Produced by David Widger
THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M.A. F.R.S.
CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY
TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY
MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE FELLOW
AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE
(Unabridged)
WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES
EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY
HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.
DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.
JUNE
1667
June 1st. Up; and there comes to me Mr. Commander, whom I employ about
hiring of some ground behind the office, for the building of me a stable
and coach-house: for I do find it necessary for me, both in respect to
honour and the profit of it also, my expense in hackney-coaches being now
so great, to keep a coach, and therefore will do it. Having given him
some instructions about it, I to the office, where we sat all the morning;
where we have news that our peace with Spayne, as to trade, is wholly
concluded, and we are to furnish him with some men for Flanders against
the French. How that will agree with the French, I know not; but they say
that he also hath liberty, to get what men he pleases out of England. But
for the Spaniard, I hear that my Lord Castlehaven is raising a regiment of
4000 men, which he is to command there; and several young gentlemen are
going over in commands with him: and they say the Duke of Monmouth is
going over only as a traveller, not to engage on either side, but only to
see the campagne, which will be becoming him much more than to live
whoreing and rogueing, as he now do. After dinner to the office, where,
after a little nap, I fell to business, and did very much with infinite
joy to myself, as it always is to me when I have dispatched much business,
and therefore it troubles me to see how hard it is for me to settle to it
sometimes when my mind is upon pleasure. So home late to supper and to
bed.
2nd (Lord's day). Up betimes, and down to my chamber without trimming
myself, or putting on clean linen, thinking only to keep to my chamber and
do business to-day, but when I come there I find that without being shaved
I am not fully awake, nor ready to settle to business, and so was fain to
go up again and dress myself, which I did, and so down to my chamber, and
fell roundly to business, and did to my satisfaction by dinner go far in
the drawing up a state of my accounts of Tangier for the new Lords
Commissioners. So to dinner, and then to my business again all the
afternoon close, when Creed come to visit me, but I did put him off, and
to my business, till anon I did make an end, and wrote it fair with a
letter to the Lords to accompany my accounts, which I think will be so
much satisfaction and so soon done (their order for my doing it being
dated but May 30) as they will not find from any hand else. Being weary
and almost blind with writing and reading so much to-day, I took boat at
the Old Swan, and there up the river all alone as high as Putney almost,
and then back again, all the way reading, and finishing Mr. Boyle's book
of Colours, which is so chymical, that I can understand but little of it,
but understand enough to see that he is a most excellent man. So back and
home, and there to supper, and so to bed.
3rd. Up, and by coach to St. James's, and with Sir W. Coventry a great
while talking about several businesses, but especially about accounts, and
how backward our Treasurer is in giving them satisfaction, and the truth
is I do doubt he cannot do better, but it is strange to say that being
conscious of our doing little at this day, nor for some time past in our
office for want of money, I do hang my head to him, and cannot be so free
with him as I used to be, nor can be free with him, though of all men, I
think, I have the least cause to be so, having taken so much more pains,
while I could do anything, than the rest of my fellows. Parted with him,
and so going through the Park met Mr. Mills, our parson, whom I went back
with to bring him to [Sir] W. Coventry, to give him the form of a
qualification for the Duke of York to sign to, to enable him to have two
livings: which was a service I did, but much against my will, for a lazy,
fat priest. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there walked a turn or two
with Sir William Doyly, who did lay a wager with me, the Treasurership
would be in one hand, notwithstanding this present Commission, before
Christmas: on which we did lay a poll of ling, a brace of carps, and a
pottle of wine; and Sir W. Pen and Mr. Scowen to be at the eating of them.
Thence down by water to Deptford, it being Trinity Monday, when the Master
is chosen, and there, finding them all at church, and thinking they dined,
as usual, at Stepny, I turned back, having a good book in my hand, the
Life of Cardinal Wolsey, wrote by his own servant, and to Ratcliffe; and
so walked to Stepny, and spent, my time in the churchyard, looking over
the gravestones, expecting when the company would come by. Finding no
company stirring, I sent to the house to see; and, it seems, they dine not
there, but at Deptford: so I back again to Deptford, and there find them
just sat down. And so I down with them; and we had a good dinner of plain
meat, and good company at our table: among others, my good Mr. Evelyn,
with whom, after dinner, I stepped aside, and talked upon the present
posture of our affairs; which is, that the Dutch are known to be abroad
with eighty sail of ships of war, and twenty fire-ships; and the French
come into the Channell with twenty sail of men-of-war, and five fireships,
while we have not a ship at sea to do them any hurt with; but are calling
in all we can, while our Embassadors are treating at Bredah; and the Dutch
look upon them as come to beg peace, and use them accordingly; and all
this through the negligence of our Prince, who hath power, if he would, to
master all these with the money and men that he hath had the command of,
and may now have, if he would mind his business. But, for aught we see,
the Kingdom is likely to be lost, as well as the reputation of it is, for
ever; notwithstanding so much reputation got and preserved by a rebel that
went before him. This discourse of ours ended with sorrowful reflections
upon our condition, and so broke up, and Creed and I got out of the room,
and away by water to White Hall, and there he and I waited in the
Treasury-chamber an hour or two, where we saw the Country Receivers and
Accountants for money come to attend; and one of them, a brisk young
fellow, with his hat cocked like a fool behind, as the present fashion
among the blades is, committed to the Serjeant. By and by, I, upon
desire, was called in, and delivered in my report of my Accounts.
