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their houses； but did take some things of easy carriage and left the rest； and not a house burned； and which is to our eternal disgrace； that； what my Lord Douglas's men； who come after them； found there； they plundered and took all away； and the watermen that carried us did further tell us； that our own soldiers are far more terrible to those people of the country… towns than the Dutch themselves。 We were told at the batteries； upon my seeing of the field…guns that were there； that had they come a day sooner they had been able to have saved all； but they had no orders； and lay lingering upon the way。 Several complaints； I hear； of the Monmouth's coming away too soon from the chaine； where she was placed with the two guard…ships to secure it； and Captain Robert Clerke； my friend； is blamed for so doing there； but I hear nothing of him at London about it； but Captain Brookes's running aground with the 〃Sancta Maria；〃 which was one of the three ships that were ordered to be sunk to have dammed up the River at the chaine； is mightily cried against； and with reason。 It is a strange thing to see； that while my Lords Douglas and Middleton do ride up and down upon single horses； my Lord Brouncker do go up and down with his hackney coach and six horses at the King's charge； and is not able to do so much good as a good boatswain in this business。
JULY 2； 1667。 To the office； where W。 Pen and myself and Sir T。 Harvey met； the first time we have had a meeting since the coming of the Dutch upon this coast。
3rd。 Sir Richard Ford tells us how he hath been at the Sessions… house； and there it is plain that there is a combination of rogues in the town that do make it their business to set houses on fire； and that one house they did set on fire in Aldersgate… street last Easter； and that this is proved by two young men； whom one of them debauched by degrees to steal their fathers' plate and clothes； and at last to be of their company。 One of these boys is a son of a Montagu； of my Lord Manchester's family。 To the Council…chamber； to deliver a letter to their Lordships about the state of the six merchantmen which we have been so long …fitting out。 When I come； the King and the whole table full of Lords were hearing of a pitifull cause of a complaint of an old man with a great grey beard against his son； for not allowing him something to live on； and at last come to the ordering the son to allow his father 10l。 a…year。 This cause lasted them near two hours； which； methinks； at this time to be the work of the Council…board of England； is a scandalous thing。 Here I find all the news is the enemy's landing 3000 men near Harwich； and attacking Landguard Fort； and being beat off thence with our great guns； killing some of their men； and they leaving their ladders behind them； but we had no horse in the way on Suffolke side； otherwise we might have galled their foot。 The Duke of York is gone down thither this day； while the Generall sat sleeping this afternoon at the Council…table。
4th。 To the Sessions…house； where I have a mind to hear Bazill Fielding's case tried； and so got up to the Bench； my Lord Chief… Justice Keeling ＇Sir John Keeling； Knight； King's Serjeant 1661； Chief Justice of the King's Bench 1665。＇ being Judge。 Here I stood bare； not challenging； though I might well enough； to be covered。 But here were several fine trials； among others； several brought in for making it their trade to set houses on fire merely to get plunder； and all proved by the two little boys spoken of yesterday by Sir R。 Ford； who did give so good account of particulars that I never heard children in my life。 One my Lady Montagu's （I know not what Lady Montagu） son； and the other of good condition； were playing in Moore…fields； and one rogue； Gabriel Holmes； did come to them and teach them to drink； and then to bring him plate and clothes from their fathers' houses： and this Gabriel Holmes did advise to have had two houses set on fire； one after another； that while they were quenching of one they might be burning another。 The boys did swear against one of them； that he had made it his part to pull out the plug out of the engine while it was a…playing； and it really was so。 Well； this fellow Holmes was found guilty of the act of burning the house； and other things that he stood indicted for。 It was time very well spent to be here。 Here I saw how favourable the Judge was to a young gentleman that struck one of the officers； for not making him room： told him he had endangered the loss of his hand； but that he hoped he had not struck him； and would suppose that he had not struck him。 The Court then rose； and I to dinner with my Lord Mayor and Sheriffs； where a good dinner and good discourse； the Judge being there。 There was also tried this morning Fielding （which I thought had been Bazill； but it proved the other； and Bazill was killed；） that killed his brother； who was found guilty of murder； and nobody pitied him。 The Judge seems to be a worthy man； and able； and do intend for these rogues that burned this house to be hung in some conspicuous place in the town； for an example。
6th。 Mr。 Williamson told me that Mr。 Coventry is coming over with a project of a peace； which； if the States agree to； and our King when their Ministers on both sides have showed it them； we shall agree； and that is all： but the King； I hear； do give it out plain that the peace is concluded。 This day with great satisfaction I hear that my Lady Jemimah is brought to bed； at Hinchingbroke； of a boy ＇In 1681 created Baron Carteret of Hawnes； co。 Bedford； in consideration of the eminent services rendered by his grandfather and father to Charles II。＇
7th （Lord's day）。 Mr。 Moor tells me that the discontented Parliament…men are fearful that the next sitting the King will try for a general excise by which to raise him money； and then to fling off the Parliament； and raise a land…army and keep them all down like slaves； and it is gotten among them that Bab。 May； the Privy…purse； hath been heard to say that 300l。 a…year is enough for any country…gentleman； which makes them mad； and they do talk of 6 or 800；000l。 gone into the Privy…purse this war； when in King James's time it arose but to 5000l。； and in King Charles's but 10；000l。 in a year。 He tells me that a goldsmith in town told him； that being with some plate with my Lady Castlemaine lately； she directed her woman （the great beauty；） 〃Willson；〃 sayes she； 〃Make a note for this and for that to the Privy…purse for money。〃 He tells me a little more of the basenesse of the courses taken at Court in the case of Mr。 Moyer； who is at liberty； and is to give 500l。 for his liberty； but now the great ones are divided who shall have the money； the Duke of Albemarle on one hand； and another Lord on the other； and that it is fain to be decided by having the person's name put into the King's warrant for his liberty； at whose intercession the King shall own that he is set at liberty： which is a most lamentable thing； that we do professedly own that we do these things； not for right and justice' sake； but only to gratify this or that person about the King。 God forgive us all！
8th。 Mr。 Coventry is come from Bredah； as was