fice to do in it； and leave the letter with Sir W。 Clerke； which upon such a time and occasion was a strange piece of indifference； hardly possible。 I copied out the letter； and did also take minutes out of Sir W。 Clerke's other letters； and the sum of the news is：…
Victory over the Dutch； June 3； 1665。
This day they engaged： the Dutch neglecting greatly the opportunity of the wind they had of us； by which they lost the benefit of their fire…ships。 The Earl of Falmouth； Muskerry； and Mr。 Richard Boyle ＇Second son to the Earl of Burlington。＇ killed on board the Duke's ship； the Royall Charles； with one shot： their blood and brains flying in the Duke's face； and the head of Mr。 Boyle striking down the Duke； as some say。 Earle of Marlborough； Portland； Rear…Admirall Sansum （to Prince Rupert） killed； and Capt。 Kerby and Ableson。 Sir John Lawson wounded on the knee： hath had some bones taken out； and is likely to be well again。 Upon receiving the hurt； he sent to the Duke for another to command the Royal Oake。 The Duke sent Jordan out of the St。 George； who did brave things in her。 Capt。 Jer。 Smith of the Mary was second to the Duke； and stepped between him and Captain Seaton of the Urania； （76 guns and 400 men） who had sworn to board the Duke； killed him 200 men； and took the ship； himself losing 99 men； and never an officer saved but himself and lieutenant。 His master indeed is saved； with his leg cut off。 Admirall Opdam blown up； Trump killed； and said by Holmes； all the rest of their admiralls； as they say； but Everson； （whom they dare not trust for his affection to the Prince of Orange；） are killed； we having taken and sunk； as is believed； about 24 of their best ships； killed and taken near 8 or 10；000 men； and lost； we think； not above 700。 A greater victory never known in the world。 They are all fled； some 43 got into the Texell； and others elsewhere； and we in pursuit of the rest。
9th。 To White Hall； and in my way met with Mr。 Moore； who eases me in one point wherein I was troubled； which was； that I heard of nothing said or done by my Lord Sandwich： but he tells me that Mr。 Cowling； my Lord Chamberlain's secretary； did hear the King say that my Lord Sandwich bad done nobly and worthily。 The King； it seems； is much troubled at the fall of my Lord Falmouth； but I do not meet with any man else that so much as wishes him alive again； the world conceiving him a man of too much pleasure to do the King any good； or offer any good office to him。 But I hear of all hands he is confessed to have been a man of great honour； that did show it in this his going with the Duke； the most that ever any man did。
10th。 In the evening home to supper； and there； to my great trouble； hear that the plague is come into the City （though it hath these three or four weeks since its beginning been wholly out of the City）； but where should it begin but in my good friend and neighbour's； Dr。 Burnett； ＇He was a physician。＇ in Fanchurch Street： which in both points troubles me mightily。
11th。 I saw poor Dr。 Burnett's door shut； but he hath； I hear； gained great good…will among his neighbours； for he discovered it himself first； and caused himself to be shut up of his own accord： which was very handsome。
13th。 At noon with Sir G。 Carteret to my Lord Mayor's to dinner； where much company in a little room。 His name； Sir John Lawrence。 There were at table three Sir Richard Brownes； viz。： he of the Councill； a clerk； and the Alderman； and his son； and there was a little grandson also Richard； who will hereafter be Sir Richard Browne。 My Lord Mayor very respectfull to me。
14th。 I met with Mr。 Cowling； who observed to me how he finds every body silent in the praise of my Lord Sandwich； to set up the Duke and the Prince； but that the Duke did both to the King and my Lord Chancellor write abundantly of my Lord's courage and service and I this day met with a letter of Captain Ferrers； wherein he tells how my Lord was with his ship in all the heat of the day； and did most worthily。 To Westminster； and there saw my Lord Marlborough brought to be buried； several Lords of the Council carrying him； and； with the herald in some state。 This day the News…book （upon Mr。 Moore's showing L'Estrange Captain Ferrers letter） did do my Lord Sandwich great right as to the late victory。 The Duke of York not yet come to town。 The town grows very sickly； and people to be afraid of it； there dying this last week of the plague 112； from 43 the week before； whereof but one in Fanchurch…streete； and one in Broad…streete； by the Treasurer's office。
