are now afresh exceedingly afflicted with the sickness more than

ever.

8th. Discoursed with Mr. Hooke about the nature of sounds, and

he did make me understand the nature of musicall sounds made by

strings, mighty prettily; and told me that having come to a

certain number of vibrations proper to make any tone, he is able

to tell how many strokes a fly makes with her wings, (those flies

that hum in their flying by the note that it answers to in

musique, during their flying. That, I suppose, is a little too

much refined; but his discourse in general of sound was mighty

fine. To St. James's, where we attended with the rest of my

fellows on the Duke, whom I found with two or three Patches upon

his nose and about his right eye, which came from his being

struck with the bough of a tree the other day in his hunting; and

it is a wonder it did not strike out his eye. To Bow, to my Lady

Pooly's, [Wife of Sir Edmund Pooly, mentioned before.] where my

wife was with Mr. Batelier and his sisters; and there I found a

noble supper. About ten o'clock we rose from table, and sang a

song; and so home in two coaches, (Mr. Batelier and his sister

Mary and my wife and I in one, and Mercer alone in the other);

and after being examined at Allgate whether we were husbands and

wives, home. So to bed mighty sleepy, but with much pleasure.

Reeves lying at my house; and mighty proud I am (and ought to be

thankful to God Almighty) that I am able to have a spare bed for

my friends.

9th. In the evening to Lumbard-street, about money, to enable me

to pay Sir G. Carteret's 3000l. which he hath lodged in my hands,

in behalf of his son and my Lady Jemimah, towards their portion.

Mrs. Rawlinson is dead of the sickness, and her maid continues

mighty ill. He himself is got out of the house. I met with Mr.

Evelyn in the street, who tells me the sad condition at this very

day at Deptford, for the plague, and more at Deale, (within his

precinct as one of the Commissioners for sick and wounded

seamen,) that the towne is almost quite depopulated.

10th. Homeward, and hear in Fenchurch-street, that now the maid

also is dead at Mr. Rawlinson's; so that there are three dead in

all, the wife, a man-servant, and maid-servant.

14th. Povy tells me how mad my letter makes my Lord

Peterborough, and what a furious letter he writ to me in answer,

though it is not come yet. This did trouble me; for though there

be no reason, yet to have a nobleman's mouth open against a man,

may do a man hurt; so I endeavoured to have found him out and

spoke with him, but could not. After dinner with my wife and

Mercer to the Beare-garden; where I have not been, I think, of

many years, and saw some good sport of the bull's tossing of the

dogs: one into the very boxes. But it is a very rude and nasty

pleasure. We had a great many hectors in the same box with us,

(and one very fine went into the pit, and played his dog for a

wager, which was a strange sport for a gentleman,) where they

drank wine, and drank Mercer's health first; which I pledged with

my hat off. We supped at home, and very merry. And then about

nine o'clock to Mrs. Mercer's gate, where the fire and boys

expected us, and her son had provided abundance of serpents and

rockets; and there mighty merry (my Lady Pen and Pegg going

thither with us, and Nan Wright,) till about twelve at night,

flinging our fireworks, and burning one another and the people

over the way. And at last our businesses being most spent, we

into Mrs. Mercer's, and there mighty merry, smutting one another

with candle grease and soot, till most of us were like devils.

And that being done, then we broke up, and to my house; and there

I made them drink, and upstairs we went, and then fell into

dancing, (W. Batelier dancing well,) and dressing him and I and

one Mr. Banister (who with my wife come over also with us) like

women; and Mercer put on a suit of Tom's, like a boy, and mighty

mirth we had, and Mercer danced a jigg; and Nan Wright and my

wife and Pegg Pen put on perriwigs. Thus we spent till three or

four in the morning, mighty merry; and then parted, and to bed.

15th. Mighty sleepy; slept till past eight of the clock, and was

called up by a letter from Sir W. Coventry; which among other

things, tells me how we have burned one hundred and sixty ships

of the enemy within the Fly. I up, and with all possible haste,

and in pain for fear of coming late, it being our day of

attending the Duke of York, to St. James's, where they are full

of the particulars; how they are generally good merchant-ships,

some of them laden and supposed rich ships. We spent five fire-

ships upon them. We landed on the Schelling, (Sir Philip Howard

with some men, and Holmes, I think, with others, about 1000 in

all,) and burned a town; and so come away. By and by the Duke of

York with his books showed us the very place and manner; and that

it was not our design and expectation to have done this, but only

to have landed on the Fly and burned some of their stores; but

being come in, we spied those ships, and with our long boats, one

by one, fired them, our ships running all a-ground, it being so

shoal water. We were led to this by it seems, a renegado captain

of the Hollanders, who found himself ill used by De Ruyter for

his good service, and so come over to us, and hath done us good

service; so that now we trust him, and he himself did go on this

expedition. The service is very great, and our joys as great for

it. All this will make the Duke of Albemarle in repute again, I

doubt. The guns of the Tower going off; and bonfires also in the

street for this late good successe.

16th. This day Sir W. Batten did show us at the table a letter

from Sir T. Allen, which says, that we have taken ten or twelve

ships, (since the late great expedition of burning their ships

and town) laden with hemp, flax, tar, deals, &c. This was good

news; but by and by comes in Sir G. Carteret, and he asked us

with full mouth what we would give for good news. Says Sir W.