Present, Lord Ashly, Clifford, and Duncomb, who, being busy, did not read
it; but committed it to Sir George Downing, and so I was dismissed; but,
Lord! to see how Duncomb do take upon him is an eyesore, though I think
he deserves great honour, but only the suddenness of his rise, and his
pride. But I do like the way of these lords, that they admit nobody to
use many words, nor do they spend many words themselves, but in great
state do hear what they see necessary, and say little themselves, but bid
withdraw. Thence Creed and I by water up to Fox Hall, and over against it
stopped, thinking to see some Cock-fighting; but it was just being done,
and, therefore, back again to the other side, and to Spring Garden, and
there eat and drank a little, and then to walk up and down the garden,
reflecting upon the bad management of things now, compared with what it
was in the late rebellious times, when men, some for fear, and some for
religion, minded their business, which none now do, by being void of both.
Much talk of this and, other kinds, very pleasant, and so when it was
almost night we home, setting him in at White Hall, and I to the Old Swan,
and thence home, where to supper, and then to read a little, and so to
bed.
4th. Up, and to the office, and there busy all the morning putting in
order the answering the great letter sent to the office by the new
Commissioners of the Treasury, who demand an account from the King's
coming in to this day, which we shall do in the best manner we can. At
noon home to dinner, and after dinner comes Mr. Commander to me and tells
me, after all, that I cannot have a lease of the ground for my coach-house
and stable, till a suit in law be ended, about the end of the old stable
now standing, which they and I would have pulled down to make a better way
for a coach. I am a little sorry that I cannot presently have it, because
I am pretty full in my mind of keeping a coach; but yet, when I think on
it again, the Dutch and French both at sea, and we poor, and still out of
order, I know not yet what turns there may be, and besides, I am in danger
of parting with one of my places, which relates to the Victualling, that
brings me by accident in L800 a year, that is, L300 from the King and L500
from D. Gawden. I ought to be well contented to forbear awhile, and
therefore I am contented. To the office all the afternoon, where I
dispatched much business to my great content, and then home in the
evening, and there to sing and pipe with my wife, and that being done, she
fell all of a sudden to discourse about her clothes and my humours in not
suffering her to wear them as she pleases, and grew to high words between
us, but I fell to read a book (Boyle's Hydrostatiques)
["Hydrostatical Paradoxes made out by New Experiments" was
published by the Hon. Robert Boyle in 1666 (Oxford).]
aloud in my chamber and let her talk, till she was tired and vexed that I
would not hear her, and so become friends, and to bed together the first
night after 4 or 5 that she hath lain from me by reason of a great cold
she had got.
5th. Up, and with Mr. Kenasteri by coach to White Hall to the
Commissioners of the Treasury about getting money for Tangier, and did
come to, after long waiting, speak with them, and there I find them all
sat; and, among the rest, Duncomb lolling, with his heels upon another
chair, by that, that he sat upon, and had an answer good enough, and then
away home, and (it being a most windy day, and hath been so all night,
South West, and we have great hopes that it may have done the Dutch or
French fleets some hurt) having got some papers in order, I back to St.
