ng that he did see the Prince and his fleet at nine of the clock yesterday morning； four or five leagues to sea behind the Goodwin； so that by the hearing of the guns this morning； we conclude he is come to the fleet。 After wayting upon the Duke with Sir W。 Pen； （who was commanded to go to…night by water down to Harwich； to dispatch away all the ships he can；） I home： where no sooner come； but news is brought me of a couple of men come to speak with me from the fleet； so I down； and who should it be but Mr。 Daniel； all muffled up； and his face as black as the chimney； and covered with dirt； pitch； and tar； and powder； and muffled with dirty clouts； and his right eye stopped with okum。 He is come last night； at five o'clock from the fleet； with a comrade of his that hath endangered another eye。 They were set on shore at Harwich this morning； and at two o'clock； in a catch with about twenty more wounded men from the Royall Charles。 They being able to ride； took post about three this morning； and were here between eleven and twelve。 I went presently into the coach with them； and carried them to Somerset… House…stairs； and there took water （all the world gazing upon us； and concluding it to be news from the fleet； and every body's face appeared expecting of news；） to the Privy…stairs； and left them at Mr。 Coventry's lodgings （he； though； not being there）； and so I into the Park to the King； and told him my Lord Generall was well the last night at five o'clock； and the Prince come with his fleet and joyned with his about seven。 The King was mightily pleased with this news； and so took me by the hand and talked a little of it； giving him the best account I could； and then he bid me to fetch the two seamen to him； he walking into the house。 So I went and fetched the seamen into the same room to him； and there he heard the whole account。
THE FIGHT。
How we found the Dutch fleet at anchor on Friday half seas over； between Dunkirke and Ostend； and made them let slip their anchors。 They about ninety； and we less than sixty。 We fought them； and put them to the run； till they met with about sixteen sail of fresh ships； and so bore up again。 The fight continued till night； and then again the next morning from five till seven at night。 And so； too； yesterday morning they begun again； and continued till about four o'clock； they chasing us for the most part of Saturday； and yesterday we flying from them。 The Duke himself and then those people who were put into the catch； by and by spied the Prince's fleet coming； upon which De Ruyter called a little council； （being in chase at this time of us；） and thereupon their fleet divided into two squadrons； forty in one； and about thirty in the other （the fleet being at first about ninety； but by one accident or other； supposed to be lessened to about seventy）； the bigger to follow the Duke； the less to meet the Prince。 But the Prince come up with the Generall's fleet； and the Dutch come together again and bore towards their own coast； and we with them； and now what the consequence of this day will be； we know not。 The Duke was forced to come to anchor on Friday； having lost his sails and rigging。 No particular person spoken of to be hurt but Sir W。 Clerke； who hath lost his leg； and bore it bravely。 The Duke himself had a little hurt in his thigh； but signified little。 The King did pull out of his pocket about twenty pieces in gold； and did give it Daniel for himself and his companion； and so parted； mightily pleased with the account he did give him of the fight； and the success it ended with； of the Prince's coming； though it seems the Duke did give way again and again。 The King did give order for care to be had of Mr。 Daniel and his companion； and so we parted from him； and then met the Duke of York； and gave him the same account： and so broke up； and I left them going to the surgeon's。 To the Crown； behind the 'Change； and there supped at the club with my Lord Brouncker； Sir G。 Ent； and others of Gresham College； and all our discourse is of this fight at sea； and all are doubtful of the success； and conclude all had been lost if the Prince had not come in； they having chased us the greatest part of Saturday and Sunday。 Thence with my Lord Brouncker and Creed by coach to White Hall； where fresh letters are come from Harwich； where the Gloucester； Captain Clerke； is come in； and says that on Sunday night upon coming in of the Prince； the Duke did fly； but all this day they have been fighting； therefore they did face again to be sure。 Captain Bacon of the Bristoll is killed。 They cry up Jenings of the Ruby； and Saunders of the Sweepstakes。 They condemn mightily Sir Thomas Teddiman for a coward； but with what reason time must show。
5th。 At noon； though I should have dined with my Lord Mayor and Aldermen at an entertainment of Commissioner Taylor's； yet it being a time of expectation of the success of the fleet； I did not go。 No manner of news this day； but of the Rainbow's being put in from the fleet maimed as the other ships are。
