Books: The Diary of Samuel Pepys

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25th. A gentleman arrived here this day, Mr. Brown of St.
Maloes, among other things tells me the meaning of the setting
out of dogs every night out of the town walls, which are said to
secure the city: but it is not so, but only to secure the
anchors, cables, and ships that lie dry, which might otherwise in
the night be liable to be robbed. And these dogs are set out
every night, and called together in, every morning by a man with
a horne, and they go in very orderly.

29th. Home this evening, but with great trouble in the streets
by bonfires, it being the King's birth-day and day of
Restoration; but Lord! to see the difference how many there were
on the other side, and so few ours, the City side of the Temple,
would make one wonder the difference between the temper of one
sort of people and the other: and the difference among all
between what they do now, and what it was the night when Monk
came into the City. Such a night as that I never think to see
again, nor think it can be.

30th. I find the Duke gone out with the King to-day on hunting.

31st. A public Fast-day appointed to pray for the good success
of the fleet. But it is a pretty thing to consider how little a
matter they make of this keeping of a Fast, that it was not so
much as declared time enough to be read in the churches, the last
Sunday; but ordered by proclamation since: I suppose upon some
sudden news of the Dutch being come out. As to public business;
by late tidings of the French fleet being come to Rochell, (how
true, though, I know not) our fleet is divided; Prince Rupert
being gone with about thirty ships to the Westward as is
conceived to meet the French, to hinder their coming to join with
the Dutch. My Lord Duke of Albemarle lies in the Downes with the
rest, and intends presently to sail to the Gunfleete.

June 2, 1666. Up, and to the office, where certain news is
brought us of a letter come to the King this morning from the
Duke of Albemarle, dated yesterday at eleven o'clock, as they
were sailing to the Gunfleete, that they were in sight of the
Dutch fleet, and were fitting themselves to fight them; so that
they are ere this certainly engaged: besides, several do averr
they heard the guns yesterday in the afternoon. This put us at
the Board into a tosse. Presently come orders for our sending
away to the fleet a recruite of 200 soldiers. So I rose from the
table, and to the Victualling-office, and thence upon the River
among several vessels, to consider of the sending them away; and
lastly, down to Greenwich, and there appointed two yachts to be
ready for them; and did order the soldiers to march to
Blackewall. Having set all things in order against the next
flood, I went on shore with Captain Erwin at Greenwich, and into
the parke, and there: we could hear the guns from the fleete
most plainly. We walked to the water-side, and there seeing the
King and Duke come down in their barge to Greenwich-house, I to
them, and did give them an account what I was doing. They went
up to the park to hear the guns of the fleet go off. All our
hopes now are that Prince Rupert with his fleet is coming back
and will be with the fleet this even: a message being sent to
him for that purpose on Wednesday last; and a return is come from
him this morning, that he did intend to sail from St. Ellen's
point about four in the afternoon yesterday; which gives us great
hopes, the wind being very fair, that he is with them this even,
and the fresh going off of the guns makes us believe the same.
Down to Blackewall, and there saw the soldiers (who were by this
time gotten most of them drunk) shipped off. But, Lord! to see
how the poor fellows kissed their wives and sweet-hearts in that
simple manner at their going off, and shouted, and let off their
guns, was strange sport. In the evening come up the River the
Katharine yacht, Captain Fazeby, who hath brought over my Lord of
Alesbury [Robert Bruce, created Earl of Aylesbury, 1663. Ob.
1685.] and Sir Thomas Liddall [Of Ravensworth Castle, Durham,
succeeded his grandfather, the first Baronet, 1650. He had three
daughters. Ob. 1697.] (with a very pretty daughter, and in a
pretty travelling-dress) from Flanders, who saw the Dutch fleet
on Thursday, and ran from them; but from that hour to this hath
not heard one gun, nor any news of any fight. Having put the
soldiers on board, I home.