Batten "I have better than you for a wager." They laid sixpence,

and we that were by were to give sixpence to him that told the

best news. So Sir W. Batten told his of the ten or twelve ships.

Sir G. Carteret did then tell us that upon the news of the

burning of the ships and town, the common people of Amsterdam did

besiege De Witt's house, and he was forced to flee to the Prince

of Orange, who is gone to Cleve, to the marriage of his sister.

This we concluded all the best news, and my Lord Brouncker and

myself did give Sir G. Carteret our sixpence a-piece, which he

did give Mr. Smith to give the poor. Thus we made ourselves

mighty merry.

17th. With Captain Erwin, discoursing about the East Indys,

where he hath often been. And among other things, he tells me

how the King of Syam seldom goes out without thirty or forty

thousand people with him, and not a word spoke, nor a hum or

cough in the whole company to be heard. He tells me the

punishment frequently there for malefactors, is cutting off the

crowns of their head; which they do very dexterously, leaving

their brains bare, which kills them presently. He told me what I

remember he hath once done heretofore; that every body is to lie

flat down at the coming by of the King and nobody to look upon

him upon pain of death. And that he and his fellows being

strangers, were invited to see the sport of taking of a wild

elephant; and they did only kneel, and look towards the King.

Their druggerman [Dragoman.] did desire them to fall down, for

otherwise he should suffer for their contempt of the King. The

sport being ended, a messenger comes from the King, which the

druggerman thought had been to have taken away his life. But it

was to enquire how the strangers liked the sport. The druggerman

answered, that they did cry it up to be the best that ever they

saw, and that they never heard of any Prince so great in every

thing as this King. The messenger being gone back, Erwin and his

company asked their druggerman what he had said, which he told

them. "But why," say they, "would you say that without our

leave, it being not true?"--"It makes no matter for that," says

he, "I must have said it, or have been hanged, for our King do

not live by meat, nor drink, but by having great lyes told him."

In our way back we come by a little vessel that come into the

river this morning, and says she left the fleet in Sole Bay, and

that she hath not heard (she belonging to Sir W. Jenings in the

fleet) of any such prizes taken as the ten or twelve I enquired

about, and said by Sir W. Batten yesterday to be taken, so I fear

it is not true. I had the good fortune to see Mrs. Stewart, who

is grown a little too tall, but is a woman of most excellent

features. Sir Richard Ford did, very understandingly methought,

give us an account of the originall of the Hollands Bank, and the

nature of it, and how they do never give any interest at all to

the person that brings in their money, though what is brought in

upon the public faith interest is given by the State for. The

unsafe condition of a Bank under a Monarch, and the little safety

to a Monarch to have any; or Corporation alone (as London in

answer to Amsterdam,) to have so great a wealth or credit, it is

that makes it hard to have a Bank here. And as to the former, he

did tell us how it sticks in the memory of most merchants how the

late King (when by the war between Holland and France and Spain

all the bullion of Spain was brought hither, one third of it to

be coyned; and indeed it was found advantageous to the merchant

to coyne most of it,) was persuaded in a strait by my Lord

Cottington [Francis, created Lord Cottington, Baron of Hanworth,

by Charles I. Died at Valladolid 1653, S.P.] to seize upon the

money in the Tower: which, though in a few days the merchants

concerned did prevail to get it released, yet the thing will

never be forgot.

20th. To Deptford by water, reading Othello, Moore of Venice,

which I ever heretofore esteemed a mighty good play, but having

so lately read The Adventures of Five Houres, it seems a mean

thing. All the afternoon upon my Tangier accounts, getting Tom

Wilson to help me in writing as I read; and I find myself right

to a farthing in an account of 127,000l.

21st. Mr. Batelier told me how, being with some others at

Bourdeaux, making a bargain with another man at a taverne for

some clarets, they did hire a fellow to thunder (which he had the

art of doing upon a deale board) and to rain and hail, that is,

make the noise of, so as did give them a pretence of undervaluing

their merchants' wines, by saying this thunder would spoil and

turn them which was so reasonable to the merchant, that he did

abate two pistolls per ton for the wine in belief of that.

22nd. I to St. James's, and there with the Duke of York. I had

opportunity of much talk with Sir W. Pen to-day (he being newly

come from the fleet); and he do much undervalue the honour that

is given to the conduct of the late business of Holmes in burning

the ships and town, saying it was a great thing indeed, and of

great profit to us in being of great loss to the enemy, but that

it was wholly a business of chance. Mrs. Knipp tells me my song

of "Beauty Retire" is mightily cried up, which I am not a little

proud of; and do think I have done "It is Decreed" better, but I

have not finished it.

23rd. Sir W. Coventry sent me word that the Dutch fleet is

certainly abroad; and so we are to hasten all we have to send to

our fleet with all speed. But, Lord! to see how my Lord

Brouncker undertakes the despatch of the fire-ships, when he is

no more fit for it than a porter; and all the while Sir W. Pen,

who is the most fit, is unwilling to displease him, and do not

look after it; and so the King's work is like to be well done.

26th. I was a little disturbed with news my Lord Brouncker

brought me, that we are to attend the King at White Hall this

afternoon, and that it is about a complaint from the Generalls

against us. Sir W. Pen and I by coach to White Hall, and there

staid till the King and Cabinet met in the Green Chamber, and

then we were called in; and there the King begun with me, to hear

how the victualls of the fleet stood. I did in a long discourse

tell him and the rest (the Duke of York, Lord Chancellor, Lord

Treasurer, both the Secretarys, Sir G. Carteret, and Sir W.

