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y express that very night； being the Wednesday night before the fight； which begun on the Friday； and that for sending them by the post express； 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 talk 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 fleet； 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 Spraggewho 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 alonedid； as he believed； put on this business of dividing the fleet； and that thence it came。 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 fleet。 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 fleet 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 humours must break again。 He do not disowne but that the dividing of the fleet upon the presumptions that were then had （which； I suppose； was the French fleet being come this way；） was a good resolution。
25th。 News from Sir W。 Coventry that the Dutch are certainly come out。 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 ＇Robert Lord Brooke； ob。 1676。 Evelyn mentions this garden as Lady Brooke's。 Brooke House at Clapton； was lately occupied as a private madhouse。＇ 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 mightily 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。
26th。 In the morning come Mr。 Chichly ＇Mr。； afterwards Sir Thomas Chicheley； a Privy…Counsellor and Commissioner of the Ordnance。＇ to Sir W。 Coventry； to tell him the ill success 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。
27th。 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 seal by him。 And while it was hanging up； 〃This；〃 says Sir W。 Coventry； merrily； 〃is the use we make of our fathers。〃） 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。 I did this afternoon visit my Lord Bellasses； who professes all imaginable satisfaction in me。 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。 The Dutch are now known to be out； and we may expect them every hour upon our coast。 But our fleet is in pretty good readiness for them。
29th。 To the office； where I met with a letter from Dover； which tells me （and it did come by express） that news is brought over by a gentleman from Callice that the Dutch fleet； 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 6000 men armed with head； back； and breast； （Frenchmen） ready to go on board the Dutch fleet； and will be followed by 1200 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 town into the Castle to secure it。 But I do think this is a ridiculous conceit； but a little time will show。
30th。 Mightily troubled all this morning with going to my Lord Mayor； （Sir Thomas Bludworth； a silly man I think； ＇As his conduct during the Great Fire fully proved。＇） 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。 I did out of my own purse disburse 15l。 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； and about the getting off men pressed by our officers of the fleet into the service； even our own 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 fleet； 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。
July 1； 1666。 Comes Sir W。 Pen to town； which I little expected； having invited my Lady and her daughter Pegg to dine with me to… day； which at noon they did； and Sir W。 Pen with them： and pretty merry we were。 And though I do not love him； yet I find it necessary to keep in with him： his good service at Shearnesse in getting out the fleet being much taken notice of； and reported to the King and Duke； even from the Prince and Duke of Albemarle themselves； and made the most of to me and them by S