第 143 节
作者:
敏儿不觉 更新:2022-11-28 19:16 字数:9322
are angry at the rise of this Duncomb; whose father; he tells me; was a long…Parliament man; and a great Committee man; and this fellow used to carry his papers to Committees after him: he was a kind of an atturny: but for all this; I believe will be a great man; in spite of all。 In the evening home; and there to my unexpected satisfaction did get my intricate accounts of interest (which have been of late much perplexed by mixing of some moneys of Sir G。 Carteret's with mine) evened and set right: and so late to supper; and with great quiet to bed; finding by the balance of my account that I am creditor 6900l。 for which the Lord of Heaven be praised!
JUNE 1; 1667。 Up; and there comes to me Mr。 Commander; whom I employ about hiring of some ground behind the office; for the building of me a stable and coach…house: for I do find it necessary for me; both in respect of honour and the profit of it also; (my expense in hackney…coaches being now so great); to keep a coach; and therefore will do it。 Having given him some instructions about it; I to the office; where we have news that our peace with Spain as to trade is wholly concluded; and we are to furnish him with some men for Flanders against the French。 How that will agree with the French I know not; but they say that he also hath liberty to get what men he pleases out of England。 But for the Spaniard; I hear that my Lord Castlehaven is raising a regiment of 4000 men which he is to command there; and several young gentlemen are going over in commands with him: and they say the Duke of Monmouth is going over only as a traveller; not to engage on either side; but only to see the campagne; which will be becoming him much more: than to live as he now do。
3rd。 Met Mr。 Mills; our parson; whom I went back with to bring him to Sir W。 Coventry to give him the form of a qualification for the Duke of York to sign to; to enable him to have two livings; which was a service I did; but much against my will; for a lazy; fat priest。 Sir William Doyly did lay a wager with me; the Treasurership would be in one hand (notwithstanding this present Commission) before Christmas: on which we did lay a poll of ling; a brace of carps; and a bottle of wine; and Sir W。 Pen and Mr。 Scowen to be at the eating of them。 Thence down by water to Deptford; it being Trinity Monday; when the Master is chosen。 And so I down with them; and we had a good dinner of plain meat; and good company at our table: among others my good Mr。 Evelyn; with whom after dinner I stepped aside and talked upon the present posture of our affairs; which is; that the Dutch are known to be abroad with eighty sail of ships of war; and twenty fire…ships; and the French come into the Channell with twenty sail of men…of…war; and five fire…ships; while we have not a ship at sea to do them any hurt with; but are calling in all we can; while our Embassadors are treating at Bredah; and the Dutch look upon them as come to beg peace; and use them accordingly: and all this through the negligence of our Prince; who had power; if he would; to master all these with the money and men that he hath had the command of; and may now have; if he would mind his business。 In the Treasury…chamber an hour or two; where we saw the Country Receivers and Accountants come to attend; and one of them a brisk young fellow (with his hat cocked like a fool behind; as the present fashion among the blades is) committed to the Serjeant。 By and by I upon desire was called in; and delivered in my Report of my Accounts。 Present; Lord Ashly; Clifford; and Duncomb。 But I do like the way of these lords; that they admit nobody to use many words; nor do they spend many words themselves; but in great state do bear what they see necessary; and say little themselves; but bid withdraw。
5th。 Captain Perriman brings us word bow the Happy Returne's crew below in the Hope; ordered to carry the Portugal Embassador to Holland; (and the Embassador; I think; on board;) refuse to go till paid; and by their example two or three more ships are in a mutiny: which is a sad consideration; while so many of the enemy's ships are at this day triumphing in the sea。 Sir G。 Carteret showed me a gentleman coming by in his coach who hath been sent for up out of Lincolnshire; (I think he says he is a justice of peace there;) that the Council have laid by the heels here; and here lies in a messenger's hands; for saying that a man and his wife are but one person; and so ought to pay but 12d。 for both to the Poll Bill; by which others were led to do the like: and so here he lies prisoner。
