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the diary of samuel pepys-第111部分
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ls me that captains carry; for all the late orders; what men they please。 So that he fears; and I do no less; that God Almighty can bless us while we keep in this disorder that we are in: he observing to me too; that there is no man of counsel or advice in the fleet; and the truth is; that the gentlemen captains will undo us for they are not to be kept in order; their friends about the King and Duke; and their own houses are so free; that it is not for any person but the Duke himself to have any command over them。
22nd。 Walked to White Hall; where saw nobody almost; but walked up and down with Hugh May; 'An architect; and Comptroller of the works at Windsor Castle。 Ob 1684。' who is a very ingenious man。 Among other things; discoursing of the present fashion of gardens to make them plain; that we have the best walks of gravell in the world; France having none; nor Italy: and our green of our bowling allies is better than any they have。 So our business here being ayre; this is the best way; only with a little mixture of statues; or pots; which may be handsome; and so filled with another pot of such or such a flower or greene as the season of the year will bear。 And then for flowers; they are best seen in a little plat by themselves; besides; their borders spoil the walks of another garden; and then for fruit; the best way is to have walls built circularly one within another; to the South; on purpose for fruit; and leave the walking garden only for that use。 Sir Richard Fanshaw is lately dead at Madrid。 The fleet cannot get clear of the River; but expect the first wind to be out; and then to be sure to fight。 The Queene and Maids of Honour are at Tunbridge。
23rd。 All full of expectation of the fleet's engagement; but it is not yet。 Sir W。 Coventry says they are eighty…nine men…of… war; but one fifth…rate; and that the Sweepstakes; which carries forty guns。 They are most infinitely manned。 He tells me the Loyal London; Sir J。 Smith; (which; by the way; he commends to be the best ship in the world; large and small) hath above eight hundred men; and moreover takes notice; which is worth notice; that the fleet hath lain now near fourteen days without any demand for a farthing…worth of any thing of any kind; but only to get men。 He also observes; that with this excess of men; nevertheless; they have thought fit to leave behind them sixteen ships; which they have robbed of their men; which certainly might have been manned; and they have been serviceable in the fight; and yet the fleet well…manned; according to the excess of supernumeraries; which we hear they have。 At least two or three of them might have been left manned; and sent away with the Gottenburgh ships。 They conclude this to be much the best fleet; for force of guns; greatness and number of ships and men; that ever England did see; being as Sir W。 Coventry reckons; besides those left behind; eighty…nine men…of…war; and twenty…five ships; though we cannot hear that they have with them above eighteen。 The French are not yet joined with the Dutch; which do dissatisfy the Hollanders; and if they should have a defeat; will undo De Witt; the people generally of Holland do hate this league with France。
25th。 At White Hall; we find the Court gone to Chapel; it being St。 James's…day。 And by and by; while they are at chapel; and we waiting chapel being done; come people out of the Park; telling us that the guns are heard plainly。 And so every body to the Park; and by and by the chapel done; and the King and Duke into the bowling green; and upon the leads; whither I went; and there the guns were plain to be heard; though it was pretty to hear how confident some would be in the lowdnesse of the guns; which it was as much as ever I could do to hear them。 By and by the King to dinner; and I waited there his dining; but; Lord! how little I should be pleased; I think; to have so many people crowding about me; and among other things it astonished me to see my Lord Barkeshire 'Thomas Howard; second son of Thomas first Earl of Suffolk created Earl of Berkshire 1625…6; K。G。 Ob。 1669; aged nearly 90。' waiting at table; and serving the King drink; in that dirty pickle as I never saw man in my life。 Here I met Mr。 Williams; who would have me to dine where he was invited to dine; at the Backe…stayres。 So after the King's meat was taken away; we thither; but he could not stay; but left me there among two or three of the King's servants; where we dined with the meat that come from his table; which was most excellent; with most brave drink cooled in ice; (which at this hot time was welcome;) and I drinking no wine; had metheglin for the King's own drinking; which did please me mightily。
