How we found the Dutch fleete 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, then those people were put into the catch, and by and by
spied the Prince’s fleete coming, upon which De Ruyter called a little
council (being in chase at this time of us), and thereupon their fleete
divided into two squadrons; forty in one, and about thirty in the other
(the fleete 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 fleete, 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, at that time fighting, 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 successe 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
and I myself by water to the ‘Change, and to several people did give
account of the business. So home about four o’clock to dinner, and was
followed by several people to be told the newes, and good newes it is.
God send we may hear a good issue of this day’s business! After I
had eat something I walked to Gresham College, where I heard my Lord
Bruncker was, and there got a promise of the receipt of the fine
varnish, which I shall be glad to have. Thence back with Mr. Hooke to
my house and there lent some of my tables of naval matters, the names
of rigging and the timbers about a ship, in order to Dr. Wilkins’ book
coming out about the Universal Language. Thence, he being gone, to the
Crown, behind the ‘Change, and there supped at the club with my Lord
Bruncker, Sir G. Ent, and others of Gresham College; and all our
discourse is of this fight at sea, and all are doubtful of the successe,
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 Bruncker 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 shew. Having heard all this Creed and I walked into the Parke
till 9 or 10 at night, it being fine moonshine, discoursing of the
unhappinesse of our fleete, what it would have been if the Prince
had not come in, how much the Duke hath failed of what he was so
presumptuous of, how little we deserve of God Almighty to give us better
fortune, how much this excuses all that was imputed to my Lord Sandwich,
and how much more he is a man fit to be trusted with all those matters
than those that now command, who act by nor with any advice, but rashly
and without any order. How bad we are at intelligence that should give
the Prince no sooner notice of any thing but let him come to Dover
without notice of any fight, or where the fleete were, or any thing
else, nor give the Duke any notice that he might depend upon the
Prince’s reserve; and lastly, of how good use all may be to checke our
pride and presumption in adventuring upon hazards upon unequal force
against a people that can fight, it seems now, as well as we, and that
will not be discouraged by any losses, but that they will rise again.
Thence by water home, and to supper (my father, wife, and sister having
been at Islington today at Pitt’s) and to bed.
5th. Up, and to the office, where all the morning, expecting every houre
more newes of the fleete and the issue of yesterday’s fight, but
nothing come. 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 successe of the fleete, I did not go, but
dined at home, and after dinner by water down to Deptford (and Woolwich,
where I had not been since I lodged there, and methinks the place has
grown natural to me), and thence down to Longreach, calling on all the
ships in the way, seeing their condition for sayling, and what they
want. Home about 11 of the clock, and so eat a bit and to bed, having
received no manner of newes this day, but of The Rainbow’s being put in
from the fleete, maimed as the other ships are, and some say that Sir W.
Clerke is dead of his leg being cut off.
6th. Up betimes, and vexed with my people for having a key taken out of
the chamber doors and nobody knew where it was, as also with my boy for
not being ready as soon as I, though I called him, whereupon I boxed him
soundly, and then to my business at the office and on the Victualling
Office, and thence by water to St. James’s, whither he [the Duke of
York] is now gone, it being a monthly fast-day for the plague. There we
all met, and did our business as usual with the Duke, and among other
things had Captain Cocke’s proposal of East country goods read, brought
by my Lord Bruncker, which I make use of as a monkey do the cat’s foot.
Sir W. Coventry did much oppose it, and it’s likely it will not do;
so away goes my hopes of L500. Thence after the Duke into the Parke,
walking through to White Hall, and there every body listening for guns,
but none heard, and every creature is now overjoyed and concludes upon
very good grounds that the Dutch are beaten because we have heard no
guns nor no newes of our fleete. By and by walking a little further, Sir
Philip Frowde did meet the Duke with an expresse 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 fleetes fought all day till seven at
night, and then the whole fleete 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 fleete, which, with what
recruits they had, come to one hundred sayle, 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 all so overtaken with this good newes, that the
Duke ran with it to the King, who was gone to chappell, and there all
the Court was in a hubbub, being rejoiced over head and ears in this
good newes. Away go I by coach to the New Exchange, and there did spread
this good newes 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 newes (which I had brought), being now
sent into the church by Sir W. Batten in writing, and handed from pew
to pew. But that which pleased me as much as the newes, was, to have the
fair Mrs. Middleton at our church, who indeed is a very beautiful lady.
Here after sermon comes to our office 40 people almost of all sorts and
qualities to hear the newes, which I took great delight to tell them.
Then home and found my wife at dinner, not knowing of my being at
church, and after dinner my father and she out to Hales’s, where my
father is to begin to sit to-day for his picture, which I have a desire
to have. I all the afternoon at home doing some business, drawing up my
vowes for the rest of the yeare to Christmas; but, Lord! to see in what
a condition of happiness I am, if I would but keepe myself so; but my
love of pleasure is such, that my very soul is angry with itself for my
vanity in so doing. Anon took coach and to Hales’s, but he was gone out,
and my father and wife gone. So I to Lovett’s, and there to my trouble
saw plainly that my project of varnished books will not take, it not
keeping colour, not being able to take polishing upon a single paper.
Thence home, and my father and wife not coming in, I proceeded with my
coach to take a little ayre as far as Bow all alone, and there turned
back and home; but before I got home, the bonefires were lighted all the
towne over, and I going through Crouched Friars, seeing Mercer at her
mother’s gate, stopped, and ‘light, and into her mother’s, the first
time I ever was there, and find all my people, father and all, at a
very fine supper at W. Hewer’s lodging, very neatly, and to my great
pleasure. After supper, into his chamber, which is mighty fine
with pictures and every thing else, very curious, which pleased me
exceedingly. Thence to the gate, with the women all about me, and Mrs.
