hat 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。
11th。 I with my Lady Pen and her daughter to see Harman； whom we find lame in bed。 His bones of his ancle are broke； but he hopes to do well soon； and a fine person by his discourse he seems to be： and he did plainly tell me that at the Council of War before the fight； it was against his reason to begin the fight then； and the reasons of most sober men there； the wind being such； and we to windward； that they could not use their lower tier of guns。 Late comes Sir Jo。 Bankes to see me； who tells me that coming up from Rochester he overtook three or four hundred seamen； and he believes every day they come flocking from the fleet in like numbers； which is a sad neglect there； when it will be impossible to get others； and we have little reason to think these will return presently again。 Walking in the galleries at White Hall； I find the Ladies of Honour dressed in their riding garbs； with coats and doublets with deep skirts； just for all the world like mine； and buttoned their doublets up the breast； with perriwigs and with hats； so that； only for a long petticoat dragging under their men's coats； nobody could take them for women in any point whatever； which was an odde sight； and a sight did not please me。 It was Mrs。 Wells and another fine lady that I saw thus。
13th。 Sir H。 C。 Cholmly ＇Sir Hugh Cholmely of Whitby； Yorkshire； Bart。； was employed in constructing the Mole at Tangier； and resided there some years。 Ob。 1688。＇ tells me there are great jarrs between the Duke of York and the Duke of Albemarle； about the latter's turning out one or two of the commanders put in by the Duke of York。 Among others； Captain Du Tell； a Frenchman； put in by the Duke of York； and mightily defended by him； and is therein led by Monsieur Blancford； that it seems hath the same command over the Duke of York as Sir W。 Coventry hath； which raises ill blood between them。 And I do in several little things observe that Sir W。 Coventry hath of late； by the by； reflected on the Duke of Albemarle and his captains； particularly in that of old Teddiman； who did deserve to be turned out this fight； and was so； but I heard Sir W。 Coventry say that the Duke of Albemarle put in one as bad as he in his room； and one that did as little。 Invited to Sir Christopher Mings's funeral； but find them gone to church。 However I into the church （which is a fair large church； and a great chapel） and there heard the service； and staid till they buried him； and then out。 And there met with Sir W。 Coventry （who was there out of great generosity； and no person of quality there but he） and went with him into his coach； and being in it with him there happened this extraordinary case； one of the most romantique that ever I heard in my life； and could not have believed； but that I did see it； which was this。 About a dozen able； lusty； proper men come to the coach…side with tears in their eyes； and one of them that spoke for the rest begun and said to Sir W。 Coventry； 〃We are here a dozen of us； that have long known and loved； and served our dead commander； Sir Christopher Mings； and have now done the last office of laying him in the ground。 We would be glad we had any other to offer after him； and in revenge of him。 All we have is our lives； if you will please to get His Royal Highness to give us a fire…ship among us all； here are a dozen of us； out of all which choose you one to be commander； and the rest of us； whoever he is； will serve him； and； if possible； do that which shall show our memory of our dead commander； and our revenge。〃 Sir W。 Coventry was herewith much moved； （as well as I； who could hardly abstain from weeping；） and took their names； and so parted； telling me that he would move his Royal Highness as in a thing very extraordinary。 The truth is； Sir Christopher Mings was a very stout man； and a man of great parts； and most excellent tongue among ordinary men： and as Sir W。 Coventry says； could have been the most useful man at such a pinch of time as this。 He was come into great renowne here at home； and more abroad in the West Indys。 He had brought his family into a way of being great； but dying at this time； his memory and name （his father being always and at this day a shoemaker； and his mother a hoyman's daughter； of which he was used frequently to boast） will be quite forgot in a few months as if he had never been； nor any of his name be the better by it； he having not had time to will any estate； but is dead poor rather than rich。 So we left the church and crowd。
14th。 With my wife and father to Hales's； and there looked only on my father's picture； （which is mighty like）； and so away to White Hall to a committee for Tangier。 Where the Duke of York was； and Sir W。 Coventry； and a very full committee： and instead of having a very prejudiced meeting； they did； though inclined against Yeabsly； yield to the greatest part of his account； so as to allow of his demands to the value of 7000l。 and more； and only give time for him to make good his pretence to the rest； which was mighty joy to me： and so we rose up。 But I must observe the force of money； which did make my Lord Ashly to argue and behave himself in the business with the greatest friendship； and yet with all the discretion imaginable； and it will be a business of admonition and instruction to me concerning him （and other men； too； for aught I know） as long as I live。
16th。 The King； Duke of York； and Sir W。 Coventry are gone down to the fleet。 It seems the Dutch do mightily insult of their victory； and they have great reason。 Sir William Barkeley was killed before his ship taken； and there he lies dead in a sugar… chest； for every body to see； with his flag standing up by him。 And Sir George Ascue is carried up and down the Hague for people to see。
18th。 Sir W。 Coventry is returned this night from the fleet； he being the activest man； in the world； and we all （myself particularly） more afraid of him than of the King or his service； for aught I see； God forgive us！ This day the great news is come of the French； their taking the island of St。 Christopher from us； and it is to be feared they have done the like of all those islands thereabouts： this makes me mad。
19th。 I to Sir G。 Carteret's by appointment； where I perceive by him the King is going to borrow some money of the