James's, where we all met at Sir W. Coventry's chamber, and dined and
talked of our business, he being a most excellent man, and indeed, with
all his business, hath more of his employed upon the good of the service
of the Navy, than all of us, that makes me ashamed of it. This noon
Captain Perriman brings us word how the Happy Returne's' [crew] below in
the Hope, ordered to carry the Portugal Embassador to Holland (and the
Embassador, I think, on board), refuse to go till paid; and by their
example two or three more ships are in a mutiny: which is a sad
consideration, while so many of the enemy's ships are at this day
triumphing in the sea. Here a very good and neat dinner, after the French
manner, and good discourse, and then up after dinner to the Duke of York
and did our usual business, and are put in hopes by Sir W. Coventry that
we shall have money, and so away, Sir G. Carteret and I to my Lord Crew to
advise about Sir G. Carteret's carrying his accounts to-morrow to the
Commissioners appointed to examine them and all other accounts since the
war, who at last by the King's calling them to him yesterday and chiding
them will sit, but Littleton and Garraway much against their wills. The
truth of it is, it is a ridiculous thing, for it will come to nothing, nor
do the King nor kingdom good in any manner, I think. Here they talked of
my Lord Hinchingbroke's match with Lord Burlington's daughter, which is
now gone a pretty way forward, and to great content, which I am infinitely
glad of. So from hence to White Hall, and in the streete Sir G. Carteret
showed me a gentleman coming by in his coach, who hath been sent for up
out of Lincolneshire, I think he says he is a justice of peace there, that
the Council have laid by the heels here, and here lies in a messenger's
hands, for saying that a man and his wife are but one person, and so ought
to pay but 12d. for both to the Poll Bill; by which others were led to do
the like: and so here he lies prisoner. To White Hall, and there I
attended to speak with Sir W. Coventry about Lanyon's business, to get him
some money out of the Prize Office from my Lord Ashly, and so home, and
there to the office a little, and thence to my chamber to read, and
supper, and to bed. My father, blessed be God! finds great ease by his
new steel trusse, which he put on yesterday. So to bed. The Duke of
Cambridge past hopes of living still.
6th. Up, and to the office all the morning, where (which he hath not done
a great while) Sir G. Carteret come to advise with us for the disposing of
L10,000, which is the first sum the new Lords Treasurers have provided us;
but, unless we have more, this will not enable us to cut off any of the
growing charge which they seem to give it us for, and expect we should
discharge several ships quite off with it. So home and with my father and
wife to Sir W. Pen's to dinner, which they invited us to out of their
respect to my father, as a stranger; though I know them as false as the
devil himself, and that it is only that they think it fit to oblige me;
wherein I am a happy man, that all my fellow-officers are desirous of my
friendship. Here as merry as in so false a place, and where I must
dissemble my hatred, I could be, and after dinner my father and wife to a
play, and I to my office, and there busy all the afternoon till late at
night, and then my wife and I sang a song or two in the garden, and so
home to supper and to bed. This afternoon comes Mr. Pierce to me about
some business, and tells me that the Duke of Cambridge is yet living, but
every minute expected to die, and is given over by all people, which
indeed is a sad loss.
7th. Up, and after with my flageolet and Mr. Townsend, whom I sent for to
come to me to discourse about my Lord Sandwich's business; for whom I am
in some pain, lest the Accounts of the Wardrobe may not be in so good
order as may please the new Lords Treasurers, who are quick-sighted, and
under obligations of recommending themselves to the King and the world, by
their finding and mending of faults, and are, most of them, not the best
friends to my Lord, and to the office, and there all the morning. At noon
home to dinner, my father, wife, and I, and a good dinner, and then to the
office again, where busy all the afternoon, also I have a desire to
dispatch all business that hath lain long on my hands, and so to it till
the evening, and then home to sing and pipe with my wife, and then to
supper and to bed, my head full of thoughts how to keep if I can some part
of my wages as Surveyor of the Victualling, which I see must now come to
be taken away among the other places that have been occasioned by this
war, and the rather because I have of late an inclination to keep a coach.
Ever since my drinking, two days ago, some very Goole drink at Sir W.
Coventry's table I have been full of wind and with some pain, and I was
afraid last night that it would amount to much, but, blessed be God! I
find that the worst is past, so that I do clearly see that all the
indisposition I am liable to-day as to sickness is only the Colique. This
day I read (shown me by Mr. Gibson) a discourse newly come forth of the
King of France, his pretence to Flanders, which is a very fine discourse,
and the truth is, hath so much of the Civil Law in it, that I am not a fit
judge of it, but, as it appears to me, he hath a good pretence to it by
right of his Queene. So to bed.
8th. Up, and to the office, where all the news this morning is, that the
Dutch are come with a fleete of eighty sail to Harwich, and that guns were
heard plain by Sir W. Rider's people at Bednallgreene, all yesterday even.
So to the office, we all sat all the morning, and then home to dinner,
where our dinner a ham of French bacon, boiled with pigeons, an excellent
dish. Here dined with us only W. Hewer and his mother. After dinner to
the office again, where busy till night, and then home and to read a
little and then to bed. The news is confirmed that the Dutch are off of
Harwich, but had done nothing last night. The King hath sent down my Lord
of Oxford to raise the countries there; and all the Westerne barges are
taken up to make a bridge over the River, about the Hope, for horse to
cross the River, if there be occasion.
9th (Lord's day). Up, and by water to White Hall, and so walked to St.
