Duke of York； it being forfeited to him。 ＇Sir Robert Brookes； Lord of the Manor of Wanstead； from 1662 to 1687。 M。P。 for Aldborough in Suffolk。 He afterwards retired to France； and died there in bad circumstances。 From a letter among the PEPYS MSS。； Sir Robert Brookes appears to have been drowned in the river at Lyons。＇ A fine seat； but an old…fashioned house； and being not full of people looks flatly。
17th。 The Duchesse of York went down yesterday to meet the Duke。
18th。 To the Duke of Albemarle； where we did examine Nixon and Stanesby； about their late running from two Dutchmen； for which they were committed to a vessel to carry them to the fleet to be tried。 A most fowle unhandsome thing as ever was heard； for plain cowardice on Nixon's part。
23rd。 Late comes Sir Arthur Ingram ＇Sir Arthur Ingram； Knight； of Knottingley； Surveyor of the Customs at Hull。＇ to my office； to tell me； that； by letters from Amsterdam of the 18th of this month； the Dutch fleet； being about 100 men…of…war； besides fire… ships； &c。； did set out upon the 13th and 14th inst。 Being divided into seven squadrons； viz。1。 General Opdam。 2。 Cottenar of Rotterdam。 ＇Died of his wounds after the sea…fight in 1665。＇ 3。 Trump。 4。 Schram； of Horne。 5。 Stillingworth； of Freezland。 6。 Everson。 7。 One other； not named； of Zealand。
27th。 To the Coffee…house； where all the news is of the Dutch be gone out； and of the plague growing upon us in this town； and of remedies against it： some saying one thing； and some another。
26th。 In the evening by water to the Duke of Albemarle； whom I found mightily off the hooks； that the ships are not gone out of the River； which vexed me to see。
28th。 I hear that Nixon is condemned to be shot to death； for his cowardice； by a Council of War。 To my Lady Sandwich's； where； to my shame； I had not been a great while。 Here； upon my telling her a story of my Lord Rochester's ＇John second Earl of Rochester； celebrated for his wit and profligacy。 Ob。 1680。＇ running away on Friday night last with Mrs。 Mallett； ＇Elizabeth； daughter of John Mallett； Esq。； of Enmere； co。 Somerset； married soon afterwards to the Earl of Rochester。＇ the great beauty and fortune of the North； who had supped at White Hall with Mrs。 Stewart； and was going home to her lodgings with her grand… father； my Lord Haly； ＇Sir Francis Hawley of Buckland House； co。 Somerset； created a Baronet 1662； in 1646 an Irish Peer； by the title of Baron Hawley of Donamore； in 1671 he was chosen M。P。 for St。 Michael's； and in 1673 became a Gentleman of the Bed…chamber to the Duke of York。 Ob。 1684； aged 76。＇ by coach： and was at Charing Cross seized on by both horse and foot…men； and forcibly taken from him； and put into a coach with six horses； and two women provided to receive her； and carried away。 Upon immediate pursuit； my Lord of Rochester （for whom the King had spoke to the lady often； but with no success；） was taken at Uxbridge： but the lady is not yet heard of； and the King mighty angry； and the Lord sent to the Tower。 Hereupon my Lady did confess to me； as a great secret； her being concerned in this story。 For if this match breaks between my Lord Rochester and her； then； by the consent of all her friends； my Lord Hinchingbroke stands fair； and is invited for her。 She is worth； and will be at her mother's death； （who keeps but a little from her；） 2500l。 per annum。 Pray God give a good success to it！ But my poor Lady who is afraid of the sickness； and resolved to be gone into the country； is forced to stay in town a day or two； or three about it； to see the event of it。 Thence to see my Lady Pen； where my wife and I were shown a fine rarity： of fishes kept in a glass of water； that will live so for ever； and finely marked they are； being foreign。
29th。 We have every where taken some prizes。 Our merchants had good luck to come home safe； Colliers from the North； and some Streights men； just now。 And our Hambrough ships； of whom we were so much afraid； are safe in Hambrough。 Our fleete resolve to sail out again from Harwich in a day or two。
31st。 To the 'Change； where great the noise and trouble of having our Hambrough ships lost； and that very much placed upon Mr。 Coventry's forgetting to give notice to them of the going away of our fleet from the coast of Holland。 But all without reason； for he did； but the merchants not being ready； staid longer than the time ordered for the convoy to stay； which was ten days。
