按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
f the late conduct of the Duke of Albemarle； both in his fighting at all； running among them in his retreat； and running the ships on ground； so as nothing can be worse spoken of。 That Holmes； Spragg； and Smith do all the business； and the old and wiser commanders nothing。 So as Sir Thomas Teddiman （whom the King and all the world speak well of） is mightily discontented； as being wholly slighted。 He says we lost more after the Prince came； than before too。 The Prince was so maimed； as to be forced to be towed home。 He says all the fleet confess their being chased home by the Dutch； and yet the body of the Dutch that did it； was not above forty sail at most。 And yet this put us into the fright； as to bring all our ships on ground。 He says； however； that the Duke of Albemarle is as high almost as ever； and pleases himself to think that he hath given the Dutch their bellies full； without sense of what he hath lost us； and talks how he knows now the way to beat them。 But he says； that even Smith himself； one of his creatures； did himself condemn the late conduct from the beginning to the end。 He tells me further； how the Duke of York is wholly given up to his new mistress； my Lady Denham； ＇Miss Brookes； a relative of the Earl of Bristol； married to Sir J。 Denham； frequently mentioned in the 〃Memoires de Grammont。〃＇ going at noonday with all his gentlemen with him； to visit her in Scotland Yard； she declaring she will not be his mistress； as Mrs。 Price； to go up and down the Privy…stairs； but will be owned publicly； and so she is。 Mr。 Brouncker； ＇Henry Brouncker； younger brother to Lord Brouncker； whom he succeeded in his title。 He was Groom of the Bed…chamber to the Duke of York； and a famous chess…player。＇ it seems； was the pimp to bring it about； and my Lady Castlemaine； who designs thereby to fortify herself by the Duke； there being a falling…out the other day between the King and her： on this occasion； the Queene； in ordinary talk before the ladies in her drawing…room； did say to my Lady Castlemaine that she feared the King did take cold； by staying so late abroad at her house。 She answered before them all； that he did not stay so late abroad with her； for he went betimes thence； （though he do not before one； two； or three in the morning；） but must stay somewhere else。 The King then coming in and overhearing； did whisper in the eare aside； and told her she was a bold impertinent woman； and bid her to be gone out of the Court； and not to come again till he sent for her； which she did presently； and went to a lodging in the Pell Mell； and kept there two or three days； and then sent to the King to know whether she might send for her things away out of her house。 The King went to her； she must first come and view them： and so she come； and the King went to her； and all friends again。 He tells me she did； in her anger； say she would be even with the King； and print his letters to her。 So putting all together； we are and are like to be in a sad condition。 We are endeavouring to raise money by borrowing it of the City； but I do not think the City will lend a farthing。 Sir G。 Carteret and I walked an hour in the church…yard； under Henry the Seventh's Chapel； he being lately come from the fleet； and tells me； as I hear from every body else； that the management in the late fight was bad from top to bottom。 That several said that this would not have been if my Lord Sandwich had had the ordering of it。 Nay； he tells me that certainly had my Lord Sandwich had the misfortune to have done as they have done； the King could not have saved him。 There is； too； nothing but discontent among the officers； and all the old experienced men are slighted。 He tells me to my question； （but as a great secret；） that the dividing of the fleet did proceed first from a proposition from the fleet； though agreed to hence。 But he confesses it arose from want of due intelligence。 He do； however； call the fleet's retreat on Sunday a very honourable one； and that the Duke of Albemarle did do well in it； and would have been well if he had done it sooner； rather than venture the loss of the fleet and crown； as he must have done if the Prince had not come。 He was surprised when I told him I heard that the King did intend to borrow some money of the City； and would know who had spoke of it to me； I told him Sir Ellis Layton this afternoon。 He says it is a dangerous discourse； for that the City certainly will not be invited to do it； and then for the King to ask it and be denied； will be the beginning of our sorrow。 He seems to fear we shall all fall to pieces among ourselves。 This evening we hear that Sir Christopher Mings is dead of his late wounds； and Sir W。 Coventry did commend him to me in a most extraordinary manner。 But this day； after three days' trial in vain； and the hazard of the spoiling of the ship in lying till next spring； besides the disgrace of it； news is brought that the Loyall London is launched at Deptford。
11th。 I with my Lady Pen and her daughter to see Harman； whom we find lame in bed。 His bones of his ancle are broke； but he hopes to do well soon； and a fine person by his discourse he seems to be： and he did plainly tell me that at the Council of War before the fight； it was against his reason to begin the fight then； and the reasons of most sober men there； the wind being such； and we to windward； that they could not use their lower tier of guns。 Late comes Sir Jo。 Bankes to see me； who tells me that coming up from Rochester he overtook three or four hundred seamen； and he believes every day they come flocking from the fleet in like numbers； which is a sad neglect there； when it will be impossible to get others； and we have little reason to think these will return presently again。 Walking in the galleries at White Hall； I find the Ladies of Honour dressed in their riding garbs； with coats and doublets with deep skirts； just for all the world like mine； and buttoned their doublets up the breast； with perriwigs and with hats； so that； only for a long petticoat dragging under their men's coats； nobody could take them for women in any point whatever； which was an odde sight； and a sight did not please me。 It was Mrs。 Wells and another fine lady that I saw thus。
13th。 Sir H。 C。 Cholmly ＇Sir Hugh Cholmely of Whitby； Yorkshire； Bart。； was employed in constructing the Mole at Tangier； and resided there some years。 Ob。 1688。＇ tells me there are great jarrs between the Duke of York and the Duke of Albemarle； about the latter's turning out one or two of the commanders put in by the Duke of York。 Among others； Captain Du Tell； a Frenchman； put in by the Duke of York； and mightily defended by him； and is therein led by Monsieur Blancford； that it seems hath the same command over the Duke of York as Sir W。 Coventry hath； which raises ill blood between them。 And I do in several little things observe that Sir W。 Coventry hath of late； by the by； reflected on the Duke of Albemarle and his captains； particularly in that of old Teddiman； who did deserve to be turned out this fight； and was so； but I heard Sir W。 Coventry say that the Duke of Albemarle put in one as bad as he in his room； and one that did as little。 Invited