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19th。 Comes an order from Sir R。 Browne； commanding me this afternoon to attend the Council…board with all my books and papers； touching the Medway。 I was ready to fear some mischief to myself； though it appears most reasonable that it is to inform them about Commissioner Pett。 I am called in to a large Committee of the Council： present； the Duke of Albemarle； Anglesy； Arlington； Ashly； Carteret； Duncomb； Coventry； Ingram； Clifford； Lauderdale； Morrice； Manchester； Craven； Carlisle； Bridgewater。 ＇John； second Earl of Bridgewater； Ob。 1686。＇ And after Sir W。 Coventry's telling them what orders his Royal Highness had made for the safety of the Medway； I told them to their full content what we had done； and showed them our letters。 Then was Peter Pett called in； with the Lieutenant of the Tower。 He is in his old clothes； and looked most sillily。 His charge was chiefly the not carrying up of the great ships； and the using of the boats in carrying away his goods； to which he answered very sillily； though his faults to me seem only great omissions。 Lord Arlington and Coventry very severe against him； the former saying that； if he was not guilty the world would think them all guilty。 The latter urged； that there must be some faults； and that the Admiral must be found to have done his part。 I did say an unhappy word； which I was sorry for； when he complained of want of oares for the boats： and there was； it seems； enough； and good enough； to carry away all the boats with from the King's occasions。 He said he used never a boat till they were all gone but one； and that was to carry away things of great value； and these were his models of ships； which； when the Council； some of them； had said they wished that the Dutch had had them instead of the King's ships； he answered； he did believe the Dutch would have made more advantage of the models than of the ships； and that the King had had greater loss thereby： this they all laughed at。 After having heard him for an hour or more； they bid him withdraw。 He being gone； they caused Sir Richard Browne to read over his minutes； and then my Lord Arlington moved that they might be put into my hands to put into form； I being more acquainted with such business； and they were so。 So I away back with my books and papers； and when I got into the Court it was pretty to see how people gazed upon me； that I thought myself obliged to salute people and to smile； lest they should think I was a prisoner too： but afterwards I found that most did take me to be there to bear evidence against P。 Pett。 My wife did give me so bad an account of her and my father's method in burying of our gold； that made me mad： and she herself is not pleased with it； she believing that my sister knows of it。 My father and she did it on Sunday； when they were gone to church； in open daylight； in the midst of the garden； where； for aught they knew； many eyes might see them： which put me into trouble； and presently cast about how to have it back again to secure it here； the times being a little better now。
20th。 Mr。 Barber told me that all the discourse yesterday； about that part of the town where he was； was that Mr。 Pett and I were in the Tower； and I did hear the same before。 Busy all the afternoon： in the evening did treat with； and in the end agree； but by some kind of compulsion； with the owners of six merchant… ships； to serve the King as men…of…war。 But； Lord！ to see how against the hair it is with these men； and everybody； to trust us and the King； and how unreasonable it is to expect they should be willing to lend their ships； and lay out 2 or 300l。 a man to fit their ships for the new voyages； when we have not paid them half of what we owe them for their old services！ I did write so to Sir W。 Coventry this night。
21st。 This day comes news from Harwich that the Dutch fleet are all in sight； near 100 sail great and small； they think； coming towards them； where； they think； they shall be able to oppose them； but do cry out of the falling back of the seamen； few standing by them； and those with much faintness。 The like they write from Portsmouth； and their letters this post are worth reading。 Sir H。 Cholmly come to me this day； and tells me the Court is as mad as ever； and that the night the Dutch burned our ships the King did sup with my Lady Castlemaine； at the Duchesse of Monmouth's； and there were all mad in hunting of a poor moth。 All the Court afraid of a Parliament； but he thinks nothing can save us but the King's giving up all to a Parliament。
22nd。 In the evening come Captain Hart and Hayward to me about the six merchant…ships now taken up for men…of…war； and in talking they told me about the taking of 〃The Royal Charles；〃 that nothing but carelessness lost the ship； for they might have saved her the very tide that the Dutch came up； if they would have but used means and had had but boats； and that the want of boats plainly lost all the other ships。 That the Dutch did take her with a boat of nine men； who found not a man on board her； （and her laying so near them was a main temptation to them to come on；） and presently a man went up and struck her flag and jacke； and a trumpeter sounded upon her 〃Joan's placket is torn：〃 ＇Placket： the open part of a woman's petticoat。＇ that they did carry her down at a time； both for tides and wind； when the best pilot in Chatham would not have undertaken it； they heeling her on one side to make her draw little water： and so carried her away safe。 They being gone； by and by comes Sir W。 Pen； who hath been at Court； and in the first place I hear the Duke of Cambridge is dead； which is a great loss to the nation； having； I think； never an heyre male now of the King's or Duke's to succeed to the Crown。 He tells me that they do begin already to damn the Dutch and call them cowards at White Hall； and think of them and their business no better than they used to do； which is very sad。 The King did tell him himself； （which is so； I was told； here in the City；） that the City hath lent him 10；000l。 to be laid out towards securing of the River of Thames； which； methinks； is a very poor thing； that we should be induced to borrow by such mean sums。
23rd。 To Woolwich； and there called on Mr。 Bodham： and he and I to see the batterys newly raised； which； indeed； are good works to command the River below the ships that are sunk； but not above them。 It is a sad sight to see so many good ships there sunk in the River； while we would be thought to be masters of the sea。 Cocke says the bankers cannot； till peace returns； ever hope to have credit again； so that they can pay no more money； but people must be contented to take publick security such as they can give them； and if so； and they do live to receive the money thereupon； the bankers will be happy men； Fenn read me an Order of Council passed the 17th instant； directing all the Treasurers of any part of the King's revenue to make no payments but such as shall be approved by the present Lords Commissioners； which will； I think； spoil the credit of all his Majesty's service； when people cannot depend upon payment any where。 But the King's declaration in behalf of the bankers； to make good their assignments for money； is very good； and will； I hope； secure me。 Cocke says； that he hears it is come to it now that the King will try what he can soon do for a peace； and if he cannot； that then he will cast all upon the Parliament to do as they see fit： and in doing so； perhaps； it may save us all。 The King of France； it is believed； is engaged for this year； so that we shall be safe as to him。 The great misery the City and kingdom is like to suffer for want of coals in a little time is very visible； and； is feared； will breed a mutiny； for we are not in any prospect to command the sea for our colliers to come； but rather； it is feared； the Dutch may go and burn all our colliers at Newcastle； though others do say that they lie safe enough there。 No news at all of late from Bredagh what our treaters do。 In the evening comes Mr。 Povy about business； and he and I to walk in the garden an hour or two； and to talk of State matters。 He tells me his opinion that it is out of possibility for us to escape being undone；