the Exchequer, as much money as is ready to break down the floor. This
arises, I believe, from Sir G. Downing's late talk of the greatness of the
sum lying there of people's money, that they would not fetch away, which
he shewed me and a great many others. Most people that I speak with are
in doubt how we shall do to secure our seamen from running over to the
Dutch; which is a sad but very true consideration at this day. At noon I
am told that my Lord Duke of Albemarle is made Lord High Constable; the
meaning whereof at this time I know not, nor whether it, be true or no.
Dined, and Mr. Hater and W. Hewer with me; where they do speak very
sorrowfully of the posture of the times, and how people do cry out in the
streets of their being bought and sold; and both they, and every body that
come to me, do tell me that people make nothing of talking treason in the
streets openly: as, that we are bought and sold, and governed by Papists,
and that we are betrayed by people about the King, and shall be delivered
up to the French, and I know not what. At dinner we discoursed of Tom of
the Wood, a fellow that lives like a hermit near Woolwich, who, as they
say, and Mr. Bodham, they tell me, affirms that he was by at the
justice's when some did accuse him there for it, did foretell the burning
of the City, and now says that a greater desolation is at hand. Thence we
read and laughed at Lilly's prophecies this month, in his Almanack this
year! So to the office after dinner; and thither comes Mr. Pierce, who
tells me his condition, how he cannot get his money, about L500, which, he
says, is a very great part of what he hath for his family and children,
out of Viner's hand: and indeed it is to be feared that this will wholly
undo the bankers. He says he knows nothing of the late affronts to my
Lord Chancellor's house, as is said, nor hears of the Duke of Albemarle's
being made High Constable; but says that they are in great distraction at
White Hall, and that every where people do speak high against Sir W.
Coventry: but he agrees with me, that he is the best Minister of State the
King hath, and so from my heart I believe. At night come home Sir W.
Batten and W. Pen, who only can tell me that they have placed guns at
Woolwich and Deptford, and sunk some ships below Woolwich and Blackewall,
and are in hopes that they will stop the enemy's coming up. But strange
our confusion! that among them that are sunk they have gone and sunk
without consideration "The Franakin,"' one of the King's ships, with
stores to a very considerable value, that hath been long loaden for supply
of the ships; and the new ship at Bristoll, and much wanted there; and
nobody will own that they directed it, but do lay it on Sir W. Rider.
They speak also of another ship, loaden to the value of L80,000, sunk with
the goods in her, or at least was mightily contended for by him, and a
foreign ship, that had the faith of the nation for her security: this Sir
R. Ford tells us: And it is too plain a truth, that both here and at
Chatham the ships that we have sunk have many, and the first of them, been
ships completely fitted for fire-ships at great charge. But most strange
the backwardness and disorder of all people, especially the King's people
in pay, to do any work, Sir W. Pen tells me, all crying out for money; and
it was so at Chatham, that this night comes an order from Sir W. Coventry
to stop the pay of the wages of that Yard; the Duke of Albemarle having
related, that not above three of 1100 in pay there did attend to do any
work there. This evening having sent a messenger to Chatham on purpose,
we have received a dull letter from my Lord Bruncker and Peter Pett, how
matters have gone there this week; but not so much, or so particularly, as
we knew it by common talk before, and as true. I doubt they will be found
to have been but slow men in this business; and they say the Duke of
Albemarle did tell my Lord Bruncker to his face that his discharging of
the great ships there was the cause of all this; and I am told that it is
become common talk against my Lord Bruncker. But in that he is to be
justified, for he did it by verbal order from Sir W. Coventry, and with
good intent; and it was to good purpose, whatever the success be, for the
men would have but spent the King so much the more in wages, and yet not
attended on board to have done the King any service; and as an evidence of
that, just now, being the 15th day in the morning that I am writing
yesterday's passages, one is with me, Jacob Bryan, Purser of "The
Princesse," who confesses to me that he hath about 180 men borne at this
day in victuals and wages on that ship lying at Chatham, being lately
brought in thither; of which 180 there was not above five appeared to do
the King any service at this late business. And this morning also, some
of the Cambridge's men come up from Portsmouth, by order from Sir
Fretcheville Hollis, who boasted to us the other day that he had sent for
50, and would be hanged if 100 did not come up that would do as much as
twice the number of other men: I say some of them, instead of being at
work at Deptford, where they were intended, do come to the office this
morning to demand the payment of their tickets; for otherwise they would,
they said, do no more work; and are, as I understand from every body that
has to do with them, the most debauched, damning, swearing rogues that
ever were in the Navy, just like their prophane commander. So to Sir W.
