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