16th。 After dinner； and doing some business at the office； I to White Hall； where the Court is full of the Duke and his courtiers returned from sea。 All fat and lusty； and ruddy by being in the sun。 I kissed his hands； and we waited all the afternoon。 By and by saw Mr。 Coventry； which rejoiced my very heart。 Anon he and I； from all the rest of the company； walked into the Matted Gallery； where after many expressions of love； we fell to talk of business。 Among other things； how my Lord Sandwich； both in his councils and personal service； hath done most honourably and serviceably。 Sir J。 Lawson is come to Greenwich； but his wound in his knee yet very bad。 Jonas Poole； in the Vantguard； did basely； so as to be； or will be； turned out of his ship。 Captain Holmes expecting upon Sansum's death to be made Rear…admirall to the Prince； （but Harman is put in） hath delivered up to the Duke his commission； which the Duke took and tore。 He it seems； had bid the Prince； who first told him of Holmes's intention； that he should dissuade him from it； for that he was resolved to take it if he offered it。 Yet Holmes would do it； like a rash； proud coxcombe。 But he is rich； and hath； it seems； sought an occasion of leaving the service。 Several of our Captains have done ill。 The great ships are the ships do the business； they quite； deadening the enemy。 They run away upon sight of the Prince。 It is strange to see how people do already slight Sir William Barkeley； ＇Killed in the sea…fight the following year。 Vide June 16； 1666。＇ my Lord FitzHarding's brother； who； three months since； was the delight of the Court。 Captain Smith of the Mary the Duke talks mightily of； and some great thing will be done for him。 Strange to hear how the Dutch do relate； as the Duke says； that they are the conquerors； and bonfires are made in Dunkirke in their behalf； though a clearer victory can never be expected。 Mr。 Coventry thinks they cannot have lost less than 6000 men； and we not dead above 200； and wounded about 400； in all about 600。 Captain Grove； the Duke told us this day； hath done the basest thing at Lowestoffe； in hearing of the guns； and could not （as others） be got out； but staid there； for which he will be tried； and is reckoned a prating coxcombe； and of no courage。
17th。 It struck me very deep this afternoon going with a hackney coach from Lord Treasurer's down Holborne； the coachman I found to drive easily and easily； at last stood still； and come down hardly able to stand； and told me that he was suddenly struck very sick； and almost blind； he could not see； so I light and went into another coach； with a sad heart for the poor man and for myself also； lest he should have been struck with the plague。 Sir John Lawson； I hear； is worse than yesterday： the King went to see him to…day most； kindly。 It seems his wound is not very bad； but he hath a fever； a thrush and a hick…up； all three together； which are； it seems； very bad symptoms。
20th。 Thankes…giving…day for victory over the Dutch。 To the Dolphin Taverne； where all we officers of the Navy met with the Commissioners of the Ordnance by agreement； and dined： where good musique at my direction。 Our club come to 34s。 a man； nine of us。 By water to Fox…hall； and there walked an hour alone； observing the several humours of the citizens that were there this holy…day； pulling off cherries； and God knows what。 This day I informed myself that there died four of five at Westminster of the plague； in several houses upon Sunday last； in Bell…Alley； over against the Palace…gate： yet people do think that the number will be fewer in the town than it was the last week。 The Dutch are come out again with 20 sail under Banker； supposed gone to the Northward to meet their East India fleet。
21st。 I find our tallys will not be money in less than sixteen months； which is a sad thing for the King to pay all that interest for every penny he spends； and； which is strange； the goldsmiths with whom I spoke； do declare that they will not be moved to part with money upon the increase of their consideration of ten per cent； which they have。 I find all the town almost going out of town； the coaches and waggons being all full of people going into the country。
23rd。 To a Committee for Tangier； where unknown to me comes my Lord of Sandwich； who； it seems； come to town last night。 After the Committee was up； my Lord Sandwich did take me aside in the robe…chamber； telling me how much the Duke and Mr。 Coventry did； both in the fleet and here； make of him； and that in some opposition to the Prince； and as a more private message； he told me that he hath been with them both when they have made sport of the Prince and laughed at him： yet that all the discourse of the town； and the printed relation； should not give him one word of honour my Lord thinks very strange； he assuring me； that though by accident the Prince was in the van in the beginning of the fight for the first pass； yet all the rest of the day my Lord was in the van； and continued so。 That notwithstanding all this noise of the Prince； he had hardly a shot in his side or a man killed； whereas he above 30 in her hull； and not one mast whole nor yard： but the most battered ship of the fleet； and lost most men； saving Captain Smith of the Mary。 That the most the Duke did was almost out of gun…shot： but that； indeed； the Duke did come up to my Lord's rescue after he had a great while fought with four of them。 How poorly Sir John Lawson performed； notwithstanding all that was said of him； and how his ship turned out of the way while Sir J。 Lawson himself was upon the deck； to the endangering of the whole fleet。