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hire 1625…6； K。G。 Ob。 1669； aged nearly 90。＇ waiting at table； and serving the King drink； in that dirty pickle as I never saw man in my life。 Here I met Mr。 Williams； who would have me to dine where he was invited to dine； at the Backe…stayres。 So after the King's meat was taken away； we thither； but he could not stay； but left me there among two or three of the King's servants； where we dined with the meat that come from his table； which was most excellent； with most brave drink cooled in ice； （which at this hot time was welcome；） and I drinking no wine； had metheglin for the King's own drinking； which did please me mightily。
27th。 To Sir W。 Coventry's lodging； and there he showed me Captain Talbot's letter； wherein he says that the fight begun on the 25th： that our White squadron begun with one of the Dutch squadrons； and then the Red with another； so hot that we put them both to giving way； and so they continued in pursuit all the day； and as long as he stayed with them： that the blow fell to the Zealand squadron； and after a long dispute； he against two or three great ships； received eight or nine dangerous shots； and so come away； and says； he saw the Resolution burned by one of their fire…ships； and four or five of the enemy's。 But says that two or three of our great ships were in danger of being fired by our fire…ships； which Sir W。 Coventry nor I cannot understand。 But upon the whole； he and I walked two or three turns in the Park under the great trees； and no doubt that this gallant is come away a little too soon； having lost never a mast nor sail。 And then we did begin to discourse of the young genteel captains； which he was very free with me in speaking his mind of the unruliness of them； and what a loss the King hath of his old men； and now of this Hannam； of the Resolution； if he be dead。 He told me how he is disturbed to hear the commanders at sea called cowards here on shore。
28th。 To my Lord Lauderdale's； where we find some Scotch people at supper。 Pretty odd company； though my Lord Brouncker tells me； my Lord Lauderdale is a man of mighty good reason and judgement。 But at supper there played one of their servants upon the viallin some Scotch tunes only； several； and the best of their country； as they seemed to esteem them； by their praising and admiring them： but； Lord！ the strangest ayre that ever I heard in my life； and all of one cast。 But strange to hear my Lord Lauderdale say himself that he had rather hear a cat mew than the best musique in the world； and the better the musique； the more sick it makes him； and that of all instruments； he hates the lute most； and next to that； the baggpipe。
29th。 All the town is full of a victory。 By and by a letter from Sir W。 Coventry tells me that we have the victory。 Beat them into the Weelings： had taken two of their great ships； but by the orders of the Generalls they are burned。 This being； methought； but a poor result after the fighting of two so great fleets； and four days having no tidings of them： I was still impatient； but could know no more。 I to Sir W。 Batten； where the Lieutenant of the Tower was； and Sir John Minnes； and the news I find is what I had heard before； only that our Blue squadron； it seems； was pursued the most of the time； having more ships； a great many； than its number allotted to its share。 Young Seamour is killed； the only captain slain。 The Resolution burned； but； as they say； most of her crew and commander saved。 This is all； only we keep the sea； which denotes a victory； or at least that we are not beaten； but no great matters to brag of； God knows。
30th。 To Sir W。 Coventry； at St。 James's； where I find him in his new closet； which is very fine； and well supplied with handsome books。 I find him speak very slightly of the late victory： dislikes their staying with the fleet up their coast； believing that the Dutch will come out in fourteen days； and then we with our unready fleet； by reason of some of the ships being maymed； shall be in bad condition to fight them upon their own coast： is much dissatisfied with the great number of men； and their fresh demands of twenty…four victualling ships； they going out the other day as full as they could stow。 He spoke slightly of the Duke of Albemarle； saying； when De Ruyter come to give him a broadside〃Now；〃 says he； （chewing of tobacco the while） 〃will this fellow come and give me two broadsides； and then he shall run；〃 but it seems he held him to it two hours； till the Duke himself was forced to retreat to refit； and was towed off； and De Ruyter staid for him till he come back again to fight。 One in the ship saying to the Duke； 〃Sir； methinks De Ruyter hath given us more than two broadsides；〃 〃Well；〃 says the Duke； 〃but you shall find him run by and by；〃 and so he did； says Sir W。 Coventry； but after the Duke himself had been first made to fall off。 The Resolution had all brass guns； being the same that Sir J。 Lawson had in her in the Straights。 It is observed； that the two fleets were even in number to one ship。 Thence home； and to sing with my wife and Mercer ＇Mrs。 Pepys's maid。＇ in the garden； and coming in I find my wife plainly dissatisfied with me； that I can spend so much time with Mercer； teaching her to sing； and could never take the pains with her。 Which I acknowledge； but it is because that the girl do take musick mighty readily； and she do not； and musick is the thing of the world that I love most； and all the pleasure almost that I can now take。 So to bed in some little discontent； but no words from me。
31st。 The court empty； the King being gone to Tunbridge； and the Duke of York a…hunting。 I had some discourse with Povy； who is mightily discontented； I find； about his disappointments at Court； and says； of all places； if there be hell； it is here。 No faith； no truth； no love； nor any agreement between man and wife； nor friends。 He would have spoke broader； but I put it off to another time； and so parted； Povy discoursed with me about my Lord Peterborough's 50l。 which his man did give me from him； the last year's salary I paid him； which he would have Povy pay him again； but I have not taken it to myself yet； and therefore will most heartily return him； and mark him put for a coxcomb。 Povy went down to Mr。 Williamson's； and brought me up this extract out of the Flanders' letters to day come：That Admiral Everson； and the Admiral and Vice…Admiral of Freezeland with many captains and men； are slain； that De Ruyter is safe； but lost 250 men out of his own ship； but that he is in great disgrace； and Trump in better favour； that Bankert's ship is burned； himself hardly escaping with a few men on board De Haes； that fifteen captains are to be tried the seventh of August； and that the hangman was sent from Flushing to assist the Council of Warr。 How much of this is true； time will show。
August 1； 1666。 Walked over the Park with Sir W。 Coventry； who I clearly see is not thoroughly pleased with the late management of the fight； nor with any thing that the Generalls do； only is glad to hear that De Ruyter is out of favour； and that this fight hath cost them 5000 men； as they themselves do report。 And it is a strange thing； as he obser