ey directed it； but do lay it on Sir W。 Rider。 They speak also of another ship loaded to the value of 80；000l。 sunk with the goods in her； or at least was mightily contended for by him and a foreign ship that had the faith of the nation for her security： this Sir R。 Ford tells us。 And it is too plain a truth； that both here and at Chatham the ships that we have sunk have many； and the first of them； been ships completely fitted for fire…ships at great charge。 But most strange the backwardness and disorder of all people； especially the King's people in pay； to do any work； （Sir W。 Pen tells me）； all crying out for money。 And it was so at Chatham that this night comes an order from Sir W。 Coventry to stop the pay of the wages of that Yard； the Duke of Albemarle having related； that not above three of 1100 in pay there； did attend to do any work there。 This evening having sent a messenger to Chatham on purpose； we have received a dull letter from my Lord Brouncker and Peter Pett； how matters have gone there this week； but not so much； or so particularly as we knew it by common talk before； and as true。 I doubt they will be found to have been but slow men in this business； and they say the Duke of Albemarle did tell my Lord Brouncker to his face that his discharging of the great ships there was the cause of all this； and I am told that it is become common talk against my Lord Brouncker。 But in that； he is to be justified； for he did it by verbal order from Sir W。 Coventry； and with good intent； and it was to good purpose； whatever the success be； for the men would have but spent the King so much the more in wages； and yet not attended on board to have done the King any service。 And as an evidence of that； just now； being the 15th day in the morning that I am writing yesterday's passages； one is with me； Jacob Bryan； Purser of the Princesse； who confesses to me that he hath but 180 men borne at this day in victuals and wages on that ship lying at Chatham； being lately brought in thither； of which 180 there was not above five appeared to do the King any service at this late business。 And this morning also； some of the Cambridge's men come up from Portsmouth by order from Sir Fretcheville Hollis； who boasted to us the other day that he had sent for 50； and would be hanged if 100 did not come up that would do as much as twice the number of other men： I say some of them； instead of being at work at Deptford； where they were intended； do come to the office this morning to demand the payment of their tickets； for otherwise they would； they said； do no more work； and are； as I understand from every body that has to do with them； the most debauched； damning； swearing rogues that ever were in the Navy； just like their prophane commander。
15th。 All the morning at the office。 No news more than last night； only Purser Tyler comes and tells me that he being at all the passages in this business at Chatham； he says there have been horrible miscarriages； such as we shall shortly hear of： that the want of boats hath undone us： and it is commonly said； and Sir J。 Minnes under his hand tells us； that they were employed by the men of the Yard to carry away their goods； and I hear that Commissioner Pett will be found the first man that began to remove： he is much spoken against； and Brouncker is complained of； and reproached for discharging the men of the great ships heretofore。 At noon Mr。 Hater dined with me； and tells me he believes that it will hardly be the want of money alone that will excuse to the Parliament the neglect of not setting out a fleet； it having never been done in our greatest straits； but however unlikely it appeared； yet when it was gone about； the State or King did compass it； and there is something in it。
18th。 Roger Pepys told me； that when I come to his house he will show me a decree in Chancery； wherein there was 26 men all house… keepers in the town of Cottenham； in Queene Elizabeth's time； of our name。 By and by occasion offered for my writing to Sir W。 Coventry a plain bold letter touching lack of money； which； when it was gone； I was afraid might give offence； but upon two or three readings over again the copy of it； I was satisfied it was a good letter； only Sir W。 Batten signed it with me； which I could wish I had done alone。
17th。 Every moment business of one kind or other about the fire… ships and other businesses； most of them vexatious for want of money； the commanders all complaining that if they miss to pay their men a night； they run away； seamen demanding money of them by way of advance； and some of Sir Fretcheville Hollis's men； that he so bragged of； demanding their tickets to be paid； or they would not work： this Hollis； Sir W。 Batten and W。 Pen say； proves a conceited； idle； prating； lying fellow。 Captain Cocke tells me there have been great endeavours of bringing in the Presbyterian interest； but that it will not do。 He named to me several of the insipid lords that are to command the armies that are to be raised。 He says the King and Court are all troubled； and the gates of the Court were shut up upon the first coming of the Dutch to us； but they do mind the business no more than ever： that the bankers； he fears； are broke as to ready…money； though Viner had 100；000l。 by him when our trouble begun： that he and the Duke of Albemarle have received into their own hands； of Viner； the former 10；000l。； and the latter 12；000l。； in tallies or assignments to secure what was in his hands of theirs； and many other great men of our masters have done the like； which is no good sign； when they begin to fear the main。 He and every body cries out of the office of the Ordnance； for their neglects； both at Gravesend and Upner； and every where else。
18th。 To the office； and by and by word was brought me that Commissioner Pett is brought to the Tower； and there laid up close prisoner； which puts me into a fright； lest they may do the same with us as they do with him。 Great news to…night of the blowing up of one of the Dutch's greatest ships； while a Council of War was on board： the latter part； I doubt； is not so； it not being confirmed since； but the former； that they had a ship blown up； is said to be true。 This evening comes Sir G。 Carteret to the office； to talk of business at Sir W。 Batten's； where all to be undone for want of money； there being none to pay the chest at their public pay the 24th of this month； which will make us a scorn to the world。 After he had done there； he and I into the garden； and walked； and the greatest of our discourse is； his sense of the requisiteness of his parting with his being Treasurer of the Navy； if he can on any good terms。 He do harp upon getting my Lord Brouncker to take it on half profit； but that he is not able to secure him in paying him so much。 He tells me now the great question is； whether a Parliament or no Parliament； and says the Parliament itself cannot be thought able at present to raise money； and therefore it will be to no purpose to call one。
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 busin