Coventry,) how it stood, wherein they seemed satisfied, but press

mightily for more supplies: and the letter of the Generalls,

which was read, did lay their not going or too soon returning

from the Dutch coast, this next bout, to the want of victuals.

They then proceeded to the enquiry after the fire-ships; and did

all very superficially, and without any severity at all. But,

however, I was in pain, after we come out, to know how I had

done; and here, well enough. But, however, it shall be a caution

to me to prepare myself against a day of inquisition. Being come

out, I met with Mr. Moore, and he and I an hour together in the

Gallery, telling me how far they are gone in getting my Lord

Sandwich's pardon, so as the Chancellor is prepared in it; and

Sir H. Bennet; do promote it, and the warrant for the King's

signing is drawn. The business between my Lord Hinchingbroke and

Mrs. Mallet is quite broke off; he attended her at Tunbridge, and

she declaring her affections to be settled; and he not being

fully pleased with the vanity and liberty of her carriage.

Thence to discourse of the times; and he tells me he believes

both my Lord Arlington and Sir W. Coventry, as well as my Lord

Sandwich and Sir G. Carteret, have reason to fear, and are

afraid, of this Parliament now coming on. He tells me that

Bristoll's faction is getting ground space against my Lord

Chancellor. He told me that my old Lord Coventry [The Lord

Keeper, Ob. 1639-40.] was a cunning, crafty man, and did make as

many bad decrees in Chancery as any man; and that in one case,

that occasioned many years' dispute, at last when the King come

in, it was hoped by the party grieved, to get my Lord Chancellor

to reverse a decree of his. Sir W. Coventry took the opportunity

of the business between the Duke of York and the Duchess, and

said to my Lord Chancellor, that he had rather be drawn up

Holborne to be hanged, than live to see any decree of his

father's reversed. And so the Chancellor did not think fit to do

it, but it still stands, to the undoing of one Norton, a printer,

about his right to the printing of the Bible, and Grammar, &c.

Sir J. Minnes bad a very bad fit this day.

27th. Sir G. Carteret tells me what is done about my Lord's

pardon, and is not for letting the Duke of York know any thing of

it beforehand, but to carry it as speedily and quietly as we can.

He seems to be very apprehensive that the Parliament will be

troublesome and inquisitive into faults; but seems not to value

them as to himself.

28th. To the wedding of Mr. Longracke, our purveyor, a civil

man, and hath married a sober, serious mayde; but the whole

company was very simple and innocent. Sir W. Coventry did read

me a letter from the Generalls to the King, a most scurvy letter,

reflecting most upon him, and then upon me for my accounts, (not

that they are not true, but that we do not consider the expence

of the fleet,) and then upon the whole office, in neglecting them

and the King's service, and this in very plain and sharp and

menacing terms. But a great supply must be made, and shall be,

in grace of God!

29th. To St. James's, and there Sir W. Coventry took Sir W. Pen

and me apart, and read to us his answer to the Generalls' letter

to the King, that he read last night; wherein he is very plain,

and states the matter in full defence of himself, and of me with

him, which he could not avoid; which is a good comfort to me,

that I happened to be involved with him in the same cause. And

then speaking of the supplies which have been made to this fleet,

more than ever in all kinds to any, even that wherein the Duke of

York himself was, "Well," says he, "if this will not do, I will

say, as Sir J. Falstaffe did to the Prince, 'Tell your father,

that if he do not like this, let him kill the next Piercy

himself.'"

September 1, 1666. My wife and I to Polichinelly, [Polichinello

in Moorfields.] but were there horribly frighted to see Young

Killigrew come in with a great many more young sparks; but we hid

ourselves, so as we think they did not see us.

2nd (Lord's day). Some of our maids sitting up late last night

to get things ready against our feast to-day, Jane called us up

about three in the morning, to tell us of a great fire they saw

in the City. So I rose, and slipped on my night-gown, and went

to her window; and thought it to be on the back-side of Marke-

lane at the farthest, but being unused to such fires as followed,

I thought it far enough off; and so went to bed again, and to

sleep. About seven rose again to dress myself, and there looked

out at the window, and saw the fire not so much as it was, and

further off. So to my closet to set things to rights, after

yesterday's cleaning. By and by Jane comes and tells me that she

hears that above 300 houses have been burned down to-night by the

fire we saw, and that it is now burning down all Fish-street, by

London Bridge. So I made myself ready presently, and walked to

the Tower, and there got up upon one of the high places, Sir J.

Robinson's little son going up with me; and there I did see the

houses at that end of the bridge all on fire, and an infinite

great fire on this and the other side the end of the bridge;

which, among other people, did trouble me for poor little Michell

and our Sarah on the bridge. So down with my heart full of

trouble to the Lieutenant of the Tower, who tells me that it

begun this morning in the King's baker's [His name was Faryner.]

