the diary of samuel pepys-第124章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


nterest　he　can　make　for　his　revenge。　　He　told　me　over　the　story　of　Mrs。　Stewart；　much　after　the　manner　which　I　was　told　it　by　Mr。　Evelyn：　　only　he　says　it　is　verily　believed　that　the　King　did　never　intend　to　marry　her　to　any　but　himself；　and　that　the　Duke　of　York　and　Lord　Chancellor　were　jealous　of　it：　　and　that　Mrs。　Stewart　might　be　got　with　child　by　the　King；　or　somebody　else；　and　the　King　own　a　marriage　before　his　contract　（for　it　is　but　a　contract；　as　he　tells　me　to　this　day；）　with　the　Queene；　and　so　wipe　their　noses　of　the　Crown；　and　that；　therefore；　the　Duke　of　York　and　Chancellor　did　do　all　they　could　to　forward　the　match　with　my　Lord　Duke　of　Richmond；　that　she　might　be　married　out　of　the　way：　　but　above　all；　it　is　a　worthy　part　that　this　good　lady　hath　acted。　　My　sister　Michell　＇The　wife　of　Balthazar　St。　Michel；　Mrs。　Pepys's　brother。＇　　come　from　Lee　to　see　us；　but　do　tattle　so　much　of　the　late　business　of　the　Dutch　coming　thither　that　I　am　weary　of　it。　　Yet　it　is　worth　remembering　what　she　says：　　that　she　hath　heard　both　seamen　and　soldiers　swear　they　would　rather　serve　the　Dutch　than　the　King；　for　they　should　be　better　used。　　She　saw　〃The　Royal　Charles〃　brought　into　the　river　by　them；　and　how　they　shot　off　their　great　guns　for　joy；　when　they　got　her　out　of　Chatham　river。

19th。　　One　tells　me　that；　by　letter　from　Holland；　the　people　there　are　made　to　believe　that　our　condition　in　England　is　such　as　they　may　have　whatever　they　will　ask；　and　that　so　they　are　mighty　high；　and　despise　us；　or　a　peace　with　us：　　and　there　is　too　much　reason　for　them　to　do　so。　　The　Dutch　fleet　are　in　great　squadrons　everywhere　still　about　Harwich；　and　were　lately　at　Portsmouth；　and　the　last　letters　say　at　Plymouth；　and　now　gone　to　Dartmouth　to　destroy　our　Streights'　fleet　lately　got　in　thither：　but　God　knows　whether　they　can　do　it　any　hurt；　or　no。

22nd。　　Up　to　my　Lord　Chancellor's；　where　was　a　Committee　of　Tangier　in　my　Lord's　roome；　where　he　sits　to　hear　causes；　and　where　all　the　Judges'　pictures　hung　up；　very　fine。　　But　to　see　how　Sir　W。　Coventry　did　oppose　both　my　Lord　Chancellor　and　the　Duke　of　York　himself；　about　the　Order　of　the　Commissioners　of　the　Treasury　to　me　for　not　paying　of　pensions；　and　with　so　much　reason；　and　eloquence　so　natural；　was　admirable。　　And　another　thing；　about　his　pressing　for　the　reduction　of　the　charge　of　Tangier；　which　they　would　have　put　off　to　another　time；　〃But；〃　says　he；　〃the　King　suffers　so　much　by　the　putting　off　of　the　consideration　of　reductions　of　charge；　that　he　is　undone；　and　therefore　I　do　pray　you；　Sir；　（to　his　Royal　Highness；）　that　when　any　thing　offers　of　the　kind；　you　will　not　let　it　escape　you。〃　Here　was　a　great　bundle　of　letters　brought　hither；　sent　up　from　sea；　from　a　vessel　of　ours　that　hath　taken　them　after　they　had　been　flung　over　by　a　Dutchman；　wherein；　among　others；　the　Duke　of　York　did　read　superscription　of　one　to　De　Witt；　thus〃To　the　most　wise；　foreseeing；　and　discreet；　These；　&c。；〃　which；　I　thought　with　myself；　I　could　have　been　glad　might　have　been　duly　directed　to　any　one　of　them　at　the　table；　though　the　greatest　men　in　this　kingdom。　　The　Duke　of　York；　the　Lord　Chancellor；　my　Lord　Duke　of　Albemarle；　Arlington；　Ashly；　Peterborough；　and　Coventry；　（the　best　of　them　all　for　parts；）　I　perceive　they　do　all　profess　their　expectation　of　a　peace；　and　that　suddenly。　　Sir　W。　Coventry　did　declare　his　opinion　that　if　Tangier　were　offered　us　now；　as　the　King's　condition　is；　he　would　advise　against　the　taking　it；　saying；　that　the　King's　charge　is　too　great；　and　must　be　brought　down；　it　being　like　the　fire　of　this　City；　never　to　be　mastered　till　you　have　brought　it　under　you；　and　that　these　places　abroad　are　but　so　much　charge　to　the　King；　and　we　do　rather　herein　strive　to　greaten　them　than　lessen　them；　and　then　the　King　is　forced　to　part　with　them　〃as；〃　says　he；　〃he　did　with　Dunkirke；　by　my　Lord　Tiviott's　making　it　so　chargeable　to　the　King　as　he　did　that；　and　would　have　done　Tangier；　if　he　had　lived。〃　I　perceive　he　is　the　only　man　that　do　seek　the　King's　profit；　and　is　bold　to　deliver　what　he　thinks　on　every　occasion。　　With　much　pleasure　reflecting　upon　our　discourse　to…day　at　the　Tangier　meeting；　and　crying　up　the　worth　of　Sir　W。　Coventry。　　Creed　tells　me　of　the　fray　between　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　at　the　Duke's　playhouse　the　last　Saturday；　（and　it　is　the　first　day　I　have　heard　that　they　have　acted　at　either　the　King's　or　Duke's　houses　this　month　or　six　weeks）；　and　Henry　Killigrew；　whom　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　did　soundly　beat　and　take　away　his　sword；　and　make　a　fool　of；　till　the　fellow　prayed　him　to　spare　his　life；　and　I　am　glad　of　it；　for　it　seems　in　this　business　the　Duke　of　Buckingham　did　carry　himself　very　innocently　and　well；　and　I　wish　he　had　paid　this　fellow's　coat　well。　　I　heard　something　of　this　at　the　'Change　to…　day：　　and　it　is　pretty　to　hear　how　people　do　speak　kindly　of　the　Duke　of　Buckingham；　as　one　that　will　enquire　into　faults；　and　therefore　they　do　mightily　favour　him。　　And　it　puts　me　in　mind　that；　this　afternoon；　Billing　the　Quaker　meeting　me　in　the　Hall；　come　to　me；　and　after　a　little　discourse　did　say；　〃Well；〃　says　he；　〃now　you　will　be　all　called　to　an　account；〃　meaning　the　Parliament　is　drawing　near。

