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renegado captain of the Hollanders； who found himself ill used by De Ruyter for his good service； and so come over to us； and hath done us good service； so that now we trust him； and he himself did go on this expedition。 The service is very great； and our joys as great for it。 All this will make the Duke of Albemarle in repute again； I doubt。 The guns of the Tower going off； and bonfires also in the street for this late good successe。
16th。 This day Sir W。 Batten did show us at the table a letter from Sir T。 Allen； which says； that we have taken ten or twelve ships； （since the late great expedition of burning their ships and town） laden with hemp； flax； tar； deals； &c。 This was good news； but by and by comes in Sir G。 Carteret； and he asked us with full mouth what we would give for good news。 Says Sir W。 Batten 〃I have better than you for a wager。〃 They laid sixpence； and we that were by were to give sixpence to him that told the best news。 So Sir W。 Batten told his of the ten or twelve ships。 Sir G。 Carteret did then tell us that upon the news of the burning of the ships and town； the common people of Amsterdam did besiege De Witt's house； and he was forced to flee to the Prince of Orange； who is gone to Cleve； to the marriage of his sister。 This we concluded all the best news； and my Lord Brouncker and myself did give Sir G。 Carteret our sixpence a…piece； which he did give Mr。 Smith to give the poor。 Thus we made ourselves mighty merry。
17th。 With Captain Erwin； discoursing about the East Indys； where he hath often been。 And among other things； he tells me how the King of Syam seldom goes out without thirty or forty thousand people with him； and not a word spoke； nor a hum or cough in the whole company to be heard。 He tells me the punishment frequently there for malefactors； is cutting off the crowns of their head； which they do very dexterously； leaving their brains bare； which kills them presently。 He told me what I remember he hath once done heretofore； that every body is to lie flat down at the coming by of the King and nobody to look upon him upon pain of death。 And that he and his fellows being strangers； were invited to see the sport of taking of a wild elephant； and they did only kneel； and look towards the King。 Their druggerman ＇Dragoman。＇ did desire them to fall down； for otherwise he should suffer for their contempt of the King。 The sport being ended； a messenger comes from the King； which the druggerman thought had been to have taken away his life。 But it was to enquire how the strangers liked the sport。 The druggerman answered； that they did cry it up to be the best that ever they saw； and that they never heard of any Prince so great in every thing as this King。 The messenger being gone back； Erwin and his company asked their druggerman what he had said； which he told them。 〃But why；〃 say they； 〃would you say that without our leave； it being not true？〃〃It makes no matter for that；〃 says he； 〃I must have said it； or have been hanged； for our King do not live by meat； nor drink； but by having great lyes told him。〃 In our way back we come by a little vessel that come into the river this morning； and says she left the fleet in Sole Bay； and that she hath not heard （she belonging to Sir W。 Jenings in the fleet） of any such prizes taken as the ten or twelve I enquired about； and said by Sir W。 Batten yesterday to be taken； so I fear it is not true。 I had the good fortune to see Mrs。 Stewart； who is grown a little too tall； but is a woman of most excellent features。 Sir Richard Ford did； very understandingly methought； give us an account of the originall of the Hollands Bank； and the nature of it； and how they do never give any interest at all to the person that brings in their money； though what is brought in upon the public faith interest is given by the State for。 The unsafe condition of a Bank under a Monarch； and the little safety to a Monarch to have any； or Corporation alone （as London in answer to Amsterdam；） to have so great a wealth or credit； it is that makes it hard to have a Bank here。 And as to the former； he did tell us how it sticks in the memory of most merchants how the late King （when by the war between Holland and France and Spain all the bullion of Spain was brought hither； one third of it to be coyned； and indeed it was found advantageous to the merchant to coyne most of it；） was persuaded in a strait by my Lord Cottington ＇Francis； created Lord Cottington； Baron of Hanworth； by Charles I。 Died at Valladolid 1653； S。P。＇ to seize upon the money in the Tower： which； though in a few days the merchants concerned did prevail to get it released； yet the thing will never be forgot。
20th。 To Deptford by water； reading Othello； Moore of Venice； which I ever heretofore esteemed a mighty good play； but having so lately read The Adventures of Five Houres； it seems a mean thing。 All the afternoon upon my Tangier accounts； getting Tom Wilson to help me in writing as I read； and I find myself right to a farthing in an account of 127；000l。
21st。 Mr。 Batelier told me how； being with some others at Bourdeaux； making a bargain with another man at a taverne for some clarets； they did hire a fellow to thunder （which he had the art of doing upon a deale board） and to rain and hail； that is； make the noise of； so as did give them a pretence of undervaluing their merchants' wines； by saying this thunder would spoil and turn them which was so reasonable to the merchant； that he did abate two pistolls per ton for the wine in belief of that。
22nd。 I to St。 James's； and there with the Duke of York。 I had opportunity of much talk with Sir W。 Pen to…day （he being newly come from the fleet）； and he do much undervalue the honour that is given to the conduct of the late business of Holmes in burning the ships and town； saying it was a great thing indeed； and of great profit to us in being of great loss to the enemy； but that it was wholly a business of chance。 Mrs。 Knipp tells me my song of 〃Beauty Retire〃 is mightily cried up； which I am not a little proud of； and do think I have done 〃It is Decreed〃 better； but I have not finished it。
23rd。 Sir W。 Coventry sent me word that the Dutch fleet is certainly abroad； and so we are to hasten all we have to send to our fleet with all speed。 But； Lord！ to see how my Lord Brouncker undertakes the despatch of the fire…ships； when he is no more fit for it than a porter； and all the while Sir W。 Pen； who is the most fit； is unwilling to displease him； and do not look after it； and so the King's work is like to be well done。
26th。 I was a little disturbed with news my Lord Brouncker brought me； that we are to attend the King at White Hall this afternoon； and that it is about a complaint from the Generalls against us。 Sir W。 Pen and I by coach to White Hall； and there staid till the King and Cabinet met in the Green Chamber； and then we were called in； and there the King begun with me； to hear how the victualls of the fleet stood。 I did in a long discourse tell him and the rest （the Duke of York； Lord Chancellor； Lord Treasurer； both the Secretarys； Sir G。 Carteret； and Sir W。 Coventry；） how it stood； wherein they seemed satisfied； but pre