house in Pudding-lane, and that it hath burned down St. Magnes

Church and most part of Fish-street already. So I down to the

water-side, and there got a boat, and through bridge, and there

saw a lamentable fire. Poor Michell's house, as far as the Old

Swan, already burned that way, and the fire running further, that

in a very little time it got as far as the Steele-yard, while I

was there. Every body endeavouring to remove their goods, and

flinging into the river, or bringing them into lighters that lay

off; poor people staying in their houses as long as till the very

fire touched them, and then running into boats, or clambering

from one pair of stairs by the water-side to another. And among

other things, the poor pigeons, I perceive, were loth to leave

their houses, but hovered about the windows and balconys, till

they burned their wings, and fell down. Having staid, and in an

hour's time seen the fire rage every way, and nobody, to my

sight, endeavouring to quench it, but to remove their goods, and

leave all to the fire, and having seen it get as far as the

Steele-yard, and the wind mighty high, and driving it into the

City: and every thing after so long a drought proving

combustible, even the very stones of churches, and among other

things, the poor steeple [St, Lawrence Poultney, of which Thomas

Elborough was Curate.] by which pretty Mrs. -- lives, and

whereof my old schoolfellow Elborough is parson, taken fire in

the very top, and there burned till it fell down; I to White Hall

(with a gentleman with me, who desired to go off from the Tower,

to see the fire, in my boat): and there up to the King's closet

in the Chapel, where people come about me, and I did give them an

account dismayed them all, and word was carried in to the King.

So I was called for, and did tell the King and Duke of York what

I saw, and that unless his Majesty did command houses to be

pulled down, nothing could stop the fire, They seemed much

troubled, and the King commanded me to go to my Lord Mayor [Sir

Thomas Bludworth.] from him, and command him to spare no houses,

but to pull down before the fire every way. The Duke of York bid

me tell him, that if he would have any more soldiers, he shall:

and so did my Lord Arlington afterwards, as a great secret. Here

meeting with Captain Cocke, I in his coach, which he lent me, and

Creed with me to Paul's, and there walked along Watling-street,

as well as I could, every creature coming away loaded with goods

to save, and here and there sick people carried away in beds.

Extraordinary good goods carried in carts-and on backs. At last

met my Lord Mayor in Canning-street, like a man spent, with a

handkercher about his neck. To the King's message, he cried,

like a fainting woman, "Lord! what can I do? I am spent:

people will not obey me. I have been pulling down houses; but

the fire overtakes us faster than we can do it." That he needed

no more soldiers; and that, for himself, he must go and refresh

himself, having been up all night. So he left me, and I him, and

walked home; seeing people all almost distracted, and no manner

of means used to quench the fire. The houses too so very thick

thereabouts, and full of matter for burning, as pitch and tar, in

Thames-street; and warehouses of oyle, and wines, and brandy, and

other things. Here I saw Mr. Isaac Houblon, the handsome man,

prettily dressed and dirty at his door at Dowgate, receiving some

of his brother's things, whose houses were on fire; and, as he

says, have been removed twice already; and he doubts (as it soon

proved) that they must be in a little time removed from his house

also, which was a sad consideration. And to see the churches all

filling with goods by people, who themselves should have been

quietly there at this time. By this time it was about twelve

o'clock; and so home, and there find my guests, who were Mr. Wood

and his wife Barbary Shelden, and also Mr. Moone; she mighty

fine, and her husband, for aught I see, a likely man. But Mr.

Moone's design and mine, which was to look over my closet, and

please him with the sight thereof, which he hath long desired,

was wholly disappointed; for we were in great trouble and

disturbance at this fire, not knowing what to think of it.

However, we had an extraordinary good dinner, and as merry as at

this time we could be. While at dinner Mrs. Batelier come to

enquire after Mr. Woolfe and Stanes, (who it seems are related to

them,) whose houses in Fish-street are all burned, and they in a

sad condition. She would not stay in the fright. Soon as dined,

I and Moone away, and walked through the City, the streets full

of nothing but people, and horses and carts loaden with goods,

ready to run over one another, and removing goods from one burned

house to another. They now removing out of Canning-street (which

received goods in the morning) into Lumbard-street, and further:

and among others I now saw my little goldsmith Stokes receiving

some friend's goods, whose house itself was burned the day after.

We parted at Paul's; he home, and I to Paul's Wharf, where I had

appointed a boat to attend me, and took in Mr. Carcasse and his

brother, whom I met in the street, and carried them below and

above bridge too. And again to see the fire, which was now got

further, both below and above, and no likelihood of stopping it.

Met with the King and Duke of York in their barge, and with them

to Queenhith, and there called Sir Richard Browne to them. Their

order was only to pull down houses apace, and so below bridge at

the water-side; but little was or could be done, the fire coming

upon them so fast. Good hopes there was of stopping it at the

Three Cranes above, and at Buttolph's Wharf below bridge, if care

be used; but the wind carries it into the City, so as we know not

by the water-side what it do there. River full of lighters and

boats taking in goods, and good goods swimming in the water, and

only I observed that hardly one lighter or boat in three that had

the goods of a house in, but there was a pair of Virginalls [A

sort of spinett, so called (according to Johnson) from young

women playing upon it.] in it. Having seen as much as I could

now, I away to White Hall by appointment, and there walked to St.

James's Park, and there met my wife and Creed and Wood and his

wife, and walked to my boat; and there upon the water again, and

to the fire up and down, it still encreasing, and the wind great.