Mercer’s son had provided a great many serpents, and so I made the women
all fire some serpents. By and by comes in our faire neighbour, Mrs.
Turner, and two neighbour’s daughters, Mrs. Tite, the elder of whom, a
long red-nosed silly jade; the younger, a pretty black girle, and the
merriest sprightly jade that ever I saw. With them idled away the whole
night till twelve at night at the bonefire 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 crowne to drink; and
so home. Mightily pleased with this happy day’s newes, and the more,
because confirmed by Sir Daniel Harvy, who was in the whole fight with
the Generall, and tells me that there appear but thirty-six in all of
the Dutch fleete 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 fleete 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 Bruncker and Sir T. H. that come from Court, tell me quite contrary
newes, 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 newes 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 towne, and their countenances much changed;
but yet not very plain. So home to dinner all alone, my father and
people being gone all to Woolwich to see the launching of the new ship
The Greenwich, built by Chr. Pett. I left alone with little Mrs. Tooker,
whom I kept with me in my chamber all the afternoon, and did what I
would with her. By and by comes Mr. Wayth to me; and discoursing of our
ill successe, 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 newes. Then to
my office and anon to White Hall, late, to the Duke of York to see what
commands he hath and to pray a meeting to-morrow for Tangier in behalf
of Mr. Yeabsly, which I did do and do find 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 fleete,
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 fleete again;
and so I took them home with me, and was drawing out an abstract of them
till midnight. And as to newes, 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 William 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. So late home and to bed.
8th. Up very betimes and to attend the Duke of York by order, all of
us to report to him what the works are that are required of us and to
divide among us, wherein I have taken a very good share, and more than
I can perform, I doubt. Thence to the Exchequer about some Tangier
businesses, and then home, where 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 quarterdeck with Harman all the
time; and for which service Harman I heard this day commended most
seriously and most eminently by the Duke of Yorke. 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 Ather 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. Thence, the Committee not meeting,
Creed and I down the river as low as Sir W. Warren’s, with whom I
did motion a business that may be of profit to me, about buying some
lighters to send down to the fleete, wherein he will assist me. So back
again, he and I talking of the late ill management of this fight, and
of the ill management of fighting at all against so great a force
bigger than ours, and so to the office, where we parted, but with this
satisfaction that we hear the Swiftsure, Sir W. Barkeley, is come in
safe to the Nore, after her being absent ever since the beginning of
the fight, wherein she did not appear at all from beginning to end. But
wherever she has been, they say she is arrived there well, which I pray
God however may be true. At the office late, doing business, and so home
to supper and to bed.
9th. Up, and to St. James’s, there to wait on the Duke of Yorke, and had
discourse with him about several businesses of the fleete. But, Lord! to
see how the Court is divided about The Swiftsure and The Essex’s being
safe. And wagers and odds laid on both sides. I did tell the Duke how
Sir W. Batten did tell me this morning that he was sure the Swiftsure is
safe. This put them all in a great joy and certainty of it, but this
I doubt will prove nothing. Thence to White Ball in expectation of a
meeting of Tangier, and we did industriously labour to have it this
morning; but we could not get a fifth person there, so after much pains
and thoughts on my side on behalfe of Yeabsly, we were fain to breake
up. But, Lord! to see with what patience Lord Ashly did stay all the
morning to get a Committee, little thinking that I know the reason of
his willingnesse. So I home to dinner and back again to White Hall,
and, being come thither a little too soon, went to Westminster Hall, and
bought a payre of gloves, and to see how people do take this late fight
at sea, and I find all give over the thoughts of it as a victory and to
reckon it a great overthrow. So to White Hall, and there when we were
come all together in certain expectation of doing our business
to Yeabsly’s full content, and us that were his friends, my Lord
Peterborough (whether through some difference between him and my Lord
Ashly, or him and me or Povy, or through the falsenesse of Creed, I know
not) do bring word that the Duke of Yorke (who did expressly bid me wait
at the Committee for the dispatch of the business) would not have us go
forward in this business of allowing the losse of the ships till Sir
G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry were come to towne, which was the very
thing indeed which we would have avoided. This being told us, we broke
up doing nothing, to my great discontent, though I said nothing, and
afterwards I find by my Lord Ashly’s discourse to me that he is troubled
mightily at it, and indeed it is a great abuse of him and of the whole
Commissioners that nothing of that nature can be done without Sir G.
Carteret or Sir W. Coventry. No sooner was the Committee up, and I going
[through] the Court homeward, but I am told Sir W. Coventry is come to
town; so I to his chamber, and there did give him an account how matters
go in our office, and with some content I parted from him, after we had
discoursed several things of the haste requisite to be made in getting
the fleete out again and the manner of doing it. But I do not hear that
he is at all pleased or satisfied with the late fight; but he tells me
more newes 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. Thence homewards, landed at the Old Swan, and
there find my pretty Betty Michell and her husband at their doore in
Thames Streete, which I was glad to find, and went into their shop, and
they made me drink some of their strong water, the first time I was ever
with them there. I do exceedingly love her. After sitting a little and
talking with them about several things at great distance I parted and
home to my business late. But I am to observe how the drinking of some
strong water did immediately put my eyes into a fit of sorenesse again
as they were the other day. I mean my right eye only. Late at night I
had an account brought me by Sir W. Warren that he has gone through
four lighters for me, which pleases me very well. So home to bed, much
troubled with our disappointment at the Tangier Committee.