Batten's to sit and talk a little, and then home to my flageolet, my heart
being at pretty good ease by a letter from my wife, brought by Saunders,
that my father and wife got well last night to their Inne and out again
this morning, and Gibson's being got safe to Caxton at twelve last night.
So to supper, and then to bed. No news to-day of any motion of the enemy
either upwards towards Chatham or this way.
15th. All the morning at the office. No newes more than last night; only
Purser Tyler comes and tells me that he being at all the passages in this
business at Chatham, he says there have been horrible miscarriages, such
as we shall shortly hear of: that the want of boats hath undone us; and it
is commonly said, and Sir J. Minnes under his hand tells us, that they
were employed by the men of the Yard to carry away their goods; and I hear
that Commissioner Pett will be found the first man that began to remove;
he is much spoken against, and Bruncker is complained of and reproached
for discharging the men of the great ships heretofore. At noon Mr. Hater
dined with me; and tells me he believes that it will hardly be the want of
money alone that will excuse to the Parliament the neglect of not setting
out a fleete, it having never been done in our greatest straits, but
however unlikely it appeared, yet when it was gone about, the State or
King did compass it; and there is something in it. In like manner all the
afternoon busy, vexed to see how slowly things go on for want of money.
At night comes, unexpectedly so soon, Mr. Gibson, who left my wife well,
and all got down well with them, but not with himself, which I was afeard
of, and cannot blame him, but must myself be wiser against another time.
He had one of his bags broke, through his breeches, and some pieces
dropped out, not many, he thinks, but two, for he 'light, and took them
up, and went back and could find no more. But I am not able to tell how
many, which troubles me, but the joy of having the greatest part safe
there makes me bear with it, so as not to afflict myself for it. This
afternoon poor Betty Michell, whom I love, sent to tell my wife her child
was dying, which I am troubled for, poor girle! At night home and to my
flageolet. Played with pleasure, but with a heavy heart, only it pleased
me to think how it may please God I may live to spend my time in the
country with plainness and pleasure, though but with little glory. So to
supper and to bed.
16th (Lord's day). Up, and called on by several on business of the
office. Then to the office to look out several of my old letters to Sir
W. Coventry in order to the preparing for justifying this office in our
frequent foretelling the want of money. By and by comes Roger Pepys and
his son Talbot, whom he had brought to town to settle at the Temple, but,
by reason of our present stirs, will carry him back again with him this
week. He seems to be but a silly lad. I sent them to church this
morning, I staying at home at the office, busy. At noon home to dinner,
and much good discourse with him, he being mighty sensible of our misery
and mal-administration. Talking of these straits we are in, he tells me
that my Lord Arlington did the last week take up L12,000 in gold, which is
very likely, for all was taken up that could be. Discoursing afterwards
with him of our family he told me, that when I come to his house he will
show me a decree in Chancery, wherein there was twenty-six men all
housekeepers in the town of Cottenham, in Queene Elizabeth's time, of our
name. He to church again in the afternoon, I staid at home busy, and did
show some dalliance to my maid Nell, speaking to her of her sweetheart
which she had, silly girle. After sermon Roger Pepys comes again. I
spent the evening with him much troubled with the thoughts of the evils of
our time, whereon we discoursed. By and by occasion offered for my
writing to Sir W. Coventry a plain bold letter touching lack of money;
which, when it was gone, I was afeard might give offence: but upon two or
three readings over again the copy of it, I was satisfied it was a good
letter; only Sir W. Batten signed it with me, which I could wish I had
done alone. Roger Pepys gone, I to the garden, and there dallied a while
all alone with Mrs. Markham, and then home to my chamber and to read and
write, and then to supper and to bed.