6th。 By and by walking a little further； Sir Philip Frowde ＇Secretary to the Duchess of York。＇ did meet the Duke with an express to Sir W。 Coventry （who was by） from Captain Taylor； the Storekeeper at Harwich； being the narration of Captain Hayward of the Dunkirke； who gives a very serious account； how upon Monday the two fleets fought all day till seven at night； and then the whole fleet of Dutch did betake themselves to a very plain flight； and never looked back again。 That Sir Christopher Mings is wounded in the leg； that the Generall is well。 That it is conceived reasonably； that of all the Dutch fleet； which； with what recruits they had； come to one hundred sail； there is not above fifty got home； and of them； few if any of their flags。 And that little Captain Bell； in one of the fire…ships； did at the end of the day fire a ship of 70 guns。 We were also so overtaken with this good news； that the Duke ran with it to the King； who was gone to chapel； and there all the Court was in a hubbub； being rejoiced over head and ears in this good news。 Away go I by coach to the new Exchange； and there did spread this good news a little； though I find it had broke out before。 And so home to our own church； it being the common Fast…day； and it was just before sermon； but； Lord！ how all the people in the church stared upon me to see me whisper to Sir John Minnes and my Lady Pen。 Anon I saw people stirring and whispering below； and by and by comes up the sexton from my Lady Ford to tell me the news； （which I had brought） being now sent into the church by Sir W。 Batten in writing； and passed from pew to pew。 But that which pleased me as much as the news； was； to have the fair Mrs。 Middleton at our church； who indeed is a very beautiful lady。 Idled away the whole night till twelve at night at the bonfire in the streets。 Some of the people thereabouts going about with musquets； and did give me two or three vollies of their musquets； I giving them a crown to drink； and so home。 Mightily pleased with this happy day's news； and the more； because confirmed by Sir Daniel Harvy； ＇Ranger of Richmond Park。＇ who was in the whole fight with the Generall； and tells me that there appear but thirty…six in all of the Dutch fleet left at the end of the voyage when they run home。 The joy of the City was this night exceeding great。
7th。 Up betimes； and to my office about business； （Sir W。 Coventry having sent me word that he is gone down to the fleet to see how matters stand； and to be back again speedily）； and with the same expectation of congratulating ourselves with the victory that I had yesterday。 But my Lord Brouncker and Sir T。 H。 ＇Probably Sir Thomas Harvey。＇ that come from court； tell me the contrary news； which astonishes me： that is to say； that we are beaten； lost many ships and good commanders； have not taken one ship of the enemy's； and so can only report ourselves a victory： nor is it certain that we were left masters of the field。 But； above all； that the Prince run on shore upon the Galloper； and there stuck； was endeavoured to be fetched off by the Dutch； but could not； and so they burned her； and Sir G。 Ascue is taken prisoner； and carried into Holland。 This news do much trouble me； and the thoughts of the ill consequences of it； and the pride and presumption that brought us to it。 At noon to the 'Change； and there find the discourse of town； and their countenances much changed； but yet not very plain。 By and by comes Mr。 Wayth to me； and discoursing of our ill success； he tells me plainly from Captain Page's own mouth； （who hath lost his arm in the fight；） that the Dutch did pursue us two hours before they left us； and then they suffered us to go on homewards； and they retreated towards their coast： which is very sad news。 The Duke much damped。 In his discourse； touching the late fight； and all the Court talk sadly of it。 The Duke did give me several letters he had received from the fleet； and Sir W。 Coventry and Sir W。 Pen； who are gone down thither； for me to pick out some works to be done for the setting out the fleet again； and so I took them home with me； and was drawing out an abstract of them till midnight。 And as to news； I do find great reason to think that we are beaten in every respect； and that we are the losers。 The Prince upon the Galloper； where both the Royall Charles and Royall Katharine had come twice aground； but got off。 The Essex carried into Holland； the Swiftsure missing （Sir W。 Barkeley） ever since the beginning of the fight。 Captains Bacon； Tearne； Wood； Mootham； Whitty； and Coppin； slayne。 The Duke of Albemarle writes； that he never fought with worse officers in his life； not above twenty of them behaving themselves like men。 Sir William Clerke lost his leg； and in two days died。 The Loyall George； Seven Oakes； and Swiftsure； are still missing； having never； as the Generall writes himself； engaged with them。 It was as great an alteration to find myself required to write a sad letter instead of a triumphant one； to my Lady Sandwich this night； as ever on any occasion I had in my life。
8th。 To my very great joy I find Balty come home without any hurt； after the utmost imaginable danger he hath gone through