James's, where I hear that the Duke of Cambridge, who was given over long
since by the Doctors, is now likely to recover; for which God be praised!
To Sir W. Coventry, and there talked with him a great while; and mighty
glad I was of my good fortune to visit him, for it keeps in my
acquaintance with him, and the world sees it, and reckons my interest
accordingly. In comes my Lord Barkeley, who is going down to Harwich also
to look after the militia there: and there is also the Duke of Monmouth,
and with him a great many young Hectors, the Lord Chesterfield, my Lord
Mandeville, and others: but to little purpose, I fear, but to debauch the
country women thereabouts. My Lord Barkeley wanting some maps, and Sir W.
Coventry recommending the six maps of England that are bound up for the
pocket, I did offer to present my Lord with them, which he accepted: and
so I will send them him. Thence to White Hall, and there to the Chapel,
where I met Creed, and he and I staid to hear who preached, which was a
man who begun dully, and so we away by water and landed in Southwarke, and
to a church in the street where we take water beyond the bridge, which was
so full and the weather hot that we could not stand there. So to my
house, where we find my father and wife at dinner, and after dinner Creed
and I by water to White Hall, and there we parted, and I to Sir G.
Carteret's, where, he busy, I up into the house, and there met with a
gentleman, Captain Aldrige, that belongs to my Lord Barkeley, and I did
give him the book of maps for my Lord, and so I to Westminster Church and
there staid a good while, and saw Betty Michell there. So away thence,
and after church time to Mrs. Martin's, and then hazer what I would with
her, and then took boat and up, all alone, a most excellent evening, as
high as Barne Elmes, and there took a turn; and then to my boat again, and
home, reading and making an end of the book I lately bought a merry satyr
called "The Visions," translated from Spanish by L'Estrange, wherein there
are many very pretty things; but the translation is, as to the rendering
it into English expression, the best that ever I saw, it being impossible
almost to conceive that it should be a translation. Being come home I
find an order come for the getting some fire-ships presently to annoy the
Dutch, who are in the King's Channel, and expected up higher. So [Sir] W.
Batten and [Sir] W. Pen being come this evening from their country houses
to town we did issue orders about it, and then home to supper and, to bed,
10th. Up; and news brought us that, the Dutch are come up as high as the
Nore; and more pressing orders for fireships. W. Batten, W. Pen, and I to
St. James's; where the Duke of York gone this morning betimes, to send
away some men down to Chatham. So we three to White Hall, and met Sir W.
Coventry, who presses all that is possible for fire-ships. So we three to
the office presently; and thither comes Sir Fretcheville Hollis, who is to
command them all in some exploits he is to do with them on the enemy in
the River. So we all down to Deptford, and pitched upon ships and set men
at work: but, Lord! to see how backwardly things move at this pinch,
notwithstanding that, by the enemy's being now come up as high as almost
the Hope, Sir J. Minnes, who has gone down to pay some ships there, hath
sent up the money; and so we are possessed of money to do what we will
with. Yet partly ourselves, being used to be idle and in despair, and
partly people that have been used to be deceived by us as to money, won't
believe us; and we know not, though we have it, how almost to promise it;
and our wants such, and men out of the way, that it is an admirable thing
to consider how much the King suffers, and how necessary it is in a State
to keep the King's service always in a good posture and credit. Here I
eat a bit, and then in the afternoon took boat and down to Greenwich,
where I find the stairs full of people, there being a great riding
[It was an ancient custom in Berkshire, when a man had beaten his
wife, for the neighbours to parade in front of his house, for the
purpose of serenading him with kettles, and horns and hand-bells,
and every species of "rough music," by which name the ceremony was
designated. Perhaps the riding mentioned by Pepys was a punishment
somewhat similar. Malcolm ("Manners of London") quotes from the
"Protestant Mercury," that a porter's lady, who resided near Strand
Lane, beat her husband with so much violence and perseverance, that
the poor man was compelled to leap out of the window to escape her
fury. Exasperated at this virago, the neighbours made a "riding,"
i.e. a pedestrian procession, headed by a drum, and accompanied by a
chemise, displayed for a banner. The manual musician sounded the
tune of "You round-headed cuckolds, come dig, come dig!" and nearly
seventy coalheavers, carmen, and porters, adorned with large horns
fastened to their heads, followed. The public seemed highly pleased
with the nature of the punishment, and gave liberally to the
vindicators of injured manhood.--B.]
there to-day for a man, the constable of the town, whose wife beat him.