27th。 To Sir W。 Coventry's lodging; and there he showed me Captain Talbot's letter; wherein he says that the fight begun on the 25th: that our White squadron begun with one of the Dutch squadrons; and then the Red with another; so hot that we put them both to giving way; and so they continued in pursuit all the day; and as long as he stayed with them: that the blow fell to the Zealand squadron; and after a long dispute; he against two or three great ships; received eight or nine dangerous shots; and so come away; and says; he saw the Resolution burned by one of their fire…ships; and four or five of the enemy's。 But says that two or three of our great ships were in danger of being fired by our fire…ships; which Sir W。 Coventry nor I cannot understand。 But upon the whole; he and I walked two or three turns in the Park under the great trees; and no doubt that this gallant is come away a little too soon; having lost never a mast nor sail。 And then we did begin to discourse of the young genteel captains; which he was very free with me in speaking his mind of the unruliness of them; and what a loss the King hath of his old men; and now of this Hannam; of the Resolution; if he be dead。 He told me how he is disturbed to hear the commanders at sea called cowards here on shore。
28th。 To my Lord Lauderdale's; where we find some Scotch people at supper。 Pretty odd company; though my Lord Brouncker tells me; my Lord Lauderdale is a man of mighty good reason and judgement。 But at supper there played one of their servants upon the viallin some Scotch tunes only; several; and the best of their country; as they seemed to esteem them; by their praising and admiring them: but; Lord! the strangest ayre that ever I heard in my life; and all of one cast。 But strange to hear my Lord Lauderdale say himself that he had rather hear a cat mew than the best musique in the world; and the better the musique; the more sick it makes him; and that of all instruments; he hates the lute most; and next to that; the baggpipe。
29th。 All the town is full of a victory。 By and by a letter from Sir W。 Coventry tells me that we have the victory。 Beat them into the Weelings: had taken two of their great ships; but by the orders of the Generalls they are burned。 This being; methought; but a poor result after the fighting of two so great fleets; and four days having no tidings of them: I was still impatient; but could know no more。 I to Sir W。 Batten; where the Lieutenant of the Tower was; and Sir John Minnes; and the news I find is what I had heard before; only that our Blue squadron; it seems; was pursued the most of the time; having more ships; a great many; than its number allotted to its share。 Young Seamour is killed; the only captain slain。 The Resolution burned; but; as they say; most of her crew and commander saved。 This is all; only we keep the sea; which denotes a victory; or at least that we are not beaten; but no great matters to brag of; God knows。
30th。 To Sir W。 Coventry; at St。 James's; where I find him in his new closet; which is very fine; and well supplied with handsome books。 I find him speak very slightly of the late victory: dislikes their staying with the fleet up their coast; believing that the Dutch will come out in fourteen days; and then we with our unready fleet; by reason of some of the ships being maymed; shall be in bad condition to fight them upon their own coast: is much dissatisfied with the great number of men; and their fresh demands of twenty…four victualling ships; they going out the other day as full as they could stow。 He spoke slightly of the Duke of Albemarle; saying; when De Ruyter come to give him a broadside〃Now;〃 says he; (chewing of tobacco the while) 〃will this fellow come and give me two broadsides; and then he shall run;〃 but it seems he held him to it two hours; till the Duke himself was forced to retreat to refit; and was towed off; and De Ruyter staid for him till he come back again to fight。 One in the ship saying to the Duke; 〃Sir; methinks De Ruyter hath given us more than two broadsides;〃 〃Well;〃 says the Duke; 〃but you shall find him run by and by;〃 and so he did; says Sir W。 Coventry; but after the Duke himself had been first made to fall off。 The Resolution had all brass guns; being the same that Sir J。 Lawson had in her in the Straights。 It is observed; that the two fleets were even in number to one ship。 Thence home; and to sing with my wife and Mercer 'Mrs。 Pepys's maid。' in the garden; and coming in I find my wife plainly dissatisfie
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