10th (Lord’s day). Up very betimes, and down the river to Deptford,
and did a good deale of business in sending away and directing several
things to the Fleete. That being done, back to London to my office, and
there at my office till after Church time fitting some notes to carry to
Sir W. Coventry in the afternoon. At noon home to dinner, where my cozen
Joyces, both of them, they and their wives and little Will, come by
invitation to dinner to me, and I had a good dinner for them; but, Lord!
how sicke was I of W. Joyce’s company, both the impertinencies of it and
his ill manners before me at my table to his wife, which I could hardly
forbear taking notice of; but being at my table and for his wife’s sake,
I did, though I will prevent his giving me the like occasion again at
my house I will warrant him. After dinner I took leave and by water to
White Hall, and there spent all the afternoon in the Gallery, till the
Council was up, to speake with Sir W. Coventry. Walking here I met with
Pierce the surgeon, who is lately come from the fleete, 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, in his manner of fighting, 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 come, than before
too. The Prince was so maimed, as to be forced to be towed home. He says
all the fleete confess their being chased home by the Dutch; and yet the
body of the Dutch that did it, was not above forty sayle 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 Yorke is wholly given up
to his new mistresse, my Lady Denham, going at noon-day with all his
gentlemen with him to visit her in Scotland Yard; she declaring she will
not be his mistresse, as Mrs. Price, to go up and down the Privy-stairs,
but will be owned publicly; and so she is. Mr. Bruncker, 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
talke 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 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 sent 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. By and by the Council broke up, and
I spoke with Sir W. Coventry about business, with whom I doubt not in a
little time to be mighty well, when I shall appear to mind my business
again as I used to do, which by the grace of God I will do. Gone from
him I endeavoured to find out Sir G. Carteret, and at last did at Mr.
Ashburnham’s, in the Old Palace Yarde, and thence he and I stepped
out and walked an houre in the church-yarde, under Henry the Seventh’s
Chappell, he being lately come from the fleete; 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 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 fleete did proceed first from a proposition from the fleete,
though agreed to hence. But he confesses it arose from want of due
intelligence, which he confesses we do want. He do, however, call the
fleete’s retreat on Sunday a very honourable retreat, 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 fleete 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, newes is brought
that the Loyall London is launched at Deptford. Having talked thus much
with Sir G. Carteret we parted there, and I home by water, taking in
my boat with me young Michell and my Betty his wife, meeting them
accidentally going to look a boat. I set them down at the Old Swan and
myself, went through bridge to the Tower, and so home, and after supper
to bed.
11th. Up, and down by water to Sir W. Warren’s (the first time I was
in his new house on the other side the water since he enlarged it) to
discourse about our lighters that he hath bought for me, and I hope to
get L100 by this jobb. Having done with him I took boat again (being
mightily struck with a woman in a hat, a seaman’s mother,--[Mother or
mauther, a wench.]--that stood on the key) and home, where at the office
all the morning with Sir W. Coventry and some others of our board hiring
of fireships, and Sir W. Coventry begins to see my pains again, which I
do begin to take, and I am proud of it, and I hope shall continue it. He
gone, at noon I home to dinner, and after dinner my father and wife out
to the painter’s to sit again, and I, with my Lady Pen and her daughter,
to see Harman; whom we find lame in bed. His bones of his anckle are
broke, but he hopes to do well soon; and a fine person by his discourse
he seems to be and my hearty [friend]; 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, which was a very sad thing for us to have the honour and weal
of the nation ventured so foolishly. I left them there, and walked to
Deptford, reading in Walsingham’s Manual, a very good book, and there
met with Sir W. Batten and my Lady at Uthwayt’s. Here I did much
business and yet had some little mirthe with my Lady, and anon we
all come up together to our office, where I was very late doing much
business. Late comes Sir J. Bankes to see me, and tells me that coming
up from Rochester he overtook three or four hundred seamen, and he
believes every day they come flocking from the fleete in like numbers;
which is a sad neglect there, when it will be impossible to get others,
and we have little reason to think that these will return presently
again. He gone, I to end my letters to-night, and then home to supper
and to bed.
12th. Up, and to the office, where we sat all the morning. At noon to
dinner, and then to White Hall in hopes of a meeting of Tangier about
Yeabsly’s business, but it could not be obtained, Sir G. Carteret nor
Sir W. Coventry being able to be there, which still vexes [me] to see
the poor man forced still to attend, as also being desirous to see
what my profit is, and get it. Walking here in the galleries 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. Thence down by water to Deptford, and there late seeing some
things dispatched down to the fleete, and so home (thinking indeed to
have met with Bagwell, but I did not) to write my letters very late, and
so to supper and to bed.