3rd (Lord's-day; Whit-sunday). Up; and by water to White Hall,
and there met with Mr. Coventry, who tells me the only news from
the fleet is brought by Captain Elliott, of the Portland, which,
by being run on board by the Guernsey, was disabled from staying
abroad: so is come in to Albrough. That he saw one of the Dutch
great ships blown up, and three on fire. That they begun to
fight on Friday; and at his coming into port, could make another
ship of the King's coming in, which he judged to be the Rupert:
that he knows of no other hurt to our ships. With this good news
I home by water again. The Exchange as full of people, and hath
been all this noon as of any other day, only for news. To White
Hall, and there met with this bad news farther, that the Prince
come to Dover but at ten o'clock last night, and there heard
nothing of a fight; so that we are defeated of all our hopes of
his help to the fleet. It is also reported by some Victuallers
that the Duke of Albemarle and Holmes [Sir Robert Holmes.] their
flags were shot down, and both fain to come to anchor to renew
their rigging and sails. A letter is also come this afternoon,
from Harman in the Henery; which states, that she was taken by
Elliott for the Rupert; that being fallen into the body of the
Dutch fleet, he made his way through them, was set on by three
fire-ships one after another, got two of them off, and disabled
the third; was set on fire himself; upon which many of his men
leapt into the sea and perished; among others, the parson first.
Have lost above 100 men, and a good many women, (God knows what
is become of Balty [Balthazar St. Michel, Mrs. Pepys's brother,
employed in the office for sick and hurt at Deal afterwards, and
in 1686 Commissioner at Woolwich and Deptford.] ) and at last
quenched his own fire and got to Albrough; being, as all say, the
greatest hazard that ever any ship escaped, and so bravely
managed by him. The mast of the third fire ship fell into their
ship on fire, and hurt Harman's leg, which makes him lame now,
but not dangerous. I to Sir G. Carteret, who told me there hath
been great bad management in all this; that the King's orders
that went on Friday for calling back the Prince, were sent but by
the ordinary post on Wednesday; and come to the Prince his hands
but on Friday; and then, instead of sailing presently, he stays
till four in the evening. And that which is worst of all, the
Hampshire, laden with merchants' money, come from the Straights,
set out with or but just before the fleet, and was in the Downes
by five in the clock yesterday morning; and the Prince with his
fleet come to Dover but at ten of the clock at night. This is
hard to answer, if it be true. This puts great astonishment into
the King, and Duke, and Court, every body being out of
countenance. Home by the 'Change, which is full of people still,
and all talk highly of the failure of the Prince in not making
more haste after his instructions did come, and of our
managements here in not giving it sooner and with more care and
oftener.

4th. To White Hall, where, when we come, we find the Duke at St.
James's, whither he is lately gone to lodge. So walking through
the Park we saw hundreds of people listening at the Gravell-pits,
and to and again in the Park to hear the guns. I saw a letter,
dated last night, from Strowd, Governor of Dover Castle, which
sags that the Prince come thither the night before with his
fleet; but that for the guns which we writ that we heard, it is
only a mistake for thunder; and so far as to yesterday it is a
miraculous thing that we all Friday, and Saturday and yesterday,
did hear every where most plainly the guns go off, and yet at
Deal and Dover to last night they did not hear one word of a
fight, nor think they heard one gun. This, added to what I have
set down before the other day about the Katharine, makes room for
a great dispute in philosophy, how we should hear it and they
not, the same wind that brought it to us being the same that
should bring it to them: but so it is. Major Halsey, however,
(He was sent down on purpose to hear news) did bring news this
morning that he did see the Prince and his fleet at nine of the
clock yesterday morning, four or five leagues to sea behind the
Goodwin, so that by the hearing of the guns this morning, we
conclude he is come to the fleet. After wayting upon the Duke
with Sir W. Pen, (who was commanded to go to-night by water down
to Harwich, to dispatch away all the ships he can,) I home:
where no sooner come, but news is brought me of a couple of men
come to speak with me from the fleet; so I down, and who should
it be but Mr. Daniel, all muffled up, and his face as black as
the chimney, and covered with dirt, pitch, and tar, and powder,
and muffled with dirty clouts, and his right eye stopped with
okum. He is come last night; at five o'clock from the fleet,
with a comrade of his that hath endangered another eye. They
were set on shore at Harwich this morning, and at two o'clock, in
a catch with about twenty more wounded men from the Royall
Charles. They being able to ride, took post about three this
morning, and were here between eleven and twelve. I went
presently into the coach with them, and carried them to Somerset-
House-stairs, and there took water (all the world gazing upon us,
and concluding it to be news from the fleet, and every body's
face appeared expecting of news,) to the Privy-stairs, and left
them at Mr. Coventry's lodgings (he, though, not being there);
and so I into the Park to the King, and told him my Lord Generall
was well the last night at five o'clock, and the Prince come with
his fleet and joyned with his about seven. The King was mightily
pleased with this news, and so took me by the hand and talked a
little of it, giving him the best account I could; and then he
bid me to fetch the two seamen to him, he walking into the house.
So I went and fetched the seamen into the same room to him, and
there he heard the whole account.