17th. Up, and to my office, where busy all the morning, particularly
setting my people to work in transcribing pieces of letters publique and
private, which I do collect against a black day to defend the office with
and myself. At noon dined at home, Mr. Hater with me alone, who do seem
to be confident that this nation will be undone, and with good reason:
Wishes himself at Hambrough, as a great many more, he says, he believes
do, but nothing but the reconciling of the Presbyterian party will save
us, and I am of his mind. At the office all the afternoon, where every
moment business of one kind or other about the fire-ships and other
businesses, most of them vexatious for want of money, the commanders all
complaining that, if they miss to pay their men a night, they run away;
seamen demanding money of them by way of advance, and some of Sir
Fretcheville Hollis's men, that he so bragged of, demanding their tickets
to be paid, or they would not work: this Hollis, Sir W. Batten and W. Pen
say, proves a very . . ., as Sir W. B. terms him, and the other called
him a conceited, idle, prating, lying fellow. But it was pleasant this
morning to hear Hollis give me the account what, he says, he told the King
in Commissioner Pett's presence, whence it was that his ship was fit
sooner than others, telling the King how he dealt with the several
Commissioners and agents of the Ports where he comes, offering Lanyon to
carry him a Ton or two of goods to the streights, giving Middleton an hour
or two's hearing of his stories of Barbadoes, going to prayer with Taylor,
and standing bare and calling, "If it please your Honour," to Pett, but
Sir W. Pen says that he tells this story to every body, and believes it to
be a very lie. At night comes Captain Cocke to see me, and he and I an
hour in the garden together. He tells me there have been great endeavours
of bringing in the Presbyterian interest, but that it will not do. He
named to me several of the insipid lords that are to command the armies
that are to be raised. He says the King and Court are all troubled, and
the gates of the Court were shut up upon the first coming of the Dutch to
us, but they do mind the business no more than ever: that the bankers, he
fears, are broke as to ready-money, though Viner had L100,000 by him when
our trouble begun: that he and the Duke of Albemarle have received into
their own hands, of Viner, the former L10,000, and the latter L12,000, in
tallies or assignments, to secure what was in his hands of theirs; and
many other great men of our. masters have done the like; which is no good
sign, when they begin to fear the main. He and every body cries out of
the office of the Ordnance, for their neglects, both at Gravesend and
Upnor, and everywhere else. He gone, I to my business again, and then
home to supper and to bed. I have lately played the fool much with our
Nell, in playing with her breasts. This night, late, comes a porter with
a letter from Monsieur Pratt, to borrow L100 for my Lord Hinchingbroke, to
enable him to go out with his troop in the country, as he is commanded;
but I did find an excuse to decline it. Among other reasons to myself,
this is one, to teach him the necessity of being a good husband, and
keeping money or credit by him.
18th. Up, and did this morning dally with Nell . . . which I was
afterward troubled for. To the office, and there all the morning. Peg
Pen come to see me, and I was glad of it, and did resolve to have tried
her this afternoon, but that there was company with elle at my home,
whither I got her. Dined at home, W. Hewer with me, and then to the
office, and to my Lady Pen's, and did find occasion for Peg to go home
with me to my chamber, but there being an idle gentleman with them, he
went with us, and I lost my hope. So to the office, and by and by word
was brought me that Commissioner Pett is brought to the Tower, and there
laid up close prisoner; which puts me into a fright, lest they may do the
same with us as they do with him. This puts me upon hastening what I am
doing with my people, and collecting out of my papers our defence. Myself
got Fist, Sir W. Batten's clerk, and busy with him writing letters late,
and then home to supper and to read myself asleep, after piping, and so to
bed. Great newes to-night of the blowing up of one of the Dutch greatest
ships, while a Council of War was on board: the latter part, I doubt, is
not so, it not being confirmed since; but the former, that they had a ship
blown up, is said to be true. This evening comes Sir G. Carteret to the
office, to talk of business at Sir W. Batten's; where all to be undone for
want of money, there being none to pay the Chest at their publique pay the
24th of this month, which will make us a scorn to the world. After he had
done there, he and I into the garden, and walked; and the greatest of our
discourse is, his sense of the requisiteness of his parting with his being
Treasurer of the Navy, if he can, on any good terms. He do harp upon
getting my Lord Bruncker to take it on half profit, but that he is not
able to secure him in paying him so much. But the thing I do advise him
to do by all means, and he resolves on it, being but the same counsel
which I intend to take myself. My Lady Jem goes down to Hinchingbroke to
lie down, because of the troubles of the times here. He tells me he is
not sure that the King of France will not annoy us this year, but that the
Court seems [to] reckon upon it as a thing certain, for that is all that I
and most people are afeard of this year. He tells me now the great
question is, whether a Parliament or no Parliament; and says the
Parliament itself cannot be thought able at present to raise money, and
therefore it will be to no purpose to call one. I hear this day poor
Michell's child is dead.
