s damned at the Council the Canary Company； and also that my Lord Mordaunt hath laid down his Commission。 News this tide that about 80 sail of Dutch； great and small； were seen coming up the River this morning； and this tide some of them to the upper end of the Hope。
28th。 We find the Duke of York and Sir W。 Coventry gone this morning by two o'clock to Chatham； to come home to…night： and it is fine to observe how both the King and Duke of York have in their several late journeys to and again done them in the night for coolnesse。 They tell me that the Duke of Buckingham hath surrendered himself to Secretary Morrice； and is going to the Tower。 Mr。 Fenn； at the table； says that he hath been taken by the watch two or three times of late； at unseasonable hours； but so disguised that they could not know him： and when I come home by and by； Mr。 Lowther tells me that the Duke of Buckingham do dine publickly this day at Wadlow's； at the Sun Tavern； and is mighty merry； and sent word to the Lieutenant of the Tower that he would come to him as soon as he had dined。 It is said that the King of France do make a sport of us now； and says； that he knows no reason why his cosen the King of England should not be as willing to let him have his kingdom； as that the Dutch should take it from him； Sir G。 Carteret did tell me； that the business is done between him and my Lord Anglesy； that himself is to have the other's place of Deputy Treasurer of Ireland （which is a place of honour and great profit； being far better than the Treasurer's； my Lord of Corke's；） and to give the other his of Treasurer of the Navy； that the King； at his earnest entreaty； did with much unwillingness； but with owing of great obligations to him for his faithfulness and long service to him and his father； grant his desire。 My Lord Chancellor； I perceive； is his friend in it； I remember I did in the morning tell Sir H。 Cholmly of this business： and he answered me； he was sorry for it： for whatever Sir G。 Carteret was； he is confident my Lord Anglesy is one of the greatest knaves in the world。 Home； and then find my wife making of tea； a drink which Mr。 Pelling； the Potticary； tells her is good for her cold and defluxions。 To Sir W。 Batten's to see how he did； and he is better than he was。 He told me how Mrs Lowther had her train held up yesterday by her page at his house in the country which is ridiculous。 Mr。Pelling told us the news of the town； how the officers of the Navy are cried out upon； and a great many greater men； but do think that I shall do well enough； and I think； if I have justice； I shall。 We hear that the Dutch are gone down again； and； thanks be to God； the trouble they give us this second time is not very considerable！
30th。 To Rochester about ten of the clock。 At the landing…place I met my Lord Brouncker and my Lord Douglas； and all the officers of the soldiers in the town； waiting there for the Duke of York； whom they heard was coming。 By and by comes my Lord Middleton； well mounted： he seems a fine soldier； and so every body says he is； and a man like my Lord Tiviott； and indeed most of the Scotch gentry （as I observe；） of few words。 After seeing the boats come up from Chatham with them that rowed with bandeleeres about their shoulders； and muskets in their boats； they being the workmen of the Yard； who have promised to redeem their credit； lost by their deserting the service when the Dutch were there； I and Creed down by boat to Chatham yard。 Thence to see the batteries made； which indeed are very fine； and guns placed so as one would think the River should be very secure。 Here I was told that in all the late attempt there was but one man that they knew killed on shore； and that was a man that had laid upon his belly upon one of the hills on the other side of the River； to see the action； and a bullet come； and so he was killed。 Thence by barge； it raining hard； down to the chaine； and in our way did see the sad wrackes of the poor 〃Royall Oake；〃 〃James；〃 and 〃London；〃 and several other of our ships by us sunk； and several of the enemy's； whereof three men…of…war that they could not get off； and so burned。 I do not see that Upner Castle hath received any hurt by them； though they played long against it； and they themselves shot till they had hardly a gun left upon the carriages； so badly provided they were： they have now made two batteries on that side； which will be very good； and do good service。 So to the chaine； and there saw it fast at the end on Upner side of the River； very fast； and borne up upon the several stages across the River； and where it is broke nobody can tell me。 