7th。 With Mr。 Townsend; whom I sent for to come to me to discourse about my Lord Sandwich's business; (for whom I am in some pain lest the Accounts of the Wardrobe may not be in so good order as may please the new Lords' Treasurers; who are quick… sighted; and under obligations of recommending themselves to the King and the world by their finding and mending of faults; and are most of them not the best friends to my Lord。)
8th。 Up; and to the office; where all the news this morning is that the Dutch are come with a fleet of eighty sail to Harwich; and that guns were heard plain by Sir W。 Rider's people at Bednall…greene all yesterday even。 The news is confirmed that the Dutch are off Harwich; but had done nothing last night。 The King hath sent down my Lord of Oxford to raise the countries there; and all the Western barges are taken up to make a bridge over the river about the Hope for horse to cross the River; if there be occasion。
9th。 I hear that the Duke of Cambridge; who was given over long since by the Doctors; is now likely to recover; for which God be praised! To Sir W。 Coventry; and there talked with him a great while; and mighty glad I was of my good fortune to visit him; for it keeps in my acquaintance with him; and the world sees it; and reckons my interest accordingly。 In comes my Lord Barkeley; who is going down to Harwich also to look after the militia there: and there is also the Duke of Monmouth; and with him a great many young Hectors; the Lord Chesterfield; my Lord Mandeville; and others; but to little purpose; I fear; but to debauch the country women thereabouts。 My Lord Barkeley wanting some maps; and Sir W。 Coventry recommending the six maps of England that are bound up for the pocket; I did offer to present my Lord with them; which he accepted; and so I will send them him。 I find an order come for the getting some fire…ships presently to annoy the Dutch; who are in the King's Channel; and expected up higher。
10th。 Up; and news brought us that the Dutch are come up as high as the Nore; and more presing orders for fire…ships。 W。 Batten; W。 Pen; and I to St。 James's; whence the Duke of York gone this morning betimes; to send away some men down to Chatham。 So we then to White Hall; and meet Sir W。 Coventry; who presses all that is possible for fireships。 So we three to the office presently; and thither comes Sir Fretcheville Hollis; who is to command them all in some exploits he is to do with them on the enemy in the River。 'Son of Fretcheville Hollis; of Grimsby (Colonel of a regiment on the King's side during the Civil Wars; in which he acquired considerable credit;) by his second wife Elizabeth Molesworth; and himself a distinguished naval officer。 He lost an arm in the sea…fight 1665; and afterwards served as Rear…Admiral under Sir R。 Holmes; when they attacked the Smyrna fleet。 He fell in the battle of Southwold Bay; 1672; on board the Cambridge。 Although Mr。 Pepys speaks slightingly of Sir F。 H。 he was a man of high spirit and enterprise; and is thus eulogised by Dryden in his ANNUS MIRABILIS。 〃Young Hollis on a Muse by Mars begot; Born; Caesar…like; to write and act great deeds; Impatient to revenge his fatal shot; His right hand doubly to his left succeeds。〃' So we all down to Deptford; and pitched upon ships and set men at work: but; Lord! to see how backwardly things move at this pinch; notwithstanding that by the enemy's being now come up as high as almost the Hope; Sir J。 Minnes; who was gone down to pay some ships there; hath sent up the money; and so we are possessed of money to do what we will with。 Yet partly ourselves; being used to be idle and in despair; and partly people that have been used to be deceived by us as to money won't believe us; and we know not; though we have it; how almost to promise it; and our wants such; and men out of the way; that it is an admirable thing to consider how much the King suffers; and how necessary it is in a State to keep the King's service always in a good posture and credit。 Down to Gravesend; where I find the Duke of Albemarle just come; with a great many idle lords and gentlemen; with their pistols and fooleries; and the bulworke not able to have stood half an hour had they come up; but the Dutch are fallen down from the Hope and Shell…haven as low as Sheerenesse; and we do plainly at this time hear the guns play。 Yet I do not find the Duke of Albemarle intends to go thither; but stays here to…night; and hath (though the Dutch are gone) ordered our frigates to be brought to a line between the two block…houses; which I took then to be a ridiculous thing。 I find the town had removed most of their goo