19th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy with Fist again,
beginning early to overtake my business in my letters, which for a post or
two have by the late and present troubles been interrupted. At noon comes
Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen, and we to [Sir] W. Pen's house, and there
discoursed of business an hour, and by and by comes an order from Sir R.
Browne, commanding me this afternoon to attend the Council-board, with all
my books and papers touching the Medway. I was ready [to fear] some
mischief to myself, though it appears most reasonable that it is to inform
them about Commissioner Pett. I eat a little bit in haste at Sir W.
Batten's, without much comfort, being fearful, though I shew it not, and
to my office and get up some papers, and found out the most material
letters and orders in our books, and so took coach and to the
Council-chamber lobby, where I met Mr. Evelyn, who do miserably decry our
follies that bring all this misery upon us. While we were discoursing
over our publique misfortunes, I am called in to a large Committee of the
Council: present the Duke of Albemarle, Anglesey, Arlington, Ashly,
Carteret, Duncomb, Coventry, Ingram, Clifford, Lauderdale, Morrice,
Manchester, Craven, Carlisle, Bridgewater. And after Sir W. Coventry's
telling them what orders His Royal Highness had made for the safety of the
Medway, I told them to their full content what we had done, and showed
them our letters. Then was Peter Pett called in, with the Lieutenant of
the Tower. He is in his old clothes, and looked most sillily. His charge
was chiefly the not carrying up of the great ships, and the using of the
boats in carrying away his goods; to which he answered very sillily,
though his faults to me seem only great omissions. Lord Arlington and
Coventry very severe against him; the former saying that, if he was not
guilty, the world would think them all guilty.
[Pett was made a scapegoat. This is confirmed by Marvel:
"After this loss, to relish discontent,
Some one must be accused by Parliament;
All our miscarriages on Pett must fall,
His name alone seems fit to answer all.
Whose counsel first did this mad war beget?
Who all commands sold through the Navy? Pett.
Who would not follow when the Dutch were beat?
Who treated out the time at Bergen? Pett.
Who the Dutch fleet with storms disabled met,
And, rifling prizes, them neglected? Pett.
Who with false news prevented the Gazette,
The fleet divided, writ for Ruhert? Pett.
Who all our seamen cheated of their debt?
And all our prizes who did swallow? Pett.
Who did advise no navy out to set?
And who the forts left unprepared? Pett.
Who to supply with powder did forget
Languard, Sheerness, Gravesend, and Upnor? Pett.
Who all our ships exposed in Chatham net?
Who should it be but the fanatick Pett?
Pett, the sea-architect, in making ships,
Was the first cause of all these naval slips.
Had he not built, none of these faults had been;
If no creation, there had been no sin
But his great crime, one boat away he sent,
That lost our fleet, and did our flight prevent."
Instructions to a Painter.--B]
The latter urged, that there must be some faults, and that the Admiral
must be found to have done his part. I did say an unhappy word, which I
was sorry for, when he complained of want of oares for the boats: and
there was, it seems, enough, and good enough, to carry away all the boats
with from the King's occasions. He said he used never a boat till they
were all gone but one; and that was to carry away things of great value,
and these were his models of ships; which, when the Council, some of them,
had said they wished that the Dutch had had them instead of the King's
ships, he answered, he did believe the Dutch would have made more
advantage of the models than of the ships, and that the King had had
greater loss thereby; this they all laughed at. After having heard him
for an hour or more, they bid him withdraw. I all this while showing him
no respect, but rather against him, for which God forgive me! for I mean
no hurt to him, but only find that these Lords are upon their own
purgation, and it is necessary I should be so in behalf of the office. He
being gone, they caused Sir Richard Browne to read over his minutes; and
then my Lord Arlington moved that they might be put into my hands to put
into form, I being more acquainted with such business; and they were so.
