l； that they might not be in the middle of the enemy in the morning alone； and Cox denying to observe his advice； having received the Duke of York's commands over night to keep within gun…shot （as they then were） of the enemy； Brouncker did go to Harman； and used the same arguments； and told him that he was sure it would be well pleasing to the King that care should be taken of not endangering the Duke of York； and； after much persuasion； Harman was heard to say； 〃Why； if it must be； then lower the topsail。〃 and so did shorten sail； to the loss； as the Parliament will have it； of the greatest victory that ever was； and which would have saved all the expence of blood and money； and honour； that followed； and this they do resent； so as to put it to the question； whether Brouncker should not be carried to the Tower： who do confess that； out of kindness to the Duke of York's safety； he did advise that they should do so； but did not use the Duke of York's name therein； and so it was only his error in advising it； but； the greatest theirs in taking it contrary to order。 At last it ended that it should be suspended till Harman comes home； and then the Parliament…men do all tell me that it will fall heavy； and； they think； be fatal to Brouncker or him。 Sir W。 Pen tells me； he was gone to bed； having been all day labouring； and then not able to stand； of the gout； and did give order for the keeping the sails standing as they then were all night。 But； which I wonder at； he tells me that he did not know the next day that they had shortened sail； nor ever did enquire into it till about ten days ago； that this began to be mentioned； and indeed it is charged privately as a fault on the Duke of York； that； he did not presently examine the reason of the breach of his orders； and punish it。 But Cox tells me that he did finally refuse it； and what prevailed with Harman he knows not； and do think that we might have done considerable service on the enemy the next day； if this had not been done。 Thus this business ended to…day； having kept them till almost two o'clock： and then I by coach with Sir W。 Pen as far as St。 Clement's talking of this matter； and there set down； and I walked to Sir G。 Carteret's； and there dined with him and several Parliament…men； who； I perceive； do all look upon it as a thing certain that the Parliament will enquire into every thing； and will be very severe where they can find any fault。 Sir W。 Coventry； I hear； did this day make a speech； in apology for his reading the letter of the Duke of Albemarle； concerning the good condition which Chatham was in before the enemy came thither； declaring his simple intention therein without prejudice to my Lord。 And I am told that he was also with the Duke of Albemarle yesterday to excuse it； but this day I do hear； by some of Sir W。 Coventry's friends； that they think he hath done himself much injury by making this man and his interest so much his enemy。 After dinner I away to Westminster； and up to the Parliament house； and there did wait with great patience till seven at night to be called in to the Committee； who sat all this afternoon examining the business of Chatham； and at last was called in； and told that the least they expected from us Mr。 Wren had promised them； and only bade me to bring all my fellow…officers thither to…morrow afternoon。 Sir Robert Brookes in the chair： methinks a sorry fellow to be there； because a young man； and yet he seems to speak very well。 I gone thence； my cosen Pepys comes out to me； and walks in the Hall with me； and bids me prepare to answer to every thing； for they do seem to lay the business of Chatham upon the Commissioners of the Navy； and they are resolved to lay the fault heavy somewhere； and to punish it： and prays me to prepare to save myself； and gives me hints what； to prepare against； which I am obliged to him for。 This day I did get a list of the fourteen particular miscarriages which are already before the Committee to be examined； wherein； besides two or three that will concern this office much； there are those of the prizes； and that of Bergen； and not following the Dutch ships； against my Lord Sandwich； that I fear will ruin him； unless he hath very good luck； or they may be in better temper before he can come to be charged： but my heart is full of fear for him and his family。 I hear that they do prosecute the business against my Lord Chief Justice Keeling with great severity。
22nd。 Slept but ill all the last part of the night； for fear of this day's success in Parliament： therefore up； and all of us all the morning close； till almost two o'clock； collecting all we had to say and had done from the beginning； touching the safety of the River Medway and Chatham。 And having done this； and put it into order； we away； I not having time to eat my dinner； and so all in my Lord Brouncker's coach； （that is to say； Brouncker； W。 Pen； T。 Hater； and myself；） talking of the other great matter with which they charge us； that is； of discharging men by ticket； in order to our defence in case that should be asked。 We came to the Parliament…door； and there； after a little waiting till the Committee was sat； we were； the House being very full； called in： （Sir W。 Pen went in and sat as a Member： and my Lord Brouncker would not at first go in； expecting to have a chair set for him； and his brother had bid him not go in till he was called for； but； after a few words； I had occasion to mention him； and so he was called in； but without any more chair or respect paid him than myself：） and so Brouncker； and T。 Hater； and I were there to answer： and I had a chair brought me to lean my books upon； and so did give them such an account； in a series of the whole business that had passed the office touching the matter； and so answered all questions given me about it； that I did not perceive but they were fully satisfied with me and the business as to our office： and then Commissioner Pett （who was by at all my discourse； and this held till within an hour after candle…light； for I had candles brought in to read my papers by） was to answer for himself； we having lodged all matters with him for execution。 But； Lord！ what a tumultuous thing this Committee is； for all the reputation they have of a great council； is a strange consideration； there being as impertinent questions； and as disorderly proposed； as any man could make。 But Commissioner Pett of all men living did make the weakest defence of himself： nothing to the purpose； nor to satisfaction； nor certain； but sometimes one thing and sometimes another； sometimes for himself and sometimes against him； and h；s greatest failure was （that I observed） from his considering whether the question propounded was his part to answer or no； and the thing to be done was his work to do： the want of which distinction will overthrow him； for he concerns himself in giving an account of the disposal of the boats； which he had no reason at all to do； or take any blame upon him for them。 He charged the not carrying up of 〃The Charles〃 upon the Tuesday to the Duke of Albemarle； but I see the House is mighty favourable to the Duke of Albemarle； and would give little weight to it。 And something of want of armes he spoke； which Sir J。 Duncomb answered with great imperiousness and earnestness； but； for all that； I do see the House is resolved to be better satisfied in the business of the unreadiness of Sheernesse； and want of armes and ammunition there and every where； and all their officers were here to…day attending； but only one called in； about armes for boats to answer Commissioner Pett。 None of my brethren said anything but me there： but only two or three silly words my Lord Brouncker gave in answer to one question about the number of men that were in the King's Yard at the time。 At last the House dismissed us； and shortly after did adjourn the debate till Friday next： and my cosen Pepys did come out and joy me in my acquitting myself so well； and so did several others； and my fellow officers all very briske to see themselves so well acquitted； which makes me a little proud； but yet not secure but we may yet meet with a back…blow which we see not。
23rd。 To White Hall； there to attend the Duke of York； but came a little too late； and so missed it： only spoke with him； and heard him correct my Lord Barkeley who fell foul on Sir Edward Spragg； （who； it seems； said yesterday to the House； that if the officers of the Ordnance had done as much work at Sheernesse in ten weeks as 〃The Prince〃 did in ten days； he could have defended the place against the Dutch）： but the Duke of York told him that every body must have liberty at this time to make their own defence； though it be to the charging of the fault upon any other； so it be true； so I perceive the whole world is at work in blaming one another。 Thence Sir W。 Pen and I back into London； and there saw the King； with his kettle…drums and trumpets； going to the Exchange to lay the first stone of the first pillar of the new building of the Exchange； which； the gates being shut； I could not get in to see； so with Sir W。 Pen to Captain Cocke's； and then again toward Westminster； but in my way stopped at the Exchange and got in； the King being newly gone； a