13th. Up, and by coach to St. James’s, and there did our business before
the Duke as usual, having, before the Duke come out of his bed, walked
in an ante-chamber with Sir H. Cholmly, who tells me there are great
jarrs between the Duke of Yorke and the Duke of Albemarle, about the
later’s turning out one or two of the commanders put in by the Duke of
Yorke. Among others, Captain Du Tell, a Frenchman, put in by the Duke
of Yorke, and mightily defended by him; and is therein led by Monsieur
Blancford, that it seems hath the same command over the Duke of Yorke 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 is in his room, and one that did as little. After we
had done with the Duke of Yorke, I with others to White Hall, there to
attend again a Committee of Tangier, but there was none, which vexed me
to the heart, and makes me mighty doubtfull that when we have one, it
will be prejudiced against poor Yeabsly and to my great disadvantage
thereby, my Lord Peterborough making it his business, I perceive
(whether in spite to me, whom he cannot but smell to be a friend to
it, or to my Lord Ashly, I know not), to obstruct it, and seems to take
delight in disappointing of us; but I shall be revenged of him. Here
I staid a very great while, almost till noon, and then meeting Balty I
took him with me, and to Westminster to the Exchequer about breaking
of two tallys of L2000 each into smaller tallys, which I have been
endeavouring a good while, but to my trouble it will not, I fear, be
done, though there be no reason against it, but only a little trouble to
the clerks; but it is nothing to me of real profit at all. Thence with
Balty to Hales’s by coach, it being the seventh day from my making my
late oathes, and by them I am at liberty to dispense with any of my
oathes every seventh day after I had for the six days before going
performed all my vowes. Here I find my father’s picture begun, and so
much to my content, that it joys my very heart to thinke that I should
have his picture so well done; who, besides that he is my father, and a
man that loves me, and hath ever done so, is also, at this day, one of
the most carefull and innocent men, in the world. Thence with mighty
content homeward, and in my way at the Stockes did buy a couple of
lobsters, and so home to dinner, where I find my wife and father had
dined, and were going out to Hales’s to sit there, so Balty and I alone
to dinner, and in the middle of my grace, praying for a blessing upon
(these his good creatures), my mind fell upon my lobsters: upon which I
cried, Odd zooks! and Balty looked upon me like a man at a losse what
I meant, thinking at first that I meant only that I had said the grace
after meat instead of that before meat. But then I cried, what is become
of my lobsters? Whereupon he run out of doors to overtake the coach, but
could not, so came back again, and mighty merry at dinner to thinke of
my surprize. After dinner to the Excise Office by appointment, and there
find my Lord Bellasses and the Commissioners, and by and by the whole
company come to dispute the business of our running so far behindhand
there, and did come to a good issue in it, that is to say, to resolve
upon having the debt due to us, and the Household and the Guards
from the Excise stated, and so we shall come to know the worst of our
condition and endeavour for some helpe from my Lord Treasurer. Thence
home, and put off Balty, and so, being 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 chappell) 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 of 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 says 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 fireship among
us all, here is 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 that 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, which was done. Thereon see the next day in this book. So
we parted. 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, and I home
(being set down on Tower Hill), and there did a little business and then
in the evening went down by water to Deptford, it being very late, and
there I staid out as much time as I could, and then took boat again
homeward, but the officers being gone in, returned and walked to Mrs.
Bagwell’s house, and there (it being by this time pretty dark and past
ten o’clock) went into her house and did what I would. But I was not a
little fearfull of what she told me but now, which is, that her servant
was dead of the plague, that her coming to me yesterday was the first
day of her coming forth, and that she had new whitened the house all
below stairs, but that above stairs they are not so fit for me to go up
to, they being not so. So I parted thence, with a very good will, but
very civil, and away to the waterside, and sent for a pint of sacke
and so home, drank what I would and gave the waterman the rest; and so
adieu. Home about twelve at night, and so to bed, finding most of my
people gone to bed. In my way home I called on a fisherman and bought
three eeles, which cost me three shillings.
14th. Up, and to the office, and there sat all the morning. At noon
dined at home, and thence 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 indeed inclined against
Yeabsly, yield to the greatest part of his account, so as to allow of
his demands to the value of L7,000 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. Thence took Creed with
some kind of violence and some hard words between us to St. James’s, to
have found out Sir W. Coventry to have signed the order for his payment
among others that did stay on purpose to do it (and which is strange
among the rest my Lord Ashly, who did cause Creed to write it presently
and kept two or three of them with him by cunning to stay and sign it),
but Creed’s ill nature (though never so well bribed, as it hath lately
in this case by twenty pieces) will not be overcome from his usual
delays. Thence failing of meeting Sir W. Coventry I took leave of Creed
(very good friends) and away home, and there took out my father, wife,
sister, and Mercer our grand Tour in the evening, and made it ten at
night before we got home, only drink at the doore at Islington at the
Katherine Wheel, and so home and to the office a little, and then to
bed.
15th. Up betimes, and to my Journall entries, but disturbed by many
businesses, among others by Mr. Houblon’s coming to me about evening
their freight for Tangier, which I did, and then Mr. Bland, who
presented me yesterday with a very fine African mat, to lay upon the
ground under a bed of state, being the first fruits of our peace
with Guyland. So to the office, and thither come my pretty widow Mrs.
Burrows, poor woman, to get her ticket paid for her husband’s service,
which I did her myself, and did ‘baisser her moucher’, and I do hope
may thereafter have some day ‘sa’ company. Thence to Westminster to the
Exchequer, but could not persuade the blockheaded fellows to do what I
desire, of breaking my great tallys into less, notwithstanding my Lord
Treasurer’s order, which vexed [me] so much that I would not bestow more
time and trouble among a company of dunces, and so back again home, and
to dinner, whither Creed come and dined with me and after dinner Mr.
Moore, and he and I abroad, thinking to go down the river together, but
the tide being against me would not, but returned and walked an houre
in the garden, but, Lord! to hear how he pleases himself in behalf of
my Lord Sandwich, in the miscarriage of the Duke of Albemarle, and do
inveigh against Sir W. Coventry as a cunning knave, but I thinke that
without any manner of reason at all, but only his passion. He being gone
I to my chamber at home to set my Journall right and so to settle
my Tangier accounts, which I did in very good order, and then in the
evening comes Mr. Yeabsly to reckon with me, which I did also, and have
above L200 profit therein to myself, which is a great blessing, the
God of heaven make me thankfull for it. That being done, and my eyes
beginning to be sore with overmuch writing, I to supper and to bed.
16th. Up betimes and to my office, and there we sat all the morning and
dispatched much business, the King, Duke of Yorke, and Sir W. Coventry
being gone down to the fleete. At noon home to dinner and then down
to Woolwich and Deptford to look after things, my head akeing from
the multitude of businesses I had in my head yesterday in settling
my accounts. All the way down and up, reading of “The Mayor of
Quinborough,” a simple play. At Deptford, while I am there, comes Mr.
Williamson, Sir Arthur Ingram and Jacke Fen, to see the new ships, which
they had done, and then I with them home in their boat, and a very fine
gentleman Mr. Williamson is. It seems the Dutch do mightily insult of
their victory, and they have great reason.