THE FIGHT.

How we found the Dutch fleet at anchor on Friday half seas over,
between Dunkirke and Ostend, and made them let slip their
anchors. They about ninety, and we less than sixty. We fought
them, and put them to the run, till they met with about sixteen
sail of fresh ships, and so bore up again. The fight continued
till night, and then again the next morning from five till seven
at night. And so, too, yesterday morning they begun again, and
continued till about four o'clock, they chasing us for the most
part of Saturday, and yesterday we flying from them. The Duke
himself and then those people who were put into the catch, by and
by spied the Prince's fleet coming, upon which De Ruyter called a
little council, (being in chase at this time of us,) and
thereupon their fleet divided into two squadrons; forty in one,
and about thirty in the other (the fleet being at first about
ninety, but by one accident or other, supposed to be lessened to
about seventy); the bigger to follow the Duke, the less to meet
the Prince. But the Prince come up with the Generall's fleet,
and the Dutch come together again and bore towards their own
coast, and we with them; and now what the consequence of this day
will be, we know not. The Duke was forced to come to anchor on
Friday, having lost his sails and rigging. No particular person
spoken of to be hurt but Sir W. Clerke, who hath lost his leg,
and bore it bravely. The Duke himself had a little hurt in his
thigh, but signified little. The King did pull out of his pocket
about twenty pieces in gold, and did give it Daniel for himself
and his companion; and so parted, mightily pleased with the
account he did give him of the fight, and the success it ended
with, of the Prince's coming, though it seems the Duke did give
way again and again. The King did give order for care to be had
of Mr. Daniel and his companion; and so we parted from him, and
then met the Duke of York, and gave him the same account: and so
broke up, and I left them going to the surgeon's. To the Crown,
behind the 'Change, and there supped at the club with my Lord
Brouncker, Sir G. Ent, and others of Gresham College; and all our
discourse is of this fight at sea, and all are doubtful of the
success, and conclude all had been lost if the Prince had not
come in, they having chased us the greatest part of Saturday and
Sunday. Thence with my Lord Brouncker and Creed by coach to
White Hall, where fresh letters are come from Harwich, where the
Gloucester, Captain Clerke, is come in, and says that on Sunday
night upon coming in of the Prince, the Duke did fly; but all
this day they have been fighting; therefore they did face again
to be sure. Captain Bacon of the Bristoll is killed. They cry
up Jenings of the Ruby, and Saunders of the Sweepstakes. They
condemn mightily Sir Thomas Teddiman for a coward, but with what
reason time must show.

5th. At noon, though I should have dined with my Lord Mayor and
Aldermen at an entertainment of Commissioner Taylor's, yet it
being a time of expectation of the success of the fleet, I did
not go. No manner of news this day, but of the Rainbow's being
put in from the fleet maimed as the other ships are.

6th. By and by walking a little further, Sir Philip Frowde
[Secretary to the Duchess of York.] did meet the Duke with an
express to Sir W. Coventry (who was by) from Captain Taylor, the
Storekeeper at Harwich, being the narration of Captain Hayward of
the Dunkirke; who gives a very serious account, how upon Monday
the two fleets fought all day till seven at night, and then the
whole fleet of Dutch did betake themselves to a very plain
flight, and never looked back again. That Sir Christopher Mings
is wounded in the leg; that the Generall is well. That it is
conceived reasonably, that of all the Dutch fleet, which, with
what recruits they had, come to one hundred sail, there is not
above fifty got home; and of them, few if any of their flags.
And that little Captain Bell, in one of the fire-ships, did at
the end of the day fire a ship of 70 guns. We were also so
overtaken with this good news, that the Duke ran with it to the
King, who was gone to chapel, and there all the Court was in a
hubbub, being rejoiced over head and ears in this good news.
Away go I by coach to the new Exchange, and there did spread this
good news a little, though I find it had broke out before. And
so home to our own church, it being the common Fast-day, and it
was just before sermon; but, Lord! how all the people in the
church stared upon me to see me whisper to Sir John Minnes and my
Lady Pen. Anon I saw people stirring and whispering below, and
by and by comes up the sexton from my Lady Ford to tell me the
news, (which I had brought) being now sent into the church by Sir
W. Batten in writing, and passed from pew to pew. But that which
pleased me as much as the news, was, to have the fair Mrs.
Middleton at our church, who indeed is a very beautiful lady.
Idled away the whole night till twelve at night at the bonfire in
the streets. Some of the people thereabouts going about with
musquets, and did give me two or three vollies of their musquets,
I giving them a crown to drink; and so home. Mightily pleased
with this happy day's news, and the more, because confirmed by
Sir Daniel Harvy, [Ranger of Richmond Park.] who was in the
whole fight with the Generall, and tells me that there appear but
thirty-six in all of the Dutch fleet left at the end of the
voyage when they run home. The joy of the City was this night
exceeding great.

