the diary of samuel pepys-第93章
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e a Bank here。 And as to the former； he did tell us how it sticks in the memory of most merchants how the late King （when by the war between Holland and France and Spain all the bullion of Spain was brought hither； one third of it to be coyned； and indeed it was found advantageous to the merchant to coyne most of it；） was persuaded in a strait by my Lord Cottington ＇Francis； created Lord Cottington； Baron of Hanworth； by Charles I。 Died at Valladolid 1653； S。P。＇ to seize upon the money in the Tower： which； though in a few days the merchants concerned did prevail to get it released； yet the thing will never be forgot。
20th。 To Deptford by water； reading Othello； Moore of Venice； which I ever heretofore esteemed a mighty good play； but having so lately read The Adventures of Five Houres； it seems a mean thing。 All the afternoon upon my Tangier accounts； getting Tom Wilson to help me in writing as I read； and I find myself right to a farthing in an account of 127；000l。
21st。 Mr。 Batelier told me how； being with some others at Bourdeaux； making a bargain with another man at a taverne for some clarets； they did hire a fellow to thunder （which he had the art of doing upon a deale board） and to rain and hail； that is； make the noise of； so as did give them a pretence of undervaluing their merchants' wines； by saying this thunder would spoil and turn them which was so reasonable to the merchant； that he did abate two pistolls per ton for the wine in belief of that。
22nd。 I to St。 James's； and there with the Duke of York。 I had opportunity of much talk with Sir W。 Pen to…day （he being newly come from the fleet）； and he do much undervalue the honour that is given to the conduct of the late business of Holmes in burning the ships and town； saying it was a great thing indeed； and of great profit to us in being of great loss to the enemy； but that it was wholly a business of chance。 Mrs。 Knipp tells me my song of 〃Beauty Retire〃 is mightily cried up； which I am not a little proud of； and do think I have done 〃It is Decreed〃 better； but I have not finished it。
23rd。 Sir W。 Coventry sent me word that the Dutch fleet is certainly abroad； and so we are to hasten all we have to send to our fleet with all speed。 But； Lord！ to see how my Lord Brouncker undertakes the despatch of the fire…ships； when he is no more fit for it than a porter； and all the while Sir W。 Pen； who is the most fit； is unwilling to displease him； and do not look after it； and so the King's work is like to be well done。
26th。 I was a little disturbed with news my Lord Brouncker brought me； that we are to attend the King at White Hall this afternoon； and that it is about a complaint from the Generalls against us。 Sir W。 Pen and I by coach to White Hall； and there staid till the King and Cabinet met in the Green Chamber； and then we were called in； and there the King begun with me； to hear how the victualls of the fleet stood。 I did in a long discourse tell him and the rest （the Duke of York； Lord Chancellor； Lord Treasurer； both the Secretarys； Sir G。 Carteret； and Sir W。 Coventry；） how it stood； wherein they seemed satisfied； but press mightily for more supplies： and the letter of the Generalls； which was read； did lay their not going or too soon returning from the Dutch coast； this next bout； to the want of victuals。 They then proceeded to the enquiry after the fire…ships； and did all very superficially； and without any severity at all。 But； however； I was in pain； after we come out； to know how I had done； and here； well enough。 But； however； it shall be a caution to me to prepare myself against a day of inquisition。 Being come out； I met with Mr。 Moore； and he and I an hour together in the Gallery； telling me how far they are gone in getting my Lord Sandwich's pardon； so as the Chancellor is prepared in it； and Sir H。 Bennet； do promote it； and the warrant for the King's signing is drawn。 The business between my Lord Hinchingbroke and Mrs。 Mallet is quite broke off； he attended her at Tunbridge； and she declaring her affections to be settled； and he not being fully pleased with the vanity and liberty of her carriage。 Thence to discourse of the times； and he tells me he believes both my Lord Arlington and Sir W。 Coventry； as well as my Lord Sandwich and Sir G。 Carteret； have reason to fear； and are afraid； of this Parliament now coming on。 He tells me that Bristoll's faction is getting ground space against my Lord Chancellor。 He told me that my old Lord Coventry ＇The Lord Keeper； Ob。 1639…40。＇ was a cunning； crafty man； and did make as many bad decrees in Chancery as any man； and that in one case； that occasioned many years' dispute； at last when the King come in； it was hoped by the party grieved； to get my Lord Chancellor to reverse a decree of his。 Sir W。 Coventry took the opportunity of the business between the Duke of York and the Duchess； and said to my Lord Chancellor； that he had rather be drawn up Holborne to be hanged； than live to see any decree of his father's reversed。 And so the Chancellor did not think fit to do it； but it still stands； to the undoing of one Norton； a printer； about his right to the printing of the Bible； and Grammar； &c。 Sir J。 Minnes bad a very bad fit this day。
27th。 Sir G。 Carteret tells me what is done about my Lord's pardon； and is not for letting the Duke of York know any thing of it beforehand； but to carry it as speedily and quietly as we can。 He seems to be very apprehensive that the Parliament will be troublesome and inquisitive into faults； but seems not to value them as to himself。