[This treatment seems to have been that of the Dutch populace alone,
and there does not appear to have been cause of complaint against
the government. Respecting Sir W. Berkeley’s body the following
notice was published in the “London Gazette” of July 15th, 1666 (No.
69) “Whitehall, July 15. This day arrived a trumpet from the States
of Holland, who came over from Calais in the Dover packet-boat, with
a letter to his Majesty, that the States have taken order for the
embalming the body of Sir William Berkeley, which they have placed
in the chapel of the great church at the Hague, a civility they
profess to owe to his corpse, in respect to the quality of his
person, the greatness of his command, and of the high courage and
valour he showed in the late engagement; desiring his Majesty to
signify his pleasure about the further disposal of it.” “Frederick
Ruysch, the celebrated Dutch anatomist, undertook, by order of the
States-General, to inject the body of the English Admiral Berkeley,
killed in the sea-fight of 1666; and the body, already somewhat
decomposed, was sent over to England as well prepared as if it had
been the fresh corpse of a child. This produced to Ruysch, on the
part of the States-General, a recompense worthy of their liberality,
and the merit of the anatomist,” “James’s Medical Dictionary.”]
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. Home to my office, where late, and then to bed.
17th (Lord’s day). Being invited to Anthony Joyce’s to dinner, my wife
and sister and Mercer and I walked out in the morning, it being fine
weather, to Christ Church, and there heard a silly sermon, but sat where
we saw one of the prettiest little boys with the prettiest mouth that
ever I saw in [my] life. Thence to Joyce’s, where William Joyce and
his wife were, and had a good dinner; but, Lord! how sicke was I of
the company, only hope I shall have no more of it a good while; but am
invited to Will’s this week; and his wife, poor unhappy woman, cried to
hear me say that I could not be there, she thinking that I slight her:
so they got me to promise to come. Thence my father and I walked to
Gray’s Inne Fields, and there spent an houre or two walking and talking
of several businesses; first, as to his estate, he told me it produced
about L80 per ann., but then there goes L30 per. ann. taxes and other
things, certain charge, which I do promise to make good as far as this
L30, at which the poor man was overjoyed and wept. As to Pall he tells
me he is mightily satisfied with Ensum, and so I promised to give her
L500 presently, and to oblige myself to 100 more on the birth of her
first child, he insuring her in L10 per ann. for every L100, and in the
meantime till she do marry I promise to allow her L10 per ann. Then as
to John I tell him I will promise him nothing, but will supply him as so
much lent him, I declaring that I am not pleased with him yet, and that
when his degree is over I will send for him up hither, and if he be good
for any thing doubt not to get him preferment. This discourse ended to
the joy of my father and no less to me to see that I am able to do this,
we return to Joyce’s and there wanting a coach to carry us home I walked
out as far as the New Exchange to find one, but could not. So down to
the Milke-house, and drank three glasses of whay, and then up into the
Strand again, and there met with a coach, and so to Joyce’s and took up
my father, wife, sister, and Mercer, and to Islington, where we drank,
and then our tour by Hackney home, where, after a little, business at
my office and then talke with my Lady and Pegg Pen in the garden, I home
and to bed, being very weary.
18th. Up betimes and in my chamber most of the morning setting things to
rights there, my Journall and accounts with my father and brother, then
to the office a little, and so to Lumbard Streete, to borrow a little
money upon a tally, but cannot. Thence to the Exchequer, and there after
much wrangling got consent that I should have a great tally broken into
little ones. Thence to Hales’s to see how my father’s picture goes on,
which pleases me mighty well, though I find again, as I did in Mrs.
Pierce’s, that a picture may have more of a likeness in the first or
second working than it shall have when finished, though this is very
well and to my full content, but so it is, and certainly mine was not so
like at the first, second, or third sitting as it was afterward. Thence
to my Lord Bellasses, by invitation, and there dined with him, and his
lady and daughter; and at dinner there played to us a young boy, lately
come from France, where he had been learning a yeare or two on the
viallin, and plays finely. But impartially I do not find any goodnesse
in their ayres (though very good) beyond ours when played by the same
hand, I observed in several of Baptiste’s’
[Jean Baptiste Lulli, son of a Tuscan peasant, born 1633, died 1687.
He invented the dramatic overture. “But during the first years of
Charles II. all musick affected by the beau mond run in the french
way; and the rather because at that time the master of the court
musick in France, whose name was Baptista (an Italian frenchifyed)
had influenced the french style by infusing a great portion of the
Italian harmony into it, whereby the ayre was exceedingly improved”
(North’s “Memoires of Musick,” ed. Rimbault, 1846, p, 102).]
(the present great composer) and our Bannister’s. But it was pretty to
see how passionately my Lord’s daughter loves musique, the most that
ever I saw creature in my life. Thence after dinner home and to the
office and anon to Lumbard Streete again, where much talke at Colvill’s,
he censuring the times, and how matters are ordered, and with reason
enough; but, above all, the thinking to borrow money of the City, which
will not be done, but be denied, they being little pleased with the
King’s affairs, and that must breed differences between the King and
the City. Thence down by water to Deptford, to order things away to the
fleete and back again, and after some business at my office late home
to supper and to bed. Sir W. Coventry is returned this night from the
fleete, he being the activest man in the world, and we all (myself
particularly) more afeard of him than of the King or his service, for
aught I see; God forgive us! This day the great newes is come of the
French, their taking the island of St. Christopher’s’ from us; and it
is to be feared they have done the like of all those islands thereabouts
this makes the city mad.