7th. Up betimes, and to my office about business, (Sir W.
Coventry having sent me word that he is gone down to the fleet to
see how matters stand, and to be back again speedily); and with
the same expectation of congratulating ourselves with the victory
that I had yesterday. But my Lord Brouncker and Sir T. H.
[Probably Sir Thomas Harvey.] that come from court, tell me the
contrary news, which astonishes me: that is to say, that we are
beaten, lost many ships and good commanders; have not taken one
ship of the enemy's; and so can only report ourselves a victory:
nor is it certain that we were left masters of the field. But,
above all, that the Prince run on shore upon the Galloper, and
there stuck; was endeavoured to be fetched off by the Dutch, but
could not; and so they burned her; and Sir G. Ascue is taken
prisoner, and carried into Holland. This news do much trouble
me, and the thoughts of the ill consequences of it, and the pride
and presumption that brought us to it. At noon to the 'Change,
and there find the discourse of town, and their countenances much
changed; but yet not very plain. By and by comes Mr. Wayth to
me; and discoursing of our ill success, he tells me plainly from
Captain Page's own mouth, (who hath lost his arm in the fight,)
that the Dutch did pursue us two hours before they left us, and
then they suffered us to go on homewards, and they retreated
towards their coast: which is very sad news. The Duke much
damped. In his discourse, touching the late fight, and all the
Court talk sadly of it. The Duke did give me several letters he
had received from the fleet, and Sir W. Coventry and Sir W. Pen,
who are gone down thither, for me to pick out some works to be
done for the setting out the fleet again; and so I took them home
with me, and was drawing out an abstract of them till midnight.
And as to news, I do find great reason to think that we are
beaten in every respect, and that we are the losers. The Prince
upon the Galloper, where both the Royall Charles and Royall
Katharine had come twice aground, but got off. The Essex carried
into Holland; the Swiftsure missing (Sir W. Barkeley) ever since
the beginning of the fight. Captains Bacon, Tearne, Wood,
Mootham, Whitty, and Coppin, slayne. The Duke of Albemarle
writes, that he never fought with worse officers in his life, not
above twenty of them behaving themselves like men. Sir William
Clerke lost his leg; and in two days died. The Loyall George,
Seven Oakes, and Swiftsure, are still missing, having never, as
the Generall writes himself, engaged with them. It was as great
an alteration to find myself required to write a sad letter
instead of a triumphant one, to my Lady Sandwich this night, as
ever on any occasion I had in my life.

8th. To my very great joy I find Balty come home without any
hurt, after the utmost imaginable danger he hath gone through in
the Henery, being upon the quarter-deck with Harman all the time;
and for which service, Harman I heard this day commended most
seriously and most eminently by the Duke of York. As also the
Duke did do most utmost right to Sir Thomas Teddiman, of whom a
scandal was raised, but without cause, he having behaved himself
most eminently brave all the whole fight, and to extraordinary
great service and purpose, having given Trump himself such a
broadside as was hardly ever given to any ship. Mings is shot
through the face, and into the shoulder, where the bullet is
lodged. Young Holmes is also ill-wounded, and Atber in the
Rupert. Balty tells me the case of the Henery; and it was,
indeed, most extraordinary sad and desperate. After dinner Balty
and I to my office, and there talked a great deal of this fight;
and I am mightily pleased in him, and have great content in, and
hopes of his doing well. Thence out to White Hall to a Committee
for Tangier, but it met not. But, Lord! to see how melancholy
the Court is, under the thoughts of this last overthrow, (for so
it is,) instead of a victory, so much and so unreasonably
expected. We hear the Swiftsure, Sir W. Barkeley, is come in
safe to the Nowre, after her being absent ever since the
beginning of the fight, wherein she did not appear at all from
beginning to end.

9th. The Court is divided about the Swiftsure and the Essex's
being safe. And wagers and odds laid on both sides. Sir W.
Coventry is come to town; so I to his chamber. But I do not hear
that he is at all pleased or satisfied with the late fight; but
he tells me more news of our suffering, by the death of one or
two captains more than I knew before. But he do give over the
thoughts of the safety of the Swiftsure or Essex.