So near the fire as we could for smoke; and all over the Thames,

with one's faces in the wind, you were almost burned with a

shower of fire-drops. This is very true: so as houses were

burned by these drops and flakes of fire, three or four, nay,

five or six houses, one from another. When we could endure no

more upon the water, we to a little ale-house on the Bankside,

over against the Three Cranes, and there staid till it was dark

almost, and saw the fire grow, and as it grew darker, appeared

more and more, and in corners and upon steeples, and between

churches and houses, as far as we could see up the hill of the

City, in a most horrid malicious bloody flame, not like the fine

flame of an ordinary fire. Barbary and her husband away before

us. We staid till, it being darkish, we saw the fire as only one

entire arch of fire from this to the other side the bridge, and

in a bow up the hill for an arch of above a mile long: it made

me weep to see it. The churches, houses, and all on fire, and

flaming at once; and a horrid noise the flames made, and the

cracking houses at their ruine. So home with a sad heart, and

there find every body discoursing and lamenting the fire; and

poor Tom Hater come with some few of his goods saved out of his

house, which was burned upon Fish-street Hill. I invited him to

lie at my house, and did receive his goods, but was deceived in

his lying there, the news coming every moment of the growth of

the fire; so as we were forced to begin to pack up our own goods,

and prepare for their removal; and did by moonshine (it being

brave dry and moonshine and warm weather) carry much of my goods

into the garden, and Mr. Hater and I did remove my money and iron

chests into my cellar, as thinking that the safest place. And

got my bags of gold into my office, ready to carry away, and my

chief papers of accounts also there, and my tallies into a box by

themselves. So great was our fear, as Sir W. Batten hath carts

come out of the country to fetch away his goods this night. We

did put Mr. Hater, poor man, to bed a little; but he got but very

little rest, so much noise being in my house, taking down of

goods.

3rd. About four o'clock in the morning, my Lady Batten sent me a

cart to carry away all my money, and plate, and best things, to

Sir W. Rider's at Bednall-greene. Which I did, riding myself in

my night gown, in the cart; and, Lord! to see how the streets

and the highways are crowded with people running and riding, and

getting of carts at any rate to fetch away things. I find Sir W.

Rider tired with being called up all night, and receiving things

from several friends. His house full of goods, and much of Sir

W. Batten's and Sir W. Pen's, I am eased at my heart to have my

treasure so well secured. Then home, and with much ado to find a

way, nor any sleep all this night to me nor my poor wife. Then

all this day she and I, and all my people labouring to get away

the rest of our things, and did get Mr. Tooker to get me a

lighter to take them in, and we did carry them (myself some) over

Tower Hill, which was by this time full of people's goods,

bringing their goods thither; and down to the lighter, which lay

at the next quay, above the Tower Dock. And here was my

neighbour's wife, Mrs. --, with her pretty child, and some few of

her things, which I did willingly give way to be saved with mine;

but there was no passing with any thing through the postern the

crowd was so great. The Duke of York come this day by the

office, and spoke to us, and did ride with his guard up and down

the City to keep all quiet, (he being now General, and having the

care of all). This day, Mercer being not at home, but against

her mistress's order gone to her mother's, and my wife going

thither to speak with W. Hewer, beat her there, and was angry;

and her mother saying that she was not a 'prentice girl, to ask

leave every time she goes abroad, my wife with good reason was

angry, and when she come home bid her be gone again. And so she

went away, which troubled me, but yet less than it would, because

of the condition we are in, in fear of coming in a little time to

being less able to keep one in her quality. At night lay down a

little upon a quilt of W. Hewer's, in the office, all my own

things being packed up or gone; and after me my poor wife did the

like, we having fed upon the remains of yesterday's dinner,

having no fire nor dishes, nor any opportunity of dressing any

thing.

>>

4th. Up by break of day, to get away the remainder of my things;

which I did by a lighter at the Iron gate: and my hands so full,

that it was the afternoon before we could get them all away. Sir

W. Pen and I to the Tower-street, and there met the fire burning

three or four doors beyond Mr. Howell's, whose goods, poor man,

his trayes, and dishes, shovells, &c., were flung all along

Tower-street in the kennels, and people working therewith from

one end to the other; the fire coming on in that narrow street,

on both sides, with infinite fury. Sir W. Batten not knowing how

to remove his wine, did dig a pit in the garden, and laid it in

there; and I took the opportunity of laying all the papers of my

office that I could not otherwise dispose of and in the evening

Sir W. Pen and I did dig another, and put our wine in it; and I

my parmazan cheese, as well as my wine and some other things.

The Duke of York was at the office this day, at Sir W. Pen's; but

I happened not to be within. This afternoon, sitting melancholy

with Sir W. Pen in our garden, and thinking of the certain

burning of this office, without extraordinary means, I did

propose for the sending up of all our workmen from the Woolwich

and Deptford yards, (none whereof yet appeared,) and to write to

Sir W. Coventry to have the Duke of York's permission to pull

down houses, rather than lose this office, which would much

hinder the King's business. So Sir W. Pen went down this night,

in order to the sending them up to-morrow morning; and I wrote to

Sir W. Coventry about the business, but received no answer. [A

copy of this letter, preserved among the Pepys MSS. in the

author's own hand-writing, is subjoined:--

Sir,--The fire is now very neere us as well on Tower Streete as

Fanchurch Street side, and we little hope of our escape but by

that remedy, to ye want whereof we doe certainly owe ye loss of

ye City, namely, ye pulling down of houses, in ye way of ye

fire. This way Sir W. Pen and myself have so far concluded upon

ye practising, that he is gone to Woolwich and Deptford to

supply himself with men and necessarys in order to the doeing

thereof, in case at his returne our condition be not bettered

and that he meets with his R.Hs. approbation, which I have thus

undertaken to learn of you, Pray please to let me have this

night (at whatever hour it is) what his R. Hs. directions are in

this particular, Sir J. Minnes and Sir W. Batten having left,

us, we cannot add, though we are well assured of their, as well

as all ye neighbourhood's concurrence.