19th. Up, and to my office, there to fit business against the rest meet,
which they did by and by, and sat late. After the office rose (with
Creed with me) to Wm. Joyce’s to dinner, being invited, and there find
my father and sister, my wife and Mercer, with them, almost dined. I
made myself as complaisant as I could till I had dined, but yet much
against my will, and so away after dinner with Creed to Penny’s, my
Tailor, where I bespoke a thin stuff suit, and did spend a little time
evening some little accounts with Creed and so parted, and 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--[The Duke of Albemarle.]--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 newes 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. Thence
home, and at my business till late at night, then with my wife into the
garden and there sang with Mercer, whom I feel myself begin to love too
much by handling of her breasts in a’ morning when she dresses me, they
being the finest that ever I saw in my life, that is the truth of it. So
home and to supper with beans and bacon and to bed.
20th. Up, but in some pain of the collique. I have of late taken too
much cold by washing my feet and going in a thin silke waistcoate,
without any other coate over it, and open-breasted, but I hope it will
go over. I did this morning (my father being to go away to-morrow) give
my father some money to buy him a horse, and for other things to himself
and my mother and sister, among them L20, besides undertaking to pay
for other things for them to about L3, which the poor man takes with
infinite kindnesse, and I do not thinke I can bestow it better. Thence
by coach to St. James’s as usual to wait on the Duke of York, after
having discoursed with Collonell Fitzgerald, whom I met in my way and he
returned with me to Westminster, about paying him a sum of 700 and
odd pounds, and he bids me defalk L25 for myself,--[Abate from an
amount.]--which is a very good thing; having done with the Duke I to the
Exchequer and there after much ado do get my business quite over of the
difficulty of breaking a great tally into little ones and so shall have
it done tomorrow. Thence to the Hall and with Mrs. Martin home and staid
with her a while, and then away to the Swan and sent for a bit of meat
and dined there, and thence to Faythorne, the picture-seller’s, and
there chose two or three good Cutts to try to vernish, and so to Hales’s
to see my father’s picture, which is now near finished and is very good,
and here I staid and took a nap of an hour, thinking my father and wife
would have come, but they did not; so I away home as fast as I could,
fearing lest my father this day going abroad to see Mr. Honiwood at
Major Russell’s might meet with any trouble, and so in great pain home;
but to spite me, in Cheapside I met Mrs. Williams in a coach, and she
called me, so I must needs ‘light and go along with her and poor Knipp
(who is so big as she can tumble and looks-every day to lie down) as
far as Paternoster Row, which I did do and there staid in Bennett’s shop
with them, and was fearfull lest the people of the shop, knowing me,
should aske after my father and give Mrs. Williams any knowledge of
me to my disgrace. Having seen them done there and accompanied them to
Ludgate I ‘light and into my owne coach and home, where I find my father
and wife had had no intent of coming at all to Hales’s. So I at home all
the evening doing business, and at night in the garden (it having been
these three or four days mighty hot weather) singing in the evening, and
then home to supper and to bed.
21st. Up, and at the office all the morning; whereby 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 fleete. At noon home to dinner, my father,
sister, and wife dining at Sarah Giles’s, poor woman, where I should
have been, but my pride would not suffer me. After dinner to Mr.
Debasty’s to speake with Sir Robert Viner, a fine house and a great
many fine ladies. He used me mighty civilly. My business was to set the
matter right about the letter of credit he did give my Lord Belassis,
that I may take up the tallys lodged with Viner for his security in the
answering of my Lord’s bills, which we did set right very well, and
Sir Robert Viner went home with me and did give me the L5000 tallys
presently. Here at Mr. Debasty’s I saw, in a gold frame, a picture of a
Outer playing on his flute which, for a good while, I took for paynting,
but at last observed it a piece of tapestry, and is the finest that ever
I saw in my life for figures, and good natural colours, and a very fine
thing it is indeed. So home and met Sir George Smith by the way, who
tells me that this day my Lord Chancellor and some of the Court have
been with the City, and the City have voted to lend the King L100,000;
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. So home to
my letters and then with my wife in the garden, and then upon our leades
singing in the evening and so to supper (while at supper comes young
Michell, whose wife I love, little Betty Howlet, to get my favour
about a ticket, and I am glad of this occasion of obliging him and give
occasion of his coming to me, for I must be better acquainted with him
and her), and after supper to bed.
22nd. Up, and before I went out Mr. Peter Barr sent me a tierce of
claret, which is very welcome. And so abroad down the river to Deptford
and there did some business, and then to Westminster, and there did
with much ado get my tallys (my small ones instead of one great one of
L2,000), and so away home and there all day upon my Tangier accounts
with Creed, and, he being gone, with myself, in settling other accounts
till past twelve at night, and then every body being in bed, I to bed,
my father, wife, and sister late abroad upon the water, and Mercer
being gone to her mother’s and staid so long she could not get into the
office, which vexed me.
23rd. My father and sister very betimes took their leave; and my wife,
with all possible kindnesse, went with them to the coach, I being
mightily pleased with their company thus long, and my father with his
being here, and it rejoices my heart that I am in condition to do any
thing to comfort him, and could, were it not for my mother, have been
contented he should have stayed always here with me, he is such innocent
company. They being gone, I to my papers, but vexed at what I heard but
a little of this morning, before my wife went out, that Mercer and she
fell out last night, and that the girle is gone home to her mother’s for
all-together: This troubles me, though perhaps it may be an ease to me
of so much charge. But I love the girle, and another we must be forced
to keepe I do foresee and then shall be sorry to part with her. At the
office all the morning, much disquiett in my mind in the middle of my
business about this girle. Home at noon to dinner, and what with the
going away of my father today and the losse of Mercer, I after dinner
went up to my chamber and there could have cried to myself, had not
people come to me about business. In the evening down to Tower Wharfe
thinking to go by water, but could not get watermen; they being now
so scarce, by reason of the great presse; so to the Custome House, and
there, with great threats, got a couple to carry me down to Deptford,
all the way 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. So I home and there after
writing my letters home to supper and to bed, fully resolved to rise
betimes, and go down the river to-morrow morning, being vexed this night
to find none of the officers in the yarde at 7 at night, nor any body
concerned as if it were a Dutch warr. It seems Mercer’s mother was here
in the morning to speak with my wife, but my wife would not. In the
afternoon I and my wife in writing did instruct W. Hewer in some
discourse to her, and she in the evening did come and satisfy my wife,
and by and by Mercer did come, which I was mighty glad of and eased of
much pain about her.