Here I was with much ado fain to press two watermen to make me a galley,
and so to Woolwich to give order for the dispatch of a ship I have taken
under my care to see dispatched, and orders being so given, I, under
pretence to fetch up the ship, which lay at Grays (the Golden Hand),
[The "Golden Hand" was to have been used for the conveyance of the
Swedish Ambassadors' horses and goods to Holland. In August, 1667,
Frances, widow of Captain Douglas and daughter of Lord Grey,
petitioned the king "for a gift of the prize ship Golden Hand, now
employed in weighing the ships sunk at Chatham, where her husband
lost his life in defence of the ships against the Dutch" ("Calendar
of State Papers," 1667, p. 430)]
did do that in my way, and went down to Gravesend, where I find the Duke
of Albemarle just come, with a great many idle lords and gentlemen, with
their pistols and fooleries; and the bulwarke not able to have stood half
an hour had they come up; but the Dutch are fallen down from the Hope and
Shell-haven as low as Sheernesse, and we do plainly at this time hear the
guns play. Yet I do not find the Duke of Albemarle intends to go thither,
but stays here to-night, and hath, though the Dutch are gone, ordered our
frigates to be brought to a line between the two blockhouses; which I took
then to be a ridiculous thing. So I away into the town and took a captain
or two of our ships (who did give me an account of the proceedings of the
Dutch fleete in the river) to the taverne, and there eat and drank, and I
find the townsmen had removed most of their goods out of the town, for
fear of the Dutch coming up to them; and from Sir John Griffen, that last
night there was not twelve men to be got in the town to defend it: which
the master of the house tells me is not true, but that the men of the town
did intend to stay, though they did indeed, and so had he, at the Ship,
removed their goods. Thence went off to an Ostend man-of-war, just now
come up, who met the Dutch fleete, who took three ships that he come
convoying hither from him says they are as low as the Nore, or
thereabouts. So I homeward, as long as it was light reading Mr. Boyle's
book of Hydrostatics, which is a most excellent book as ever I read, and I
will take much pains to understand him through if I can, the doctrine
being very useful. When it grew too dark to read I lay down and took a
nap, it being a most excellent fine evening, and about one o'clock got
home, and after having wrote to Sir W. Coventry an account of what I had
done and seen (which is entered in my letter-book), I to bed.
11th. Up, and more letters still from Sir W. Coventry about more
fire-ships, and so Sir W. Batten and I to the office, where Bruncker come
to us, who is just now going to Chatham upon a desire of Commissioner
Pett's, who is in a very fearful stink for fear of the Dutch, and desires
help for God and the King and kingdom's sake. So Bruncker goes down, and
Sir J. Minnes also, from Gravesend. This morning Pett writes us word that
Sheernesse is lost last night, after two or three hours' dispute. The
enemy hath possessed himself of that place; which is very sad, and puts us
into great fears of Chatham. Sir W. Batten and I down by water to
Deptford, and there Sir W. Pen and we did consider of several matters
relating to the dispatch of the fire-ships, and so [Sir] W. Batten and I
home again, and there to dinner, my wife and father having dined, and
after dinner, by W. Hewer's lucky advice, went to Mr. Fenn, and did get
him to pay me above L400 of my wages, and W. Hewer received it for me, and
brought it home this night. Thence I meeting Mr. Moore went toward the
other end of the town by coach, and spying Mercer in the street, I took
leave of Moore and 'light and followed her, and at Paul's overtook her and
walked with her through the dusty street almost to home, and there in
Lombard Street met The. Turner in coach, who had been at my house to see
us, being to go out of town to-morrow to the Northward, and so I promised
to see her tomorrow, and then home, and there to our business, hiring some
fire-ships, and receiving every hour almost letters from Sir W. Coventry,
calling for more fire-ships; and an order from Council to enable us to
take any man's ships; and Sir W. Coventry, in his letter to us, says he do
not doubt but at this time, under an invasion, as he owns it to be, the
King may, by law, take any man's goods. At this business late, and then
home; where a great deal of serious talk with my wife about the sad state
we are in, and especially from the beating up of drums this night for the
trainbands upon pain of death to appear in arms to-morrow morning with
bullet and powder, and money to supply themselves with victuals for a
fortnight; which, considering the soldiers drawn out to Chatham and
elsewhere, looks as if they had a design to ruin the City and give it up
to be undone; which, I hear, makes the sober citizens to think very sadly
of things. So to bed after supper, ill in my mind. This afternoon Mrs.
Williams sent to me to speak with her, which I did, only about news. I
had not spoke with her many a day before by reason of Carcasses business.
