k…houses； which I took then to be a ridiculous thing。 I find the town had removed most of their goods out of the town； for fear of the Dutch coming up to them； and from Sir John Griffen； that last night there was not twelve men to be got in the town to defend it： which the master of the house tells me is not true； but that the men of the town did intend to stay； though they did indeed； and so had he （at the Ship；） removed their goods。 Thence went to an Ostend man…of…war just now come up； who met the Dutch fleet； who took three ships that he came convoying hither from him： says they are as low as the Nore； or thereabouts。
11th。 Brouncker come to us； who is just now going to Chatham upon a desire of Commissioner Pett's； who is very fearful of the Dutch； and desires help for God and the King and kingdom's sake。 So Brouncker goes down； and Sir J。 Minnes also from Gravesend。 This morning Pett writes us word that Sheerenesse is lost last night； after two or three hours' dispute。 The enemy hath possessed himself of that place； which is very sad； and puts us into great fears of Chatham。 Home； and there to our business； hiring some fire…ships； and receiving every hour almost letters from Sir W。 Coventry； calling for more fire…ships： and an order from Council to enable us to take any man's ships； and Sir W。 Coventry； in his letter to us； says he do not； doubt but at this time （under an invasion； as he owns it to be） the King may by law take any man's goods。 At this business late； and then home； where a great deal of serious talk with my wife about the sad state we are in； and especially from the beating up of drums this night for the train…bands upon pain of death to appear in arms to…morrow morning； with bullet and powder； and money to supply themselves with victuals for a fortnight： which； considering the soldiers drawn out to Chatham and elsewhere； looks as if they had a design to ruin the City and give it up to be undone； which； I hear； makes the sober citizens to think very sadly of things。
12th。 Up very betimes to our business at the office； their hiring of more fire…ships； and at it close all the morning。 At noon home； and Sir W。 Pen dined with us。 By and by after dinner my wife out by coach to see her mother； and I in another （being afraid at this busy time to be seen with a woman in a coach； as if I were idle） towards The。 Turner's： but met Sir W。 Coventry's boy； and there in a letter find that； the Dutch had made no motion since their taking Sheerenesse； and the Duke of Albemarle writes that all is safe as to the great ships against any assault； the bomb and chaine being so fortified： which put my heart into great joy。 When I come to Sir W。 Coventry's chamber； I find him abroad； but his clerk； Powell； do tell me that ill news is come to Court of the Dutch breaking the Chaine at Chatham； which struck me to the heart。 And to White Hall to hear the truth of it； and there going up the Park…stairs I did hear some lacquies speaking of sad news come to Court； saying； there is hardly any body in the Court but do look as if he cried。 I met Roger Pepys； newly come out of the country： in discourse he told me that his grandfather； my great grandfather； had 800l。 per annum in Queene Elizabeth's time in the very town of Cottenham； and that we did certainly come out of Scotland with the Abbot of Crowland。 Home； where all our hearts do now ake； for the news is true that the Dutch have broke the chaine and burned our ships； and particularly 〃The Royal Charles：〃 other particulars I know not； but it is said to be so。 And the truth is I do fear so much that the whole kingdom is undone； that I do this night resolve to study with my father and wife what to do with the little that I have in money by me； for I give all the rest that I have in the King's hands for Tangier for lost。 So God help us！ and God knows what disorders we may fall into； and whether any violence on this office； or perhaps some severity on our persons； as being reckoned by the silly people； or perhaps may by policy of State be thought fit to be condemned by the King and Duke of York； and so put to trouble； though； God knows I have in my own person done my full duty； I am sure。