Sir W.Coventry, Yr obedient Servnt,

Septr. 4, 1666. S.P.]

This night Mrs. Turner (who, poor woman, was removing her goods

all this day, good goods into the garden, and knows not how to

dispose of them) and her husband supped with my wife and me at

night, in the office, upon a shoulder of mutton from the cook's,

without any napkin, or any thing, in a sad manner, but were

merry. Only now and then, walking into the garden, saw how

horribly the sky looks, all on a fire in the night, was enough to

put us out of our wits; and, indeed, it was extremely dreadfull,

for it looks just as if it was at us, and the whole heaven on

fire. I after supper walked in the dark down to Tower-street,

and there saw it all on fire, at the Trinity House on that side,

and the Dolphin Tavern on this side, which was very near us; and

the fire with extraordinary vehemence. Now begins the practice

of blowing up of houses in Tower-street, those next the Tower,

which at first did frighten people more than any thing; but it

stopped the fire where it was done, it bringing down the houses

to the ground in the same places they stood, and then it was easy

to quench what little fire was in it, though it kindled nothing

almost. W.Hewer this day went to see how his mother did, and

comes late home, telling us how he hath been forced to remove her

to Islington, her house in Pye-corner being burned; so that the

fire is got so far that way, and to the Old Bayly, and was

running down to Fleet-street; and Paul's is burned, and all

Cheepside. I wrote to my father this night, but the post-house

being burned, the letter could not go.

5th. I lay down in the office again upon W. Hewer's quilt, being

mighty weary, and sore in my feet with going till I was hardly

able to stand. About two in the morning my wife calls me up, and

tells me of new cryes of fire, it being come to Barking Church,

which is the bottom of our lane. [Sethinge Lane.] I up; and

finding it so, resolved presently to take her away, and did, and

took my gold, which was about 2350l. W. Hewer, and Jane, down by

Proundy's boat to Woolwich; but Lord! what a sad sight it was by

moone-light to see the whole City almost on fire, that you might

see it plain at Woolwich, as if you were by it. There, when I

come, I find the gates shut, but no guard kept at all; which

troubled me, because of discourses now begun, that there is a

plot in it, and that the French had done it. I got the gates

open, and to Mr. Shelden's, where I locked up my gold, and

charged my wife and W. Hewer never to leave the room without one

of them in it, night or day. So back again, by the way seeing my

goods well in the lighters at Deptford, and watched well by

people. Home, and whereas I expected to have seen our house on

fire, it being now about seven o'clock, it was not. But to the

fire, and there find greater hopes than I expected; for my

confidence of finding our office on fire was such, that I durst

not ask any body how it was with us, till I come and saw it was

not burned. But going to the fire, I find by the blowing up of

houses, and the great help given by the workmen out of the King's

yards, sent up by Sir W. Pen, there is a good stop given to it,

as well at Marke-lane end, as ours; it having only burned the

dyall of Barking Church, and part of the porch, and was there

quenched. I up to the top of Barking steeple, and there saw the

saddest sight of desolation that I ever saw; every where great

fires, oyle-cellars, and brimstone, and other things burning. I

became afraid to stay there long, and therefore down again as

fast as I could, the fire being spread as far as I could see it;

and to Sir W. Pen's, and there eat a piece of cold meat, having

eaten nothing since Sunday, [He forgot the shoulder of mutton

from,the cook's the day before.] but the remains of Sunday's

dinner. Here I met with Mr. Young and Whistler; and having

removed all my things, and received good hopes that the fire at

our end is stopped, they and I walked into the town, and find

Fanchurch-street, Gracious-street, and Lumbard-street all in

dust. The Exchange a sad sight, nothing standing there, of all

the statues or pillars, but Sir Thomas Gresham's picture in the

corner. Into Moore-fields, (our feet ready to burn, walking

through the town among the hot coles,) and find that full of

people, and poor wretches carrying their goods there, and every

body keeping his goods together by themselves; (and a great

blessing it is to them that it is fair weather for them to keep

abroad night and day;) drunk there, and paid twopence for a plain

penny loaf. Thence homeward, having passed through Cheapside,

and Newgate market, all burned; and seen Anthony Joyce's house in

fire. And took up (which I keep by me) a piece of glass of

Mercer's chapel in the street, where much more was, so melted and

buckled with the heat of the fire like parchment. I also did see

a poor cat taken out of a hole in a chimney, joyning to the wall

of the Exchange, with the hair all burned off the body, and yet

alive. So home at night, and find there good hopes of saving our

office; but great endeavours of watching all night, and having

men ready; and so we lodged them in the office, and had drink and

bread and cheese for them. And I lay down and slept a good night

about midnight: though when I rose, I heard that there bad been

a great alarme of French and Dutch being risen, which proved

nothing. But it is a strange thing to see how long this time did

look since Sunday, having been always full of variety of actions,

and little sleep, that it looked like a week or more, and I had

forgot almost the day of the week.