I went on shore on Upner side to look upon the end of the chaine； and caused the link to be measured； and it was six inches and one…fourth in circumference。 It seems very remarkable to me； and of great honour to the Dutch； that those of them that did go on shore to Gillingham； though they went in fear of their lives； and were some of them killed； and notwithstanding their provocation at Scelling； yet killed none of our people nor plundered their houses； but did take some things of easy carriage and left the rest； and not a house burned； and which is to our eternal disgrace； that； what my Lord Douglas's men； who come after them； found there； they plundered and took all away； and the watermen that carried us did further tell us； that our own soldiers are far more terrible to those people of the country… towns than the Dutch themselves。 We were told at the batteries； upon my seeing of the field…guns that were there； that had they come a day sooner they had been able to have saved all； but they had no orders； and lay lingering upon the way。 Several complaints； I hear； of the Monmouth's coming away too soon from the chaine； where she was placed with the two guard…ships to secure it； and Captain Robert Clerke； my friend； is blamed for so doing there； but I hear nothing of him at London about it； but Captain Brookes's running aground with the 〃Sancta Maria；〃 which was one of the three ships that were ordered to be sunk to have dammed up the River at the chaine； is mightily cried against； and with reason。 It is a strange thing to see； that while my Lords Douglas and Middleton do ride up and down upon single horses； my Lord Brouncker do go up and down with his hackney coach and six horses at the King's charge； and is not able to do so much good as a good boatswain in this business。
JULY 2； 1667。 To the office； where W。 Pen and myself and Sir T。 Harvey met； the first time we have had a meeting since the coming of the Dutch upon this coast。
3rd。 Sir Richard Ford tells us how he hath been at the Sessions… house； and there it is plain that there is a combination of rogues in the town that do make it their business to set houses on fire； and that one house they did set on fire in Aldersgate… street last Easter； and that this is proved by two young men； whom one of them debauched by degrees to steal their fathers' plate and clothes； and at last to be of their company。 One of these boys is a son of a Montagu； of my Lord Manchester's family。 To the Council…chamber； to deliver a letter to their Lordships about the state of the six merchantmen which we have been so long …fitting out。 When I come； the King and the whole table full of Lords were hearing of a pitifull cause of a complaint of an old man with a great grey beard against his son； for not allowing him something to live on； and at last come to the ordering the son to allow his father 10l。 a…year。 This cause lasted them near two hours； which； methinks； at this time to be the work of the Council…board of England； is a scandalous thing。 Here I find all the news is the enemy's landing 3000 men near Harwich； and attacking Landguard Fort； and being beat off thence with our great guns； killing some of their men； and they leaving their ladders behind them； but we had no horse in the way on Suffolke side； otherwise we might have galled their foot。 The Duke of York is gone down thither this day； while the Generall sat sleeping this afternoon at the Council…table。
4th。 To the Sessions…house； where I have a mind to hear Bazill Fielding's case tried； and so got up to the Bench； my Lord Chief… Justice Keeling ＇Sir John Keeling； Knight； King's Serjeant 1661； Chief Justice of the King's Bench 1665。＇ being Judge。 Here I stood bare； not challenging； though I might well enough； to be covered。 But here were several fine trials； among others； several brought in for making it their trade to set houses on fire merely to get plunder； and all proved by the two little boys spoken of yesterday by Sir R。 Ford； who did give so good account of particulars that I never heard children in my life。 One my Lady Montagu's （I know not what Lady Montagu） son； and the other of good condition； were playing in Moore…fields； and one rogue； Gabriel Holmes； did come to them and teach them to drink； and then to bring him plate and clothes from their fathers' houses： and this Gabriel Holmes did advise to have had two houses set on fire； one after another； that while they were quenching of one they might be burning another。 The boys did swear against one of them； that he had made it his part to pull out the plug out of the engine while