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of money； which； when it was gone； I was afraid might give offence； but upon two or three readings over again the copy of it； I was satisfied it was a good letter； only Sir W。 Batten signed it with me； which I could wish I had done alone。
17th。 Every moment business of one kind or other about the fire… ships and other businesses； most of them vexatious for want of money； the commanders all complaining that if they miss to pay their men a night； they run away； seamen demanding money of them by way of advance； and some of Sir Fretcheville Hollis's men； that he so bragged of； demanding their tickets to be paid； or they would not work： this Hollis； Sir W。 Batten and W。 Pen say； proves a conceited； idle； prating； lying fellow。 Captain Cocke tells me there have been great endeavours of bringing in the Presbyterian interest； but that it will not do。 He named to me several of the insipid lords that are to command the armies that are to be raised。 He says the King and Court are all troubled； and the gates of the Court were shut up upon the first coming of the Dutch to us； but they do mind the business no more than ever： that the bankers； he fears； are broke as to ready…money； though Viner had 100；000l。 by him when our trouble begun： that he and the Duke of Albemarle have received into their own hands； of Viner； the former 10；000l。； and the latter 12；000l。； in tallies or assignments to secure what was in his hands of theirs； and many other great men of our masters have done the like； which is no good sign； when they begin to fear the main。 He and every body cries out of the office of the Ordnance； for their neglects； both at Gravesend and Upner； and every where else。
18th。 To the office； and by and by word was brought me that Commissioner Pett is brought to the Tower； and there laid up close prisoner； which puts me into a fright； lest they may do the same with us as they do with him。 Great news to…night of the blowing up of one of the Dutch's greatest ships； while a Council of War was on board： the latter part； I doubt； is not so； it not being confirmed since； but the former； that they had a ship blown up； is said to be true。 This evening comes Sir G。 Carteret to the office； to talk of business at Sir W。 Batten's； where all to be undone for want of money； there being none to pay the chest at their public pay the 24th of this month； which will make us a scorn to the world。 After he had done there； he and I into the garden； and walked； and the greatest of our discourse is； his sense of the requisiteness of his parting with his being Treasurer of the Navy； if he can on any good terms。 He do harp upon getting my Lord Brouncker to take it on half profit； but that he is not able to secure him in paying him so much。 He tells me now the great question is； whether a Parliament or no Parliament； and says the Parliament itself cannot be thought able at present to raise money； and therefore it will be to no purpose to call one。
19th。 Comes an order from Sir R。 Browne； commanding me this afternoon to attend the Council…board with all my books and papers； touching the Medway。 I was ready to fear some mischief to myself； though it appears most reasonable that it is to inform them about Commissioner Pett。 I am called in to a large Committee of the Council： present； the Duke of Albemarle； Anglesy； Arlington； Ashly； Carteret； Duncomb； Coventry； Ingram； Clifford； Lauderdale； Morrice； Manchester； Craven； Carlisle； Bridgewater。 ＇John； second Earl of Bridgewater； Ob。 1686。＇ And after Sir W。 Coventry's telling them what orders his Royal Highness had made for the safety of the Medway； I told them to their full content what we had done； and showed them our letters。 Then was Peter Pett called in； with the Lieutenant of the Tower。 He is in his old clothes； and looked most sillily。 His charge was chiefly the not carrying up of the great ships； and the using of the boats in carrying away his goods； to which he answered very sillily； though his faults to me seem only great omissions。 Lord Arlington and Coventry very severe against him； the former saying that； if he was not guilty the world would think them all guilty。 The latter urged； that there must be some faults； and that the Admiral must be found to have done his part。 I did say an unhappy word； which I was sorry for； when he complained of want of oares for the boats： and there was； it seems； enough； and good enough； to carry away all the boats with from the King's occasions。 He said he used never a boat till they were all gone but one； and that was to carry away things of great value； and these were his models of ships； which； when the Council； some of them； had said they wished that the Dutch had had them instead of the King's ships； he answered； he did believe the Dutch would have made more advantage of the models than of the ships； and that the King had had greater loss thereby： this they all laughed at。 After having heard him for an hour or more； they bid him withdraw。 He being gone； they caused Sir Richard Browne to read over his minutes； and then my Lord Arlington moved that they might be put into my hands to put into form； I being more acquainted with such business； and they were so。 So I away back with my books and papers； and when I got into the Court it was pretty to see how people gazed upon me； that I thought myself obliged to salute people and to smile； lest they should think I was a prisoner too： but afterwards I found that most did take me to be there to bear evidence against P。 Pett。 My wife did give me so bad an account of her and my father's method in burying of our gold； that made me mad： and she herself is not pleased with it； she believing that my sister knows of it。 My father and she did it on Sunday； when they were gone to church； in open daylight； in the midst of the garden； where； for aught they knew； many eyes might see them： which put me into trouble； and presently cast about how to have it back again to secure it here； the times being a little better now。
20th。 Mr。 Barber told me that all the discourse yesterday； about that part of the town where he was； was that Mr。 Pett and I were in the Tower； and I did hear the same before。 Busy all the afternoon： in the evening did treat with； and in the end agree； but by some kind of compulsion； with the owners of six merchant… ships； to serve the King as men…of…war。 But； Lord！ to see how against the hair it is with these men； and everybody； to trust us and the King； and how unreasonable it is to expect they should be willing to lend their ships； and lay out 2 or 300l。 a man to fit their ships for the new voyages； when we have not paid them half of what we owe them for their old services！ I did write so to Sir W。 Coventry this night。
21st。 This day comes news from Harwich that the Dutch fleet are all in sight； near 100 sail great and small； they think； coming towards them； where； they think； they shall be able to oppose them； but do cry out of the falling back of the seamen； few standing by them； and those with much faintness。 The like they write from Portsmouth； and their letters this post are worth reading。 Sir H。 Cholmly come to me this day； and tells me the Court is as mad as ever； and