June 1； 1665。 After dinner I put on new camelott suit； the best that ever I wore in my life； the suit costing me above 24l。 In this I went with Creed to Goldsmiths' Hall； to the burial of Sir Thomas Viner； ＇Sheriff of London 1648； Lord Mayor 1654。＇ which Hall； and Haberdashers' also； was so full of people； that we were fain for ease and coolness to go forth to Pater Noster Row； to choose silk to make me a plain ordinary suit。 That done； we walked to Corne hill； and there at Mr。 Cade's stood in the balcon and saw all the funeral； which was with the blue…coat boys and old men； all the Aldermen； and Lord Mayor； &c。 and the number of the company very great： the greatest I ever did see for a taverne。
3rd。 All this day by all people upon the River； and almost every where else hereabout were heard the guns； our two fleets for certain being engaged； which was confirmed by letters from Harwich； but nothing particular： and all our hearts full of concernment for the Duke； and I particularly for my Lord Sandwich and Mr。 Coventry after his Royall Highness。
6th。 To my Lady Sandwich's； who； poor lady； expects every hour to hear of my Lord； but in the best temper； neither confident nor troubled with fear； that I ever did see in my life。 She tells me my Lord Rochester is now declaredly out of hopes of Mrs。 Mallett； and now she in to receive notice in a day or two how the King stands inclined to the giving leave for my Lord Hinchingbroke to look after her； and that being done； to bring it to an end shortly。
7th。 The hottest day that ever I felt in my life； This day； much against my will； I did in Drury Lane see two or three houses marked with a red cross upon the doors； and 〃Lord have mercy upon us；〃 writ there； which was a sad sight to me； being the first of the kind that to my remembrance I ever saw。
8th。 I to my Lord Treasurer's by appointment of Sir Thomas Ingram's； to meet the Goldsmiths； where I met with the great news at last newly come； brought by Bab。 May ＇Baptist May； keeper of the Privy Purse to Charles II。； there is an original portrait of him by Lely； at Audley End。＇ from the Duke of York； that we have totally routed the Dutch； that the Duke himself； the Prince； my Lord Sandwich； and Mr。 Coventry are all well： which did put me into such joy； that I forgot almost all other thoughts。 With great Joy to the Cocke…pitt： where the Duke of Albemarle； like a man out of himself； with content new…told me all： and by and by comes a letter from Mr。 Coventry's own hand to him； which he never opened； （which was a strange thing；） but did give it me to open and read； and consider what was fit for our office to do in it； and leave the letter with Sir W。 Clerke； which upon such a time and occasion was a strange piece of indifference； hardly possible。 I copied out the letter； and did also take minutes out of Sir W。 Clerke's other letters； and the sum of the news is：…
Victory over the Dutch； June 3； 1665。
This day they engaged： the Dutch neglecting greatly the opportunity of the wind they had of us； by which they lost the benefit of their fire…ships。 The Earl of Falmouth； Muskerry； and Mr。 Richard Boyle ＇Second son to the Earl of Burlington。＇ killed on board the Duke's ship； the Royall Charles； with one shot： their blood and brains flying in the Duke's face； and the head of Mr。 Boyle striking down the Duke； as some say。 Earle of Marlborough； Portland； Rear…Admirall Sansum （to Prince Rupert） killed； and Capt。 Kerby and Ableson。 Sir John Lawson wounded on the knee： hath had some bones taken out； and is likely to be well again。 Upon receiving the hurt； he sent to the Duke for another to command the Royal Oake。 The Duke sent Jordan out of the St。 George； who did brave things in her。 Capt。 Jer。 Smith of the Mary was second to the Duke； and stepped between him and Captain Seaton of the Urania； （76 guns and 400 men） who had sworn to board the Duke； killed him 200 men； and took the ship； himself losing 99 men； and never an officer saved but himself and lieutenant。 His master indeed is saved； with his leg cut off。 Admirall Opdam blown up； Trump killed； and said by Holmes； all the rest of their admiralls； as they say； but Everson； （whom they dare not trust for his affection to the Prince of Orange；） are killed； we having taken and sunk； as is believed； about 24 of their best ships； killed and taken near 8 or 10；000 men； and lost； we think； not above 700。 A greater victory never known in the world。 They are all fled； some 43 got into the Texell； and others elsewhere； and we in pursuit of the rest。
9th。 To White Hall； and in my way met with Mr。 Moore； who eases me in one point wherein I was troubled； which was； that I heard of nothing said or done by my Lord Sandwich： but he tells me that Mr。 Cowling；