28th。 To the wedding of Mr。 Longracke； our purveyor； a civil man； and hath married a sober； serious mayde； but the whole company was very simple and innocent。 Sir W。 Coventry did read me a letter from the Generalls to the King； a most scurvy letter； reflecting most upon him； and then upon me for my accounts； （not that they are not true； but that we do not consider the expence of the fleet；） and then upon the whole office； in neglecting them and the King's service； and this in very plain and sharp and menacing terms。 But a great supply must be made； and shall be； in grace of God！
29th。 To St。 James's； and there Sir W。 Coventry took Sir W。 Pen and me apart； and read to us his answer to the Generalls' letter to the King； that he read last night； wherein he is very plain； and states the matter in full defence of himself； and of me with him； which he could not avoid； which is a good comfort to me； that I happened to be involved with him in the same cause。 And then speaking of the supplies which have been made to this fleet； more than ever in all kinds to any； even that wherein the Duke of York himself was； 〃Well；〃 says he； 〃if this will not do； I will say； as Sir J。 Falstaffe did to the Prince； 'Tell your father； that if he do not like this； let him kill the next Piercy himself。'〃
September 1； 1666。 My wife and I to Polichinelly； ＇Polichinello in Moorfields。＇ but were there horribly frighted to see Young Killigrew come in with a great many more young sparks； but we hid ourselves； so as we think they did not see us。
2nd （Lord's day）。 Some of our maids sitting up late last night to get things ready against our feast to…day； Jane called us up about three in the morning； to tell us of a great fire they saw in the City。 So I rose； and slipped on my night…gown； and went to her window； and thought it to be on the back…side of Marke… lane at the farthest； but being unused to such fires as followed； I thought it far enough off； and so went to bed again； and to sleep。 About seven rose again to dress myself； and there looked out at the window； and saw the fire not so much as it was； and further off。 So to my closet to set things to rights； after yesterday's cleaning。 By and by Jane comes and tells me that she hears that above 300 houses have been burned down to…night by the fire we saw； and that it is now burning down all Fish…street； by London Bridge。 So I made myself ready presently； and walked to the Tower； and there got up upon one of the high places； Sir J。 Robinson's little son going up with me； and there I did see the houses at that end of the bridge all on fire； and an infinite great fire on this and the other side the end of the bridge； which； among other people； did trouble me for poor little Michell and our Sarah on the bridge。 So down with my heart full of trouble to the Lieutenant of the Tower； who tells me that it begun this morning in the King's baker's ＇His name was Faryner。＇ house in Pudding…lane； and that it hath burned down St。 Magnes Church and most part of Fish…street already。 So I down to the water…side； and there got a boat； and through bridge； and there saw a lamentable fire。 Poor Michell's house； as far as the Old Swan； already burned that way； and the fire running further； that in a very little time it got as far as the Steele…yard； while I was there。 Every body endeavouring to remove their goods； and flinging into the river； or bringing them into lighters that lay off； poor people staying in their houses as long as till the very fire touched them； and then running into boats； or clambering from one pair of stairs by the water…side to another。 And among other things； the poor pigeons； I perceive； were loth to leave their houses； but hovered about the windows and balconys； till they burned their wings； and fell down。 Having staid； and in an hour's time seen the fire rage every way； and nobody； to my sight； endeavouring to quench it； but to remove their goods； and leave all to the fire； and having seen it get as far as the Steele…yard； and the wind mighty high； and driving it into the City： and every thing after so long a drought proving combustible； even the very stones of churches； and among other things； the poor steeple ＇St； Lawrence Poultney； of which Thomas Elborough was Curate。＇ by which pretty Mrs。 lives； and whereof my old schoolfellow Elborough is parson； taken fire in the very top； and there burned till it fell down； I to White Hall （with a gentleman with me； who desired to go off from the Tower； to see the fire； in my boat）： and there up to the King's closet in the Chapel； where people come about me； and I did give them an account dismayed them all； and word was carried in to the King。 So I was called for； and did tell the King and Duke of York what I saw； and that unless his Majesty did command houses to be pulled down； nothing could stop the fire； They seemed much troubled； and the King commanded me to go to my Lord Mayor ＇Sir Thomas Bludworth。＇ from him； and command him to spare no houses； but to pull down before the fire every way。 The Duke of York bid me tell him； that if he would have any more soldiers； he shall： and so did my Lord Arlington afterwards； as a great secret。 Here meeting with Captain Cocke； I in his coach； which he lent me； and Creed with me to Paul's； and there walked along Watling…street； as well as I could； every creature coming away loaded with goods to save； and here and there sick people carried away in beds。 Extraordinary good goods carried in carts…and on backs。 At last met my Lord Mayor in Canning…street； like a man spent； with a handkercher about his neck。 To the King's message； he cried； like a fainting woman； 〃Lord！ what can I do？ I am
