collecting out of my papers our defence.  Myself got Fist, Sir W. Batten’s clerk, and busy with him writing letters late, and then home to supper and to read myself asleep, after piping, and so to bed.  Great newes to-night of the blowing up of one of the Dutch greatest ships, while a Council of War was on board:  the latter part, I doubt, is not so, it not being confirmed since; but the former, that they had a ship blown up, is said to be true.  This evening comes Sir G. Carteret to the office, to talk of business at Sir W. Batten’s; where all to be undone for want of money, there being none to pay the Chest at their publique pay the 24th of this month, which will make us a scorn to the world.  After he had done there, he and I into the garden, and walked; and the greatest of our discourse is, his sense of the requisiteness of his parting with his being Treasurer of the Navy, if he can, on any good terms.  He do harp upon getting my Lord Bruncker to take it on half profit, but that he is not able to secure him in paying him so much.  But the thing I do advise him to do by all means, and he resolves on it, being but the same counsel which I intend to take myself.  My Lady Jem goes down to Hinchingbroke to lie down, because of the troubles of the times here.  He tells me he is not sure that the King of France will not annoy us this year, but that the Court seems [to] reckon upon it as a thing certain, for that is all that I and most people are afeard of this year.  He tells me now the great question is, whether a Parliament or no Parliament; and says the Parliament itself cannot be thought able at present to raise money, and therefore it will be to no purpose to call one.  I hear this day poor Michell’s child is dead.

19th.  Up, and to the office, where all the morning busy with Fist again, beginning early to overtake my business in my letters, which for a post or two have by the late and present troubles been interrupted.  At noon comes Sir W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen, and we to [Sir] W. Pen’s house, and there discoursed of business an hour, and by and by comes an order from Sir R. Browne, commanding me this afternoon to attend the Council-board, with all my books and papers touching the Medway.  I was ready [to fear] some mischief to myself, though it appears most reasonable that it is to inform them about Commissioner Pett.  I eat a little bit in haste at Sir W. Batten’s, without much comfort, being fearful, though I shew it not, and to my office and get up some papers, and found out the most material letters and orders in our books, and so took coach and to the Council-chamber lobby, where I met Mr. Evelyn, who do miserably decry our follies that bring all this misery upon us.  While we were discoursing over our publique misfortunes, I am called in to a large Committee of the Council:  present the Duke of Albemarle, Anglesey, Arlington, Ashly, Carteret, Duncomb, Coventry, Ingram, Clifford, Lauderdale, Morrice, Manchester, Craven, Carlisle,