6th. Up about five o'clock; and met Mr. Gauden at the gate of

the office, (I intending to go out, as I used, every now and then

to-day, to see how the fire is,) to call our men to Bishop's-

gate, where no fire had yet been near, and there is now one broke

out: which did give great grounds to people, and to me too, to

think that there is some kind of plot in this, (on which many by

this time have been taken, and it hath been dangerous for any

stranger to walk in the streets,) but I went with the men, and we

did put it out in a little time; so that that was well again. It

was pretty to see how hard the women did work in the cannells,

sweeping of water; but then they would scold for drink, and be as

drunk as devils. I saw good butts of sugar broke open in the

street, and people give and take handsfull out, and put into

beer, and drink it. and now all being pretty well, I took boat,

and over to Southwarke, and took boat on the other side the

bridge, and so to Westminster, thinking to shift myself, being

all in dirt from top to bottom; but could not there find any

place to buy a shirt or a pair of gloves, Westminster Hall being

full of people's goods, those in Westminster having removed all

their goods, and the Exchequer money put into vessels to carry to

Nonsuch [Nonsuch House near Epsom, where the Exchequer had

formerly been kept.] but to the Swan, and there was trimmed:

and then to White Hall, but saw nobody; and so home. A sad sight

to see how the River looks: no houses nor church near it, to the

Temple, where it stopped. At home, did go with Sir W. Batten,

and our neighbour, Knightly, (who, with one more, was the only

man of any fashion left in all the neighbourhood thereabouts,

they all removing their goods, and leaving their houses to the

mercy of the fire,) to Sir R. Ford's, and there dined in an

earthen platter--a fried breast of mutton; a great many of us,

but very merry, and indeed as good a meal, though as ugly a one,

as ever I had in my life. Thence down to Deptford, and there

with great satisfaction landed all my goods at Sir G. Carteret's

safe, and nothing missed I could see or hear. This being done to

my great content, I home, and to Sir W. Batten's, and there with

Sir R. Ford, Mr. Knightly, and one Withers, a professed lying

rogue, supped well, and mighty merry, and our fears over. From

them to the office and there slept with the office full of

labourers, who talked, and slept, and walked all night long

there. But strange it is to see Clothworkers' Hall on fire these

three days and nights in one body of flame, it being the cellar

full of oyle.

7th. Up by five o'clock; and, blessed be God! find all well;

and by water to Pane's Wharfe. Walked thence, and saw all the

towne burned, and a miserable sight of Paul's church, with all

the roofs fallen, and the body of the quire fallen into St.

Fayth's; Paul's school also, Ludgate, and Fleet-street. My

father's house, and the church, and a good part of the Temple the

like. So to Creed's lodging, near the New Exchange, and there

find him laid down upon a bed; the house all unfurnished, there

being fears of the fire's coming to them. There I borrowed a

shirt of him, and washed. To Sir W. Coventry, at St. James's,

who lay without curtains, having removed all his goods; as the

King at White Hall, and every body had done, and was doing. He

hopes we shall have no public distractions upon this fire, which

is what every body fears, because of the talk of the French

having a hand in it. And it is a proper time for discontents;

but all men's minds are full of care to protect themselves, and

save their goods: the militia is in arms every where. Our

fleetes, he tells me, have been is sight one of another, and most

unhappily by fowle weather were parted, to our great loss, as in

reason they do conclude; the Dutch being come out only to make a

shew, and please their people; but in very bad condition as to

stores, victuals, and men. They are at Boulogne, and our fleet

come to St. Ellen's. We have got nothing, but have lost one

ship, but he knows not what. Thence to the Swan, and there

drank; and so home, and find all well. My Lord Brouncker, at Sir

W. Batten's, tells us the Generall is sent for up, to come to

advise with the King about business at this juncture, and to keep

all quiet; which is great honour to him, but I am sure is but a

piece of dissimulation. So home, and did give orders for my

house to be made clean; and then down to Woolwich, and there find

all well. Dined, and Mrs. Markham come to see my wife. This day

our Merchants first met at Gresham College, which, by

proclamation, is to be their Exchange. Strange to hear what is

bid for houses; all up and down here; a friend of Sir W. Rider's

having 150l. for what he used to let for 40l. per annum. Much

dispute where the Custome-house shall be; thereby the growth of

the City again to be foreseen. My Lord Treasurer, they say, and

others, would have it at the other end of the town. I home late

to Sir W. Pen's, who did give me a bed; but without curtains or

hangings, all being down. So here I went the first time into a

naked bed, only my drawers on; and did sleep pretty well: but

still both sleeping and waking had a fear of fire in my heart,

that I took little rest. People do all the world over cry out of

the simplicity of my Lord Mayor in generall; and more

particularly in this business of the fire, laying it all upon

him. A proclamation is come out for markets to be kept at

Leadenhall and Mile-end-greene, and several other places about

the town; and Tower-hill, and all churches to be set open to

receive poor people.

8th. I stopped with Sir G. Carteret to desire him to go with us,

and to enquire after money. But the first he cannot do, and the

other as little, or say "When we can get any, or what shall we do

for it?" He, it seems, is employed in the correspondence between

the City and the King every day, in settling of things. I find

him full of trouble, to think how things will go. I left him,

and to St. James's, where we met first at Sir W. Coventry's

chamber, and there did what business we could, without any books.