12th. Up very betimes to our business at the office, there hiring of more
fire-ships; and at it close all the morning. At noon home, and Sir W. Pen
dined with us. By and by, after dinner, my wife out by coach to see her
mother; and I in another, being afraid, at this busy time, to be seen with
a woman in a coach, as if I were idle, towards The. Turner's; but met Sir
W. Coventry's boy; and there in his letter find that the Dutch had made no
motion since their taking Sheernesse; and the Duke of Albemarle writes
that all is safe as to the great ships against any assault, the boom and
chaine being so fortified; which put my heart into great joy.
[There had been correspondence with Pett respecting this chain in
April and May. On the 10th May Pett wrote to the Navy
Commissioners, "The chain is promised to be dispatched to-morrow,
and all things are ready for fixing it." On the 11th June the Dutch
"got twenty or twenty-two ships over the narrow part of the river at
Chatham, where ships had been sunk; after two and a half hours'
fighting one guard-ship after another was fired and blown up, and
the enemy master of the chain" ("Calendar of State Papers," 1667,
pp. 58, 87, 215).]
When I come to Sir W: Coventry's chamber, I find him abroad; but his
clerk, Powell, do tell me that ill newes is come to Court of the Dutch
breaking the Chaine at Chatham; which struck me to the heart. And to
White Hall to hear the truth of it; and there, going up the back-stairs, I
did hear some lacquies speaking of sad newes come to Court, saying, that
hardly anybody in the Court but do look as if he cried, and would not go
into the house for fear of being seen, but slunk out and got into a coach,
and to The. Turner's to Sir W. Turner's, where I met Roger Pepys, newly
come out of the country. He and I talked aside a little, he offering a
match for Pall, one Barnes, of whom we shall talk more the next time. His
father married a Pepys; in discourse, he told me further that his
grandfather, my great grandfather, had L800 per annum, in Queen
Elizabeth's time, in the very town of Cottenham; and that we did certainly
come out of Scotland with the Abbot of Crowland. More talk I had, and
shall have more with him, but my mind is so sad and head full of this ill
news that I cannot now set it down. A short visit here, my wife coming to
me, and took leave of The., and so home, where all our hearts do now ake;
for the newes is true, that the Dutch have broke the chaine and burned our
ships, and particularly "The Royal Charles,"
[Vandervelde's drawings of the conflagration of the English fleet,
made by him on the spot, are in the British Museum.--B.]
other particulars I know not, but most sad to be sure. And, the truth is,
I do fear so much that the whole kingdom is undone, that I do this night
resolve to study with my father and wife what to do with the little that I
have in money by me, for I give [up] all the rest that I have in the
King's hands, for Tangier, for lost. So God help us! and God knows what
disorders we may fall into, and whether any violence on this office, or
perhaps some severity on our persons, as being reckoned by the silly
people, or perhaps may, by policy of State, be thought fit to be condemned
by the King and Duke of York, and so put to trouble; though, God knows! I
have, in my own person, done my full duty, I am sure. So having with much
ado finished my business at the office, I home to consider with my father
and wife of things, and then to supper and to bed with a heavy heart. The
manner of my advising this night with my father was, I took him and my
wife up to her chamber, and shut the door; and there told them the sad
state of the times how we are like to be all undone; that I do fear some
violence will be offered to this office, where all I have in the world is;
and resolved upon sending it away--sometimes into the country--sometimes
my father to lie in town, and have the gold with him at Sarah Giles's, and
with that resolution went to bed full of fear and fright, hardly slept all
night.
