here and back again. After dinner to White Hall
to a Committee of Tangier, but I come a little too late, they were up,
so I to several places about business, among others to Westminster Hall,
and there did meet with Betty Michell at her own mother's shop. I would
fain have carried her home by water, but she was to sup at that end of
the town. So I away to White Hall, and thence, the Council being up,
walked to St. James's, and there had much discourse with Sir W. Coventry
at his chamber, who I find quite weary of the warr, decries our having
any warr at all, or himself to have been any occasion of it, that he
hopes this will make us shy of any warr hereafter, or to prepare better
for it, believes that one overthrow on the Dutch side would make them
desire peace, and that one on ours will make us willing to accept of
one: tells me that Commissioner Pett is fallen infinitely under the
displeasure of the Prince and Duke of Albemarle, not giving them
satisfaction in the getting out of the fleete, and that the complaint he
believes is come to the King, and by Sir W. Coventry's discourse I find
he do concur in it, and speaks of his having of no authority in the
place where he is, and I do believe at least it will end in his being
removed to some other yarde, and I am not sorry for it, but do fear that
though he deserves as bad, yet at this time the blame may not be so well
deserved. Thence home and to the office; where I met with a letter
from Dover, which tells me (and it did come by expresse) that newes
is brought over by a gentleman from Callice that the Dutch fleete, 130
sail, are come upon the French coast; and that the country is bringing
in picke-axes, and shovells, and wheel-barrows into Callice; that there
are 6,000 men armed with head, back, and breast (Frenchmen) ready to
go on board the Dutch fleete, and will be followed by 12,000 more. That
they pretend they are to come to Dover; and that thereupon the Governor
of Dover Castle is getting the victuallers' provision out of the towne
into the Castle to secure it. But I do think this is a ridiculous
conceit; but a little time will show. At night home to supper and to
bed,

30th. Up, and to the office, and mightily troubled all this morning with
going to my Lord Mayor (Sir Thomas Bludworth,

[As his conduct during the Great Fire fully proved, when he is said
to have boasted that he would extinguish the flames by the same
means to which Swift tells us G