Our discourse, as every thing else, was confused. The fleet is

at Portsmouth, there staying a wind to carry them to the Downes,

or towards Boulogne, where they say the Dutch fleet is gone, and

stays. We concluded upon private meetings for a while, not

having any money to satisfy any people that may come to us. I

bought two eeles upon the Thames, cost me six shillings. Thence

with Sir W. Batten to the Cock-pit, whither the Duke of Albemarle

is come. It seems the King holds him so necessary at this time,

that he hath sent for him, and will keep him here. Indeed, his

interest in the City, being acquainted, and his care in keeping

things quiet, is reckoned that wherein he will be very

serviceable. We to him: he is courted in appearance by every

body. He very kind to us; and I perceive he lays by all business

of the fleet at present, and minds the City, and is now hastening

to Gresham College, to discourse with the Aldermen. Sir W.

Batten and I home, (where met by my brother John, come to town to

see how things are done with us,) and then presently he with me

to Gresham College; where infinity of people, partly through

novelty to see the new place, and partly to find out and hear

what has become one man of another. I met with many people

undone, and more that have extraordinary great losses. People

speaking their thoughts variously about the beginning of the

fire, and the rebuilding of the City. Then to Sir W. Batten's

and took my brother with me, and there dined with a great company

of neighbours, and much good discourse; among others, of the low

spirits of some rich men in the City, in sparing any

encouragement to the poor people that wrought for the saving

their houses. Among others, Alderman Starling, a very rich man,

without children, the fire at next door to him in our lane, after

our men had saved his house, did give 2s. 6d. among thirty of

them, and did quarrel with some that would remove the rubbish out

of the way of the fire, saying that they come to steal. Sir W.

Coventry told me of another this morning in Holborne, which he

showed the King: that when it was offered to stop the fire near

his house for such a reward that come but to 2s. 6d. a man among

the neighbours he would give but 18d. Thence to Bednall Green by

coach, my brother with me, and saw all well there, and fetched

away my journall-book to enter for five days past. I was much

frighted and kept awake in my bed, by some noise I heard a great

while below stairs; and the boys not coming up to me when I

knocked. It was by their discovery of some people stealing of

some neighbours' wine that lay in vessels in the streets. So to

sleep; and all well all night.

9th. Sunday. Up; and was trimmed, and sent my brother to

Woolwich to my wife, to dine with her. I to church, where our

parson made a melancholy but good sermon; and many and most in

the church cried, specially the women. The church mighty full;

but few of fashion, and most strangers. To church again, and

there preached Dean Harding; [Probably Nathaniel Hardy, Dean of

Rochester.] but, methinks a bad, poor sermon, though proper for

the time; nor eloquent, in saying at this time that the City is

reduced from a large folio to a decimo-tertio. So to my office,

there to write down my journall, and take leave of my brother,

whom I send back this afternoon, though rainy: which it hath not

done a good while before. To Sir W. Pen's to bed, and made my

boy Tom to read me asleep.

10th. All the morning clearing our cellars, and breaking in

pieces all my old lumber, to make room, and to prevent fire. And

then to Sir W. Batten's, and dined; and there hear that Sir W.

Rider says that the town is full of the report of the wealth that

is in his house, and would be glad that his friends would provide

for the safety of their goods there. This made me get a cart;

and thither, and there brought my money all away. Took a

hackney-coach myself, (the hackney-coaches now standing at

Allgate.) Much wealth indeed there is at his house. Blessed be

God, I got all mine well thence, and lodged it in my office; but

vexed to have all the world see it. And with Sir W Batten, who

would have taken away my hands before they were stowed. But by

and by comes brother Balty from sea, which I was glad of; and so

got him, and Mr. Tooker, and the boy, to watch with them all in

the office all night, while I went down to my wife.

11th. In the evening at Sir W. Pen's at supper: he in a mad,

ridiculous, drunken humour; and it; seems there have been some

late distances between his lady and him, as my wife tells me.

After supper, I home, and with Mr. Hater, Gibson, [Probably Clerk

of the Cheque at Deptford in 1688.] and Tom alone, got all my

chests and money into the further cellar with much pains, but

great content to me when done. So very late and weary to bed.

12th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sis W. Pen to St. James's

by water, and there did our usual business with the Duke of York.

13th. Up, and down to Tower Wharfe; and there, with Balty and

labourers from Deptford, did get my goods housed well at home.

So down to Deptford again to fetch the rest, and there eat a bit

of dinner at the Globe, with the master of the Bezan with me,

while the labourers went to dinner. Here I hear that this poor

town do bury still of the plague seven or eight in a day. So to

Sir G. Carteret's to work, and there did to my content ship off

in the Bezan all the rest of my goods, saving my pictures and

fine things, that I will bring home in wherrys when the house is

fit to receive them: and so home, and unload them by carts and

hands before night, to my exceeding satisfaction: and so after

supper to bed in my house, the first time I have lain there.

14th. Up, and to work, having carpenters come to help in setting

up bedsteads and hangings; and at that trade my people and I all

the morning, till pressed by publick business to leave them

against my will in the afternoon: and yet I was troubled in

being at home, to see all my goods lie up and down the house in a

bad condition, and strange workmen going to and fro might take

what they would almost. All the afternoon busy; and Sir W.

Coventry come to me, and found me, as God would have it, in my

office, and people about me setting my papers to rights; and

there discoursed about getting an account ready against the

Parliament, and thereby did create me infinity of business and to

be done on a sudden; which troubled me; but, however, he being

gone, I about it late, and to good purpose. and so home, having

this day also got my wine out of the ground again, and set it in

my cellar; but with great pain to keep the porters that carried

it in from observing the money-chests there.