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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