23rd。　　By　and　by　comes　sudden　news　to　me　by　letter　from　the　Clerke　of　the　Cheque　at　Gravesend；　that　there　were　thirty　sail　of　Dutch　men…of…war　coming　up　into　the　Hope　this　last　tide：　　which　I　told　Sir　W。　Pen　of；　but　he　would　not　believe　it；　but　laughed；　and　said　it　was　a　fleet　of　Billanders；　and　that　the　guns　that　were　heard　was　the　salutation　of　the　Swede's　Embassador　that　comes　over　with　them。　　But　within　half　an　hour　comes　another　letter　from　Captain　Proud；　that　eight　of　them　were　come　into　the　Hope；　and　thirty　more　following　them；　at　ten　this　morning。　　By　and　by　comes　an　order　from　White　Hall　to　send　down　one　of　our　number　to　Chatham；　fearing　that；　as　they　did　before；　they　may　make　a　show　first　up　hither；　but　then　go　to　Chatham：　　so　my　Lord　Brouncker　do　go；　and　we　here　are　ordered　to　give　notice　to　the　merchant　men…　of…war；　gone　below　the　barricado　at　Woolwich；　to　come　up　again。

24th。　　Betimes　this　morning　comes　a　letter　from　the　Clerk　of　the　Cheque　at　Gravesend　to　me；　to　tell　me　that　the　Dutch　fleet　did　come　all　into　the　Hope　yesterday　noon；　and　held　a　fight　with　our　ships　from　thence　till　seven　at　night；　that　they　had　burned　twelve　fire…ships；　and　we　took　one　of　theirs；　and　burned　five　of　our　fire…ships。　　But　then　rising　and　going　to　Sir　W。　Batten；　he　tells　me　that　we　have　burned　one　of　their　men…of…war；　and　another　of　theirs　is　blown　up：　　but　how　true　this　is；　I　know　not。　　But　these　fellows　are　mighty　bold；　and　have　had　the　fortune　of　the　wind　easterly　this　time　to　bring　them　up；　and　prevent　our　troubling　them　with　our　fire…ships；　and；　indeed；　have　had　the　winds　at　their　command　from　the　beginning；　and　now　do　take　the　beginning　of　the　spring；　as　if　they　had　some　great　design　to　do。　About　five　o'clock　down　to　Gravesend；　and　as　we　come　nearer　Gravesend；　we　hear　the　Dutch　fleet　and　ours　a…firing　their　guns　most　distinctly　and　loud。　　So　I　landed　and　discoursed　with　the　landlord　of　the　Ship；　who　undeceives　me　in　what　I　heard　this　morning　about　the　Dutch　having　lost　two　men…of…war；　for　it　is　not　so；　but　several　of　their　fire…ships。　　He　do　say；　that　this　afternoon　they　did　force　our　ships　to　retreat；　but　that　now　they　are　gone　down　as　far　as　Shield…haven：　　but　what　the　event　hath　been　of　this　evening's　guns　they　know　not；　but　suppose　not　much　for　they　have　all　this　while　shot　at　good　distance　one　from　another。　　They　seem　confident　of　the　security　of　this　town　and　the　River　above　it；　if　ever　the　enemy　should　come　up　so　high；　their　fortifications　being　so　good；　and　guns　many。　　But　he　do　say　that　people　do　complain　of　Sir　Edward　Spragg；　that　he　hath　not　done　extraordinary；　and　more　of　Sir　W。　Jenings；　that　he　came　up　with　his　tamkins　＇Tamkin　or　Tompion；　the　stopple　of　a　great　gun。＇　in　his　guns。

