he Duke with an expresse 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 fleetes fought all day till seven at
night, and then the whole fleete 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 fleete, which, with what
recruits they had, come to one hundred sayle, 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 all so overtaken with this good newes, that the
Duke ran with it to the King, who was gone to chappell, and there all
the Court was in a hubbub, being rejoiced over head and ears in this
good newes. Away go I by coach to the New Exchange, and there did spread
this good newes 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 newes (which I had brought), being now
sent into the church by Sir W. Batten in writing, and handed from pew
to pew. But that which pleased me as much as the newes, was, to have the
fair Mrs. Middleton at our church, who indeed is a very beautiful lady.
Here after sermon comes to our office 40 people almost of all sorts and
qualities to hear the newes, which I took great delight to tell them.
Then home and found my wife at dinner, not knowing of my being at
church, and after dinner my father and she out to Hales's, where my
father is to begin to sit to-day for his picture, which I have a desire
to have. I all the afternoon at home doing some business, drawing up my
vowes for the rest of the yeare to Christmas; but, Lord! to see in what
a condition of happiness I am, if I would but keepe myself so; but my
love of pleasure is such, that my very soul is angry with itself for my
vanity in so doing. Anon took coach and to Hales's, but he was gone out,
and my father and wife gone. So I to Lovett's, and there to my trouble
saw plainly that my p