10th. I met with Pierce the surgeon, who is lately come from the
fleet, and tells me that all the commanders, officers, and even
the common seamen do condemn every part of the late conduct of
the Duke of Albemarle; both in his fighting at all, running among
them in his retreat, and running the ships on ground; so as
nothing can be worse spoken of. That Holmes, Spragg, and Smith
do all the business, and the old and wiser commanders nothing.
So as Sir Thomas Teddiman (whom the King and all the world speak
well of) is mightily discontented, as being wholly slighted. He
says we lost more after the Prince came, than before too. The
Prince was so maimed, as to be forced to be towed home. He says
all the fleet confess their being chased home by the Dutch; and
yet the body of the Dutch that did it, was not above forty sail
at most. And yet this put us into the fright, as to bring all
our ships on ground. He says, however, that the Duke of
Albemarle is as high almost as ever, and pleases himself to think
that he hath given the Dutch their bellies full, without sense of
what he hath lost us; and talks how he knows now the way to beat
them. But he says, that even Smith himself, one of his
creatures, did himself condemn the late conduct from the
beginning to the end. He tells me further, how the Duke of York
is wholly given up to his new mistress, my Lady Denham, [Miss
Brookes, a relative of the Earl of Bristol, married to Sir J.
Denham, frequently mentioned in the "Memoires de Grammont."]
going at noonday with all his gentlemen with him, to visit her in
Scotland Yard; she declaring she will not be his mistress, as
Mrs. Price, to go up and down the Privy-stairs, but will be owned
publicly; and so she is. Mr. Brouncker, [Henry Brouncker,
younger brother to Lord Brouncker, whom he succeeded in his
title. He was Groom of the Bed-chamber to the Duke of York, and
a famous chess-player.] it seems, was the pimp to bring it
about, and my Lady Castlemaine, who designs thereby to fortify
herself by the Duke; there being a falling-out the other day
between the King and her: on this occasion, the Queene, in
ordinary talk before the ladies in her drawing-room, did say to
my Lady Castlemaine that she feared the King did take cold, by
staying so late abroad at her house. She answered before them
all, that he did not stay so late abroad with her, for he went
betimes thence, (though he do not before one, two, or three in
the morning,) but must stay somewhere else. The King then coming
in and overhearing, did whisper in the eare aside, and told her
she was a bold impertinent woman, and bid her to be gone out of
the Court, and not to come again till he sent for her; which she
did presently, and went to a lodging in the Pell Mell, and kept
there two or three days, and then sent to the King to know
whether she might send for her things away out of her house. The
King went to her, she must first come and view them: and so she
come, and the King went to her, and all friends again. He tells
me she did, in her anger, say she would be even with the King,
and print his letters to her. So putting all together, we are
and are like to be in a sad condition. We are endeavouring to
raise money by borrowing it of the City; but I do not think the
City will lend a farthing. Sir G. Carteret and I walked an hour
in the church-yard, under Henry the Seventh's Chapel, he being
lately come from the fleet; and tells me, as I hear from every
body else, that the management in the late fight was bad from
top to bottom. That several said that this would not have been
if my Lord Sandwich had had the ordering of it. Nay, he tells me
that certainly had my Lord Sandwich had the misfortune to have
done as they have done, the King could not have saved him. There
is, too, nothing but discontent among the officers; and all the
old experienced men are slighted. He tells me to my question,
(but as a great secret,) that the dividing of the fleet did
proceed first from a proposition from the fleet, though agreed to
hence. But he confesses it arose from want of due intelligence.
He do, however, call the fleet's retreat on Sunday a very
honourable one, and that the Duke of Albemarle did do well in it,
and would have been well if he had done it sooner, rather than
venture the loss of the fleet and crown, as he must have done if
the Prince had not come. He was surprised when I told him I
heard that the King did intend to borrow some money of the City,
and would know who had spoke of it to me; I told him Sir Ellis
Layton this afternoon. He says it is a dangerous discourse, for
that the City certainly will not be invited to do it, and then
for the King to ask it and be denied, will be the beginning of
our sorrow. He seems to fear we shall all fall to pieces among
ourselves. This evening we hear that Sir Christopher Mings is
dead of his late wounds; and Sir W. Coventry did commend him to
me in a most extraordinary manner. But this day, after three
days' trial in vain, and the hazard of the spoiling of the ship
in lying till next spring, besides the disgrace of it, news is
brought that the Loyall London is launched at Deptford.