So I away back with my books and papers; and when I got into the Court it
was pretty to see how people gazed upon me, that I thought myself obliged
to salute people and to smile, lest they should think I was a prisoner
too; but afterwards I found that most did take me to be there to bear
evidence against P. Pett; but my fear was such, at my going in, of the
success of the day, that at my going in I did think fit to give T. Hater,
whom I took with me, to wait the event, my closet-key and directions where
to find L500 and more in silver and gold, and my tallys, to remove, in
case of any misfortune to me. Thence to Sir G. Carteret's to take my
leave of my Lady Jem, who is going into the country tomorrow; but she
being now at prayers with my Lady and family, and hearing here by Yorke,
the carrier, that my wife is coming to towne, I did make haste home to see
her, that she might not find me abroad, it being the first minute I have
been abroad since yesterday was se'ennight. It is pretty to see how
strange it is to be abroad to see people, as it used to be after a month
or two's absence, and I have brought myself so to it, that I have no great
mind to be abroad, which I could not have believed of myself. I got home,
and after being there a little, she come, and two of her fellow-travellers
with her, with whom we drunk: a couple of merchant-like men, I think, but
have friends in our country. They being gone, I and my wife to talk, who
did give me so bad an account of her and my father's method in burying of
our gold, that made me mad: and she herself is not pleased with it, she
believing that my sister knows of it. My father and she did it on Sunday,
when they were gone to church, in open daylight, in the midst of the
garden; where, for aught they knew, many eyes might see them: which put me
into such trouble, that I was almost mad about it, and presently cast
about, how to have it back again to secure it here, the times being a
little better now; at least at White Hall they seem as if they were, but
one way or other I am resolved to free them from the place if I can get
them. Such was my trouble at this, that I fell out with my wife, that
though new come to towne, I did not sup with her, nor speak to her
tonight, but to bed and sleep.
20th. Up, without any respect to my wife, only answering her a question
or two, without any anger though, and so to the office, where all the
morning busy, and among other things Mr. Barber come to me (one of the
clerks of the Ticket office) to get me to sign some tickets, and told me
that all the discourse yesterday, about that part of the town where he
was, was that Mr. Pett and I were in the Tower; and I did hear the same
before. At noon, home to dinner, and there my wife and I very good
friends; the care of my gold being somewhat over, considering it was in
their hands that have as much cause to secure it as myself almost, and so
if they will be mad, let them. But yet I do intend to, send for it away.
Here dined Mercer with us, and after dinner she cut my hair, and then I
into my closet and there slept a little, as I do now almost every day
after dinner; and then, after dallying a little with Nell, which I am
ashamed to think of, away to the office. Busy all the afternoon; in the
evening did treat with, and in the end agree; but by some kind of
compulsion, with the owners of six merchant ships, to serve the King as
men-of-war. But, Lord! to see how against the hair it is with these men
and every body to trust us and the King; and how unreasonable it is to
expect they should be willing to lend their ships, and lay out 2 or L300 a
man to fit their ships for new voyages, when we have not paid them half of
what we owe them for their old services! I did write so to Sir W.
Coventry this night. At night my wife and I to walk and talk again about
our gold, which I am not quiet in my mind to be safe, and therefore will
think of some way to remove it, it troubling me very much. So home with
my wife to supper and to bed, miserable hot weather all night it was.
21st. Up and by water to White Hall, there to discourse with [Sir] G.