25th。　　I　demanded　of　Sir　R。　Ford　and　the　rest；　what　passed　to…day　at　the　meeting　of　Parliament：　　who　told　me　that；　contrary　to　all　expectation　by　the　King　that　there　would　be　but　a　thin　meeting；　there　met　above　300　this　first　day；　and　all　the　discontented　party；　and；　indeed；　the　whole　House　seems　to　be　no　other　almost。　The　Speaker　told　them；　as　soon　as　they　were　sat；　that　he　was　ordered　by　the　King　to　let　them　know　he　was　hindered　by　some　important　business　to　come　to　them　and　speak　to　them；　as　he　intended；　and；　therefore；　ordered　him　to　move　that　they　would　adjourn　themselves　till　Monday　next；　（it　being　very　plain　to　all　the　House　that　he　expects　to　hear　by　that　time　of　the　sealing　of　the　peace；　which　by　letters；　it　seems；　from　my　Lord　Hollis　was　to　be　sealed　the　last　Sunday。）　　But　before　they　would　come　to　the　question　whether　they　would　adjourn；　Sir　Thomas　Tomkins　steps　up　and　tells　them；　that　all　the　country　is　grieved　at　this　new…　raised　standing…army；　and　that　they　thought　themselves　safe　enough　in　their　trayn…bands：　　and　that；　therefore；　he　desired　the　King　might　be　moved　to　disband　them。　　Then　rises　Garraway　and　seconds　him；　only　with　this　explanation；　（which　he　said　he　believed　the　other　meant；）　that；　as　soon　as　peace　should　be　concluded；　they　might　be　disbanded。　　Then　rose　Sir　W。　Coventry；　and　told　them　that　he　did　approve　of　what　the　last　gentleman　said；　but　also；　that　at　the　same　time　he　did　no　more　than　what　he　durst　be　bold　to　say　he　knew　to　be　the　King's　mind；　that　as　soon　as　peace　was　concluded　he　would　do　it　of　himself。　　Then　rose　Sir　Thomas　Littleton；　and　did　give　several　reasons　from　the　uncertainty　of　their　meeting　again　but　to　adjourne；　（in　case　news　comes　of　the　peace　being　ended　before　Monday　next；）　and　the　possibility　of　the　King's　having　some　about　him　that　may　endeavour　to　alter　his　own；　and　the　good　part　of　his　Council's　advice；　for　the　keeping　up　of　the　land…army：　　and；　therefore；　it　was　fit　that　they　did　present　it　to　the　King　as　their　desire；　that　as　soon　as　peace　was　concluded　the　land…army　might　be　laid　down；　and　that　this　their　request　might　be　carried　to　the　King　by　them　of　their　House　that　were　Privy…councillors；　which　was　put　to　the　vote；　and　carried　NEMINE　CONTRADICENTE。　　So　after　this　vote　passed；　they　adjourned：　　but　it　is　plain　what　the　effects　of　this　Parliament　will　be；　if　they　be　suffered　to　sit；　that　they　will　fall　foul　upon　the　faults　of　the　Government；　and　I　pray　God　they　may　be　permitted　to　do　it；　for　nothing　else；　I　fear；　will　save　the　King　and　kingdom　than　the　doing　it　betimes。

27th。　　To　the　office；　where　I　hear　that　Sir　John　Coventry　＇Nephew　to　Sir　William　and　Henry　Coventry；　created　K。B。　at　Charles　II。's　coronation；　and　M。P。　for　Weymouth　in　several　Parliaments。　　The　outrage　committed　on　his　person　by　Sir　Thomas　Sandys；　O'Bryan；　and　others；　who　cut　his　nose　to　the　bone；　gave　rise　to　the　passing　a　Bill　still　known　by　the　name　of　〃THE　COVENTRY　ACT。〃＇　is　come　over　from　Bredagh；　（a　nephew；　I　think；　of　Sir　W。　Coventry's）；　but　what　message　he　brings　I　know　not。　　This　morning　news　is　come　that　Sir　Jos。　Jordan　is　come　from　Harwich；　with　sixteen　fire…ships　and　four　other　little　ships　of　war；　and　did　attempt　to　do　some　execution　upon　the　enemy；　but　did；　it　without　discretion；　as　most　do　say；　so　as　they　have　been　able　to　do　no　good；　but　have　lost　four　of　thei