13th. No sooner up but hear the sad newes confirmed of the Royall Charles
being taken by them, and now in fitting by them--which Pett should have
carried up higher by our several orders, and deserves, therefore, to be
hanged for not doing it--and turning several others; and that another
fleete is come up into the Hope. Upon which newes the King and Duke of
York have been below--[Below London Bridge.]--since four o'clock in the
morning, to command the sinking of ships at Barking-Creeke, and other
places, to stop their coming up higher: which put me into such a fear,
that I presently resolved of my father's and wife's going into the
country; and, at two hours' warning, they did go by the coach this day,
with about L1300 in gold in their night-bag. Pray God give them good
passage, and good care to hide it when they come home! but my heart is
full of fear: They gone, I continued in fright and fear what to do with
the rest. W. Hewer hath been at the banker's, and hath got L500 out of
Backewell's hands of his own money; but they are so called upon that they
will be all broke, hundreds coming to them for money: and their answer is,
"It is payable at twenty days--when the days are out, we will pay you;"
and those that are not so, they make tell over their money, and make their
bags false, on purpose to give cause to retell it, and so spend time. I
cannot have my 200 pieces of gold again for silver, all being bought up
last night that were to be had, and sold for 24 and 25s. a-piece. So I
must keep the silver by me, which sometimes I think to fling into the
house of office, and then again know not how I shall come by it, if we be
made to leave the office. Every minute some one or other calls for this
or that order; and so I forced to be at the office, most of the day, about
the fire-ships which are to be suddenly fitted out: and it's a most
strange thing that we hear nothing from any of my brethren at Chatham; so
that we are wholly in the dark, various being the reports of what is done
there; insomuch that I sent Mr. Clapham express thither to see how matters
go: I did, about noon, resolve to send Mr. Gibson away after my wife with
another 1000 pieces, under colour of an express to Sir Jeremy Smith; who
is, as I hear, with some ships at Newcastle; which I did really send to
him, and may, possibly, prove of good use to the King; for it is possible,
in the hurry of business, they may not think of it at Court, and the
charge of an express is not considerable to the King. So though I intend
Gibson no further than to Huntingdon I direct him to send the packet
forward. My business the most of the afternoon is listening to every body
that comes to the office, what news? which is variously related, some
better, some worse, but nothing certain. The King and Duke of York up and
down all the day here and there: some time on Tower Hill, where the City
militia was; where the King did make a speech to them, that they should
venture themselves no further than he would himself. I also sent, my mind
being in pain, Saunders after my wife and father, to overtake them at
their night's lodgings, to see how matters go with them. In the evening,
I sent for my cousin Sarah [Gyles] and her husband, who come; and I did
deliver them my chest of writings about Brampton, and my brother Tom's
papers, and my journalls, which I value much; and did send my two silver
flaggons to Kate Joyce's: that so, being scattered what I have, something
might be saved. I have also made a girdle, by which, with some trouble, I
do carry about me L300 in gold about my body, that I may not be without
something in case I should be surprised: for I think, in any nation but
our's, people that appear (for we are not indeed so) so faulty as we,
would have their throats cut. In the evening comes Mr. Pelling, and
several others, to the office, and tell me that never were people so
dejected as they are in the City all over at this day; and do talk most
loudly, even treason; as, that we are bought and sold--that we are
betrayed by the Papists, and others, about the King; cry out that the
office of the Ordnance hath been so backward as no powder to have been at
Chatham nor Upnor Castle till such a time, and the carriages all broken;
that Legg is a Papist; that Upnor, the old good castle built by Queen
Elizabeth, should be lately slighted; that the ships at Chatham should not
be carried up higher. They look upon us as lost, and remove their
families and rich goods in the City; and do think verily that the French,
being come down with his army to Dunkirke, it is to invade us, and that we
shall be invaded. Mr. Clerke, the, solicitor, comes to me about business,
and tells me that he hears that the King hath chosen Mr. Pierpont and
Vaughan of the West, Privy-councillors; that my Lord Chancellor was
affronted in the Hall this day, by people telling him of his Dunkirke
house; and that there are regiments ordered to be got together, whereof to
be commanders my Lord Fairfax, Ingoldsby, Bethell, Norton, and Birch, and
other Presbyterians; and that Dr. Bates will have liberty to preach. Now,
whether this be true or not, I know not; but do think that nothing but
this will unite us together. Late at night comes Mr. Hudson, the cooper,
my neighbour, and tells me that he come from Chatham this evening at five
o'clock, and saw this afternoon "The Royal James," "Oake," and "London,"
burnt by the enemy with their fire-ships: that two or three men-of-war
come up with them, and made no more of Upnor Castle's shooting, than of a
fly; that those ships lay below Upnor Castle, but therein, I conceive, he
is in an error; that the Dutch are fitting out "The Royall Charles;" that
we shot so far as from the Yard thither, so that the shot did no good, for
the bullets grazed on the water; that Upnor played hard with their guns at
first, but slowly afterwards, either from the men being beat off, or their
powder spent. But we hear that the fleete in the Hope is not come up any
higher the last flood; and Sir W. Batten tells me that ships are provided
to sink in the River, about Woolwich, that will prevent their coming up
higher if they should attempt it. I made my will also this day, and did
give all I had equally between my father and wife, and left copies of it
in each of Mr. Hater and W. Hewer's hands, who both witnessed the will,
and so to supper and then to bed, and slept pretty well, but yet often
waking.
14th. Up, and to the office; where Mr. Fryer comes and tells me that
there are several Frenchmen and Flemish ships in the River, with passes
from the Duke of York for carrying of prisoners, that ought to be parted
from the rest of the ships, and their powder taken, lest they do fire
themselves when the enemy comes, and so spoil us; which is good advice,
and I think I will give notice of it; and did so. But it is pretty odd to
see how every body, even at this high time of danger, puts business off of
their own hands! He says that he told this to the Lieutenant of the
Tower, to whom I, for the same reason, was directing him to go; and the
Lieutenant of the Tower bade him come to us, for he had nothing to do with
it; and yesterday comes Captain Crew, of one of the fireships, and told me
that the officers of the Ordnance would deliver his gunner's materials,
but not compound them,
[Meaning, apparently, that the Ordnance would deliver the charcoal,
sulphur, and saltpetre separately, but not mix them as gunpowder.]