24th. Sunday. Midsummer Day. Up, but, being weary the last night, not so
soon as I intended. Then being dressed, down by water to Deptford, and
there did a great deale of business, being in a mighty hurry, Sir W.
Coventry writing to me that there was some thoughts that the Dutch
fleete were out or coming out. Business being done in providing for the
carrying down of some provisions to the fleete, I away back home and
after dinner by water to White Hall, and there waited till the councill
rose, in the boarded gallery, and there among other things I hear that
Sir Francis Prujean is dead, after being married to a widow about a
yeare or thereabouts. He died very rich, and had, for the last yeare,
lived very handsomely, his lady bringing him to it. He was no great
painstaker in person, yet died very rich; and, as Dr. Clerke says, was
of a very great judgment, but hath writ nothing to leave his name to
posterity. 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 worke 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 had, however, upon the fleete’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 Gun-fleete, and in
the way meeting the Dutch fleete, 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 L100,000 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,
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 pretty
pleasant in her looks. By and by the Council rises, and Sir W. Coventry
comes 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 talke. First, he started a discourse of a talke
he hears about the towne, which, says he, is a very bad one, and fit to
be suppressed, if we knew how which is, the comparing of the successe
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 fleete’s being abroad again, and so finding
other worke 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 comeback 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 expresse that very night, being
the Wednesday night before the fight, which begun on the Friday; and
that for sending them by the post expresse, 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 talke 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 fleete, 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 fleete, and that thence it came.
[This division of the fleet was the original cause of the disaster,
and at a later period the enemies of Clarendon charged him with
having advised this action, but Coventry’s communication to Pepys in
the text completely exonerates Clarendon.]
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 fleete. 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
fleete 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 humour must break again. He do not disowne but that the
dividing of the fleete upon the presumptions that were then had (which,
I suppose, was the French fleete being come this way), was a good
resolution. Having had all this discourse, he and I back to White Hall;
and there I left him, being [in] a little doubt whether I had behaved
myself in my discourse with the policy and circumspection which ought to
be used to so great a courtier as he is, and so wise and factious a man,
and by water home, and so, after supper, to bed.
25th. Up, and all the morning at my Tangier accounts, which the chopping
and changing of my tallys make mighty troublesome; but, however, I did
end them with great satisfaction to myself. At noon, without staying to
eat my dinner, I down by water to Deptford, and there coming find Sir
W. Batten and Sir Jeremy Smith (whom the dispatch of the Loyall London
detained) at dinner at Greenwich at the Beare Taverne, and thither I
to them and there dined with them. Very good company of strangers there
was, but I took no great pleasure among them, being desirous to be back
again. So got them to rise as soon as I could, having told them the
newes Sir W. Coventry just now wrote me to tell them, which is, that the
Dutch are certainly come out. I did much business at Deptford, and so
home, by an old poor man, a sculler, having no oares to be got, and all
this day on the water entertained myself with the play of Commenius,
and being come home did go out to Aldgate, there to be overtaken by Mrs.
Margot Pen in her father’s coach, and my wife and Mercer with her, and
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, 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 mighty
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. Having done there with very great pleasure we away back
again, and called at the Taverne in Hackny by the church, and there
drank and eate, and so in the Goole of the evening home. This being the
first day of my putting on my black stuff bombazin suit, and I hope to
feel no inconvenience by it, the weather being extremely hot. So
home and to bed, and this night the first night of my lying without
a waistcoat, which I hope I shall very well endure. So to bed. This
morning I did with great pleasure hear Mr. Caesar play some good things
on his lute, while he come to teach my boy Tom, and I did give him 40s.
for his encouragement.
26th. Up and to my office betimes, and there all the morning, very busy
to get out the fleete, the Dutch being now for certain out, and we shall
not, we thinke, be much behindhand with them. At noon to the ‘Change
about business, and so home to dinner, and after dinner to the setting
my Journall to rights, and so to the office again, where all the
afternoon full of business, and there till night, that my eyes were
sore, that I could not write no longer. Then into the garden, then my
wife and Mercer and my Lady Yen and her daughter with us, and here we
sung in the darke very finely half an houre, and so home to supper and
to bed. This afternoon, after a long drowth, we had a good shower of
rain, but it will not signify much if no more come. This day in the
morning come Mr. Chichly to Sir W. Coventry, to tell him the ill
successe 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, which is a strange mishap, and that which will
give more occasion to people’s discourse of the King’s business being
done ill. This night Mary my cookemayde, that hath been with us about
three months, but find herself not able to do my worke, so is gone with
great kindnesse away, and another (Luce) come, very ugly and plaine, but
may be a good servant for all that.
27th. Up, and to my office awhile, and then down the river a little way
to see vessels ready for the carrying down of 400 land soldiers to the
fleete. Then back to the office for my papers, and so to St. James’s,
where we did our usual attendance on the Duke. Having done with him, we
all of us down 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
seale by him. And while it was hanging up, “This,” says Sir W. Coventry,
merrily, “is the use we make of our fathers,”) to discourse about the
proposition of serving us with hempe, delivered in by my Lord Brouncker
as from an unknown person, though I know it to be Captain Cocke’s. My
Lord and Sir William Coventry had some earnest words about it, the one
promoting it for his private ends, being, as Cocke tells me himself,
to have L500 if the bargain goes on, and I am to have as much, and the
other opposing it for the unseasonableness of it, not knowing at all
whose the proposition is, which seems the more ingenious of the two.