13th。 No sooner up but hear the sad news confirmed of the Royal Charles being taken by them； and now in fitting by them； （which Pett should have carried up higher by our several orders； and deserves therefore to be hanged for not doing it；） and burning several others； and that another fleet is come up into the Hope。 Upon which news the King and Duke of York have been below since four o'clock in the morning； to command the sinking of ships at Barking…Creeke and other places； to stop their coming up higher： which put me into such a fear； that I presently resolved of my father's and wife's going into the country； and at two hours' warning they did go by the coach this day； with about 1300l。 in gold in their night…bag。 Pray God give them good passage； and good care to hide it when they come home！ but my heart is full of fear。 They gone； I continued in frights and fear what to do with the rest。 W。 Hewer hath been at the banker's； and hath got 500l。 out of Blackwell's hands of his own money； but they are so called upon that they will be all broke； hundreds coming to them for money： and they answer him； 〃It is payable at twenty days when the days are out we will pay you；〃 and those that are not so they make tell over their money； and make their bags false on purpose to give cause to retell it； and so spend time。 I cannot have my 200 pieces or gold again for silver； all being bought up last night that were to be had； and sold for 24 and 25s。 a…piece。 Every minute some one or other calls for this or that order； and so I forced to be at the office most of the day about the fire… ships which are to be suddenly fitted out。 And it's a most strange thing that we hear nothing from any of my brethren at Chatham： so that we are wholly in the dark； various being the reports of what is done there； insomuch； that I sent Mr。 Clapham express thither to see how matters go。 I did about noon resolve to send Mr。 Gibson away after my wife with another 1000 pieces； under colour of an express to Sir Jeremy Smith； who is； as I hear； with some ships at Newcastle； which I did really send to him； and may possibly prove of good use to the King； for it is possible in the hurry of business they may not think of it at Court； and the charge of express is not considerable to the King。 The King and Duke of York up and down all the day here and there： some time on Tower Hill； where the City militia was； where the King did make a speech to them； that they should venture themselves no further than he would himself。 I also sent （my mind being in pain） Saunders after my wife and father； to overtake them at their night's lodging； to see how matters go with them。 In the evening I sent for my cousin Sarah and her husband； who come； and I did deliver them my chest of writings about Brampton； and my brother Tom's papers； and my journalls； which I value much： and did send my two silver flagons to Kate Joyce's： that so being scattered what I have； something might be saved。 I have also made a girdle； by which with some trouble I do carry about me 300l。 in gold about my body； that I may not be without something in case I should be surprised； for I think； in any nation but our's； people that appear （for we are not indeed so） so faulty as we； would have their throats cut。 In the evening comes Mr。 Pelling and several others to the office； and tell me that never were people so dejected as they are in the City all over at this day； and do talk most loudly； even treason； as； that we are bought and sold； that we are betrayed by the Papists and others about the King： cry out that the office of the Ordnance hath been so backward as no powder to have been at Chatham nor Upner Castle till such a time； and the carriages all broken： Legg is a Papist； ＇William Legge； mentioned before； He was Treasurer and Superintendent of the Ordnance； with General's pay。＇ that Upner； the old good castle built by Queen Elizabeth； should be lately slighted； that the ships at Chatham should not be carried up higher。 They look upon us as lost； and remove their families and rich goods in the City； and do think verily that the French being come down with an army to Dunkirke； it is to invade us； and that we shall be invaded。 Mr。 Clerke； the solicitor； comes to me about business； and tells me that he hears that the King hath chosen Mr。 Pierpoint and Vaughan of the West； Privy…councillors； that my Lord Chancellor was affronted in the Hall this day； by people telling him of his Dunkirke House； and that there are regiments ordered to be got together； whereof to be commanders my Lord Fairfax； Ingolsby； Bethell； Norton； and Birch； and other Presbyterians； and that Dr。 Bates will have liberty to preach。 Now； whether this be true or not； I know not； but do think that nothing but this will unite us together。 Late at night comes Mr。 Hudson the cooper； my neighbour； and tells me that he come from Chatham this evening at five o'clock； and saw this afternoon 〃The Royal James；〃 〃Oake；〃 and 〃London；〃 burnt by the enemy with their fire…ships： that two or three men…of…