[The want of ammunition when the Dutch burnt the fleet, and the
revenge of the deserter sailors, are well described by Marvell
"Our Seamen, whom no danger's shape could fright,
Unpaid, refuse to mount their ships, for spite
Or to their fellows swim, on board the Dutch,
Who show the tempting metal in their clutch.]
but that we must do it; whereupon I was forced to write to them about it;
and one that like a great many come to me this morning by and by
comes--Mr. Wilson, and by direction of his, a man of Mr. Gawden's; who
come from Chatham last night, and saw the three ships burnt, they lying
all dry, and boats going from the men-of-war and fire them. But that,
that he tells me of worst consequence is, that he himself, I think he
said, did hear many Englishmen on board the Dutch ships speaking to one
another in English; and that they did cry and say, "We did heretofore
fight for tickets; now we fight for dollars!" and did ask how such and
such a one did, and would commend themselves to them: which is a sad
consideration. And Mr. Lewes, who was present at this fellow's discourse
to me, did tell me, that he is told that when they took "The Royall
Charles," they said that they had their tickets signed, and showed some,
and that now they come to have them paid, and would have them paid before
they parted. And several seamen come this morning to me, to tell me that,
if I would get their tickets paid, they would go and do all they could
against the Dutch; but otherwise they would not venture being killed, and
lose all they have already fought for: so that I was forced to try what I
could do to get them paid. This man tells me that the ships burnt last
night did lie above Upnor Castle, over against the Docke; and the boats
come from the ships of war and burnt them all which is very sad. And
masters of ships, that we are now taking up, do keep from their ships all
their stores, or as much as they can, so that we can despatch them, having
not time to appraise them nor secure their payment; only some little money
we have, which we are fain to pay the men we have with, every night, or
they will not work. And indeed the hearts as well as affections of the
seamen are turned away; and in the open streets in Wapping, and up and
down, the wives have cried publickly, "This comes of your not paying our
husbands; and now your work is undone, or done by hands that understand it
not." And Sir W. Batten told me that he was himself affronted with a
woman, in language of this kind, on Tower Hill publickly yesterday; and we
are fain to bear it, and to keep one at the office door to let no idle
people in, for fear of firing of the office and doing us mischief. The
City is troubled at their being put upon duty: summoned one hour, and
discharged two hours after; and then again summoned two hours after that;
to their great charge as well as trouble. And Pelling, the Potticary,
tells me the world says all over, that less charge than what the kingdom
is put to, of one kind or other, by this business, would have set out all
our great ships. It is said they did in open streets yesterday, at
Westminster, cry, "A Parliament! a Parliament!" and I do believe it will
cost blood to answer for these miscarriages. We do not hear that the
Dutch are come to Gravesend; which is a wonder. But a wonderful thing it
is that to this day we have not one word yet from Bruncker, or Peter Pett,
or J. Minnes, of any thing at Chatham. The people that come hither to
hear how things go, make me ashamed to be found unable to answer them: for
I am left alone here at the office; and the truth is, I am glad my station
is to be here, near my own home and out of danger, yet in a place of doing
the King good service. I have this morning good news from Gibson; three
letters from three several stages, that he was safe last night as far as
Royston, at between nine and ten at night. The dismay that is upon us
all, in the business of the kingdom and Navy at this day, is not to be
expressed otherwise than by the condition the citizens were in when the
City was on fire, nobody knowing which way to turn themselves, while every
thing concurred to greaten the fire; as here the easterly gale and
spring-tides for coming up both rivers, and enabling them to break the
chaine. D. Gawden did tell me yesterday, that the day before at the
Council they were ready to fall together by the ears at the Council-table,
arraigning one another of being guilty of the counsel that brought us into
this misery, by laying up all the great ships. Mr. Hater tells me at noon
that some rude people have been, as he hears, at my Lord Chancellor's,
where they have cut down the trees before his house and broke his windows;
and a gibbet either set up before or painted upon his gate, and these
three words writ: "Three sights to be seen; Dunkirke, Tangier, and a
barren Queene."
["Pride, Lust, Ambition, and the People's Hate,
The kingdom's broker, ruin of the State,
Dunkirk's sad loss, divider of the fleet,
Tangier's compounder for a barren sheet
This shrub of gentry, married to the crown,
His daughter to the heir, is tumbled down."
Poems on State Affairs, vol. i., p. 253.--B.]