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6th。 By and by walking a little further； Sir Philip Frowde ＇Secretary to the Duchess of York。＇ did meet the Duke with an express to Sir W。 Coventry （who was by） from Captain Taylor； the Storekeeper at Harwich； being the narration of Captain Hayward of the Dunkirke； who gives a very serious account； how upon Monday the two fleets fought all day till seven at night； and then the whole fleet of Dutch did betake themselves to a very plain flight； and never looked back again。 That Sir Christopher Mings is wounded in the leg； that the Generall is well。 That it is conceived reasonably； that of all the Dutch fleet； which； with what recruits they had； come to one hundred sail； there is not above fifty got home； and of them； few if any of their flags。 And that little Captain Bell； in one of the fire…ships； did at the end of the day fire a ship of 70 guns。 We were also so overtaken with this good news； that the Duke ran with it to the King； who was gone to chapel； and there all the Court was in a hubbub； being rejoiced over head and ears in this good news。 Away go I by coach to the new Exchange； and there did spread this good news a little； though I find it had broke out before。 And so home to our own church； it being the common Fast…day； and it was just before sermon； but； Lord！ how all the people in the church stared upon me to see me whisper to Sir John Minnes and my Lady Pen。 Anon I saw people stirring and whispering below； and by and by comes up the sexton from my Lady Ford to tell me the news； （which I had brought） being now sent into the church by Sir W。 Batten in writing； and passed from pew to pew。 But that which pleased me as much as the news； was； to have the fair Mrs。 Middleton at our church； who indeed is a very beautiful lady。 Idled away the whole night till twelve at night at the bonfire in the streets。 Some of the people thereabouts going about with musquets； and did give me two or three vollies of their musquets； I giving them a crown to drink； and so home。 Mightily pleased with this happy day's news； and the more； because confirmed by Sir Daniel Harvy； ＇Ranger of Richmond Park。＇ who was in the whole fight with the Generall； and tells me that there appear but thirty…six in all of the Dutch fleet left at the end of the voyage when they run home。 The joy of the City was this night exceeding great。
7th。 Up betimes； and to my office about business； （Sir W。 Coventry having sent me word that he is gone down to the fleet to see how matters stand； and to be back again speedily）； and with the same expectation of congratulating ourselves with the victory that I had yesterday。 But my Lord Brouncker and Sir T。 H。 ＇Probably Sir Thomas Harvey。＇ that come from court； tell me the contrary news； which astonishes me： that is to say； that we are beaten； lost many ships and good commanders； have not taken one ship of the enemy's； and so can only report ourselves a victory： nor is it certain that we were left masters of the field。 But； above all； that the Prince run on shore upon the Galloper； and there stuck； was endeavoured to be fetched off by the Dutch； but could not； and so they burned her； and Sir G。 Ascue is taken prisoner； and carried into Holland。 This news do much trouble me； and the thoughts of the ill consequences of it； and the pride and presumption that brought us to it。 At noon to the 'Change； and there find the discourse of town； and their countenances much changed； but yet not very plain。 By and by comes Mr。 Wayth to me； and discoursing of our ill success； he tells me plainly from Captain Page's own mouth； （who hath lost his arm in the fight；） that the Dutch did pursue us two hours before they left us； and then they suffered us to go on homewards； and they retreated towards their coast： which is very sad news。 The Duke much damped。 In his discourse； touching the late fight； and all the Court talk sadly of it。 The Duke did give me several letters he had received from the fleet； and Sir W。 Coventry and Sir W。 Pen； who are gone down thither； for me to pick out some works to be done for the setting out the fleet again； and so I took them home with me； and was drawing out an abstract of them till midnight。 And as to news； I do find great reason to think that we are beaten in every respect； and that we are the losers。 The Prince upon the Galloper； where both the Royall Charles and Royall Katharine had come twice aground； but got off。 The Essex carried into Holland； the Swiftsure missing （Sir W。 Barkeley） ever since the beginning of the fight。 Captains Bacon； Tearne； Wood； Mootham； Whitty； and Coppin； slayne。 The Duke of Albemarle writes； that he never fought with worse officers in his life； not above twenty of them behaving themselves like men。 Sir William Clerke lost his leg； and in two days died。 The Loyall George； Seven Oakes； and Swiftsure； are still missing； having never； as the Generall writes himself； engaged with them。 It was as great an alteration to find myself required to write a sad letter instead of a triumphant one； to my Lady Sandwich this night； as ever on any occasion I had in my life。
8th。 To my very great joy I find Balty come home without any hurt； after the utmost imaginable danger he hath gone through in the Henery； being upon the quarter…deck with Harman all the time； and for which service； Harman I heard this day commended most seriously and most eminently by the Duke of York。 As also the Duke did do most utmost right to Sir Thomas Teddiman； of whom a scandal was raised； but without cause； he having behaved himself most eminently brave all the whole fight； and to extraordinary great service and purpose； having given Trump himself such a broadside as was hardly ever given to any ship。 Mings is shot through the face； and into the shoulder； where the bullet is lodged。 Young Holmes is also ill…wounded； and Atber in the Rupert。 Balty tells me the case of the Henery； and it was； indeed； most extraordinary sad and desperate。 After dinner Balty and I to my office； and there talked a great deal of this fight； and I am mightily pleased in him； and have great content in； and hopes of his doing well。 Thence out to White Hall to a Committee for Tangier； but it met not。 But； Lord！ to see how melancholy the Court is； under the thoughts of this last overthrow； （for so it is；） instead of a victory； so much and so unreasonably expected。 We hear the Swiftsure； Sir W。 Barkeley； is come in safe to the Nowre； after her being absent ever since the beginning of the fight； wherein she did not appear at all from beginning to end。
9th。 The Court is divided about the Swiftsure and the Essex's being safe。 And wagers and odds laid on both sides。 Sir W。 Coventry is come to town； so I to his chamber。 But I do not hear that he is at all pleased or satisfied with the late fight； but he tells me more news of our suffering； by the death of one or two captains more than I knew before。 But he do give over the thoughts of the safety of the Swiftsure or Essex。
10th。 I met with Pierce the surgeon； who is lately come from the fleet； and tells me that all the commanders； officers； and even the common seamen do condemn every part of the late conduct of the Duke of Albemarle； both in his fighti