I sat by and said nothing, being no great friend to the proposition,
though Cocke intends me a convenience by it. 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. Being gone hence, I took coach to the Old Exchange, but did
not go into it, but to Mr. Cade’s, the stationer, stood till the shower
was over, it being a great and welcome one after so much dry weather.
Here I understand that Ogleby is putting out some new fables of his
owne, which will be very fine and very satyricall. Thence home to
dinner, and after dinner carried my wife to her sister’s and I to Mr.
Hales’s, to pay for my father’s picture, which cost me L10 the head and
25s. the frame. Thence to Lovett’s, who has now done something towards
the varnishing of single paper for the making of books, which will do, I
think, very well. He did also carry me to a Knight’s chamber in Graye’s
Inne, where there is a frame of his making, of counterfeite tortoise
shell, which indeed is most excellently done. Then I took him with me to
a picture shop to choose a print for him to vernish, but did not agree
for one then. Thence to my wife to take her up and so carried her home,
and I at the office till late, and so to supper with my wife and to
bed. I did this afternoon visit my Lord Bellasses, who professes all
imaginable satisfaction in me. He spoke dissatisfiedly with Creed, which
I was pleased well enough with. 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. Up, and at the office all the morning. At noon home to dinner, and
after dinner abroad to Lumbard Streete, there to reckon with Sir Robert
Viner for some money, and did sett all straight to my great content, and
so home, and all the afternoon and evening at the office, my mind full
at this time of getting my accounts over, and as much money in my hands
as I can, for a great turne is to be feared in the times, the French
having some great design (whatever it is) in hand, and our necessities
on every side very great. The Dutch are now known to be out, and we may
expect them every houre upon our coast. But our fleete is in pretty good
readinesse for them.
29th. Up, and within doors most of the morning, sending a porter
(Sanders) up and down to several people to pay them money to clear my
month’s debts every where, being mighty desirous to have all clear
so soon as I can, and to that end did so much in settling my Tangier
accounts clear. At noon dined, having first been down at Deptford and
did a little business there and back again. After dinner to White Hall
to a Committee of Tangier, but I come a little too late, they were up,
so I to several places about business, among others to Westminster Hall,
and there did meet with Betty Michell at her own mother’s shop. I would
fain have carried her home by water, but she was to sup at that end of
the town. So I away to White Hall, and thence, the Council being up,
walked to St. James’s, and there had much discourse with Sir W. Coventry
at his chamber, who I find quite weary of the warr, decries our having
any warr at all, or himself to have been any occasion of it, that he
hopes this will make us shy of any warr hereafter, or to prepare better
for it, believes that one overthrow on the Dutch side would make them
desire peace, and that one on ours will make us willing to accept of
one: tells me that Commissioner Pett is fallen infinitely under the
displeasure of the Prince and Duke of Albemarle, not giving them
satisfaction in the getting out of the fleete, and that the complaint he
believes is come to the King, and by Sir W. Coventry’s discourse I find
he do concur in it, and speaks of his having of no authority in the
place where he is, and I do believe at least it will end in his being
removed to some other yarde, and I am not sorry for it, but do fear that
though he deserves as bad, yet at this time the blame may not be so well
deserved. Thence home and to the office; where I met with a letter
from Dover, which tells me (and it did come by expresse) that newes
is brought over by a gentleman from Callice that the Dutch fleete, 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 6,000 men armed with head, back, and breast (Frenchmen) ready to
go on board the Dutch fleete, and will be followed by 12,000 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 towne
into the Castle to secure it. But I do think this is a ridiculous
conceit; but a little time will show. At night home to supper and to
bed,
30th. Up, and to the office, and mightily troubled all this morning with
going to my Lord Mayor (Sir Thomas Bludworth,
[As his conduct during the Great Fire fully proved, when he is said
to have boasted that he would extinguish the flames by the same
means to which Swift tells us Gulliver had recourse at Lilliput.--B.]
a silly man, I think), 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, he told me so himself; nor
to take up boats to carry them down through bridge to the ships I had
prepared to carry them down in; insomuch that I was forced to promise
to be his paymaster, and he did send his City Remembrancer afterwards to
the office, and at the table, in the face of the officers, I did there
out of my owne purse disburse L15 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, at noon dined and then to the
office again, and all the afternoon till twelve at night full of this
business and others, and among these others about the getting off men
pressed by our officers of the fleete into the service; even our owne
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 fleete, 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. Vexed with these things, but eased
in mind by my ridding of a great deale of business from the office, I
late home to supper and to bed. But before I was in bed, while I was
undressing myself, our new ugly mayde, Luce, had like to have broke her
necke in the darke, going down our upper stairs; but, which I was glad
of, the poor girle did only bruise her head, but at first did lie on the
ground groaning and drawing her breath, like one a-dying. This month
I end in much hurry of business, but in much more trouble in mind to
thinke what will become of publique businesses, having so many enemys
abroad, and neither force nor money at all, and but little courage
for ourselves, it being really true that the spirits of our seamen and
commanders too are really broke by the last defeate with the Dutch, and
this is not my conjecture only, but the real and serious thoughts of Sir
G. Carteret and Sir W. Coventry, whom I have at distinct times heard
the same thing come from with a great deale of grief and trouble. But,
lastly, I am providing against a foule day to get as much money into my
hands as I can, at least out of the publique hands, that so, if a turne,
which I fear, do come, I may have a little to trust to. I pray God give
me good successe in my choice how to dispose of what little I have, that
I may not take it out of publique hands, and put it into worse.