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r； 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 goods out of the town； for fear of the Dutch coming up to them； and from Sir John Griffen； that last night there was not twelve men to be got in the town to defend it： which the master of the house tells me is not true； but that the men of the town did intend to stay； though they did indeed； and so had he （at the Ship；） removed their goods。 Thence went to an Ostend man…of…war just now come up； who met the Dutch fleet； who took three ships that he came convoying hither from him： says they are as low as the Nore； or thereabouts。
11th。 Brouncker come to us； who is just now going to Chatham upon a desire of Commissioner Pett's； who is very fearful of the Dutch； and desires help for God and the King and kingdom's sake。 So Brouncker goes down； and Sir J。 Minnes also from Gravesend。 This morning Pett writes us word that Sheerenesse is lost last night； after two or three hours' dispute。 The enemy hath possessed himself of that place； which is very sad； and puts us into great fears of Chatham。 Home； and there to