Carteret and Mr. Fenn about office business. I found them all aground,
and no money to do anything with. Thence homewards, calling at my
Tailor's to bespeak some coloured clothes, and thence to Hercules Pillars,
all alone, and there spent 6d. on myself, and so home and busy all the
morning. At noon to dinner, home, where my wife shows me a letter from
her father, who is going over sea, and this afternoon would take his leave
of her. I sent him by her three Jacobuses in gold, having real pity for
him and her. So I to my office, and there all the afternoon. This day
comes news from Harwich that the Dutch fleete are all in sight, near 100
sail great and small, they think, coming towards them; where, they think,
they shall be able to oppose them; but do cry out of the falling back of
the seamen, few standing by them, and those with much faintness. The like
they write from Portsmouth, and their letters this post are worth reading.
Sir H. Cholmly come to me this day, and tells me the Court is as mad as
ever; and that the night the Dutch burned our ships the King did sup with
my Lady Castlemayne, at the Duchess of Monmouth's, and there were all mad
in hunting of a poor moth. All the Court afraid of a Parliament; but he
thinks nothing can save us but the King's giving up all to a Parliament.
Busy at the office all the afternoon, and did much business to my great
content. In the evening sent for home, and there I find my Lady Pen and
Mrs. Lowther, and Mrs. Turner and my wife eating some victuals, and there
I sat and laughed with them a little, and so to the office again, and in
the evening walked with my wife in the garden, and did give Sir W. Pen at
his lodgings (being just come from Deptford from attending the dispatch of
the fire-ships there) an account of what passed the other day at Council
touching Commissioner Pett, and so home to supper and to bed.
22nd. Up, and to my office, where busy, and there comes Mrs. Daniel. . .
At the office I all the morning busy. At noon home to dinner, where
Mr. Lewes Phillips, by invitation of my wife, comes, he coming up to town
with her in the coach this week, and she expected another gentleman, a
fellow-traveller, and I perceive the feast was for him, though she do not
say it, but by some mistake he come not, so there was a good dinner lost.
Here we had the two Mercers, and pretty merry. Much talk with Mr.
Phillips about country business, among others that there is no way for me
to purchase any severall lands in Brampton, or making any severall that is
not so, without much trouble and cost, and, it may be, not do it neither,
so that there is no more ground to be laid to our Brampton house. After
dinner I left them, and to the office, and thence to Sir W. Pen's, there
to talk with Mrs. Lowther, and by and by we hearing Mercer and my boy
singing at my house, making exceeding good musique, to the joy of my
heart, that I should be the master of it, I took her to my office and
there merry a while, and then I left them, and at the office busy all the
afternoon, and sleepy after a great dinner. In the evening come Captain
Hart and Haywood to me about the six merchant-ships now taken up for
men-of-war; and in talk they told me about the taking of "The Royal
Charles;" that nothing but carelessness lost the ship, for they might have
saved her the very tide that the Dutch come up, if they would have but
used means and had had but boats: and that the want of boats plainly lost
all the other ships. That the Dutch did take her with a boat of nine men,
who found not a man on board her, and her laying so near them was a main
temptation to them to come on; and presently a man went up and struck her
flag and jacke, and a trumpeter sounded upon her "Joan's placket is torn,"
that they did carry her down at a time, both for tides and wind, when the
best pilot in Chatham would not have undertaken it, they heeling her on
one side to make her draw little water: and so carried her away safe.
They being gone, by and by comes Sir W. Pen home, and he and I together
talking. He hath been at Court; and in the first place, I hear the Duke
of Cambridge is dead; a which is a great loss to the nation, having, I
think, never an heyre male now of the King's or Duke's to succeed to the
Crown. He tells me that they do begin already to damn the Dutch, and call
them cowards at White Hall, and think of them and their business no better
than they used to do; which is very sad. The King did tell him himself,
which is so, I was told, here in the City, that the City, hath lent him
L10,000, to be laid out towards securing of the River of Thames; which,
methinks, is a very poor thing, that we should be induced to borrow by
such mean sums. He tells me that it is most manifest that one great thing
making it impossible for us to have set out a fleete this year, if we
could have done it for money or stores, was the liberty given the
beginning of the year for the setting out of merchant-men, which did take
up, as is said, above ten, if not fifteen thousand seamen: and this the
other day Captain Cocke tells me appears in the council-books, that is the
number of seamen required to man the merchant ships that had passes to go
abroad. By and by, my wife being here, they sat down and eat a bit of
their nasty victuals, and so parted and we to bed.