the diary of samuel pepys-第138部分
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ourage their men to provide great stores of boats to save them； while we have not credit to find one boat for a ship。 And further； he told us that this new way used by Deane （and this Sir W。 Coventry observed several times） of preparing of fire…ships do not do the work； for the fire not being strong and quick enough to flame up； so as to take the rigging and sails； lies smothering a great while； half an hour before it flames； in which time they can get the fire…ship off safely； though （which is uncertain； and did fail in one or two this bout） it do serve to burn our own ships。 But what a shame it is to consider how two of our ships' companies did desert their ships for fear of being taken by their boats； our little frigates being forced to leave them； being chased by their greater！ And one more company did set their ship on fire； and leave her； which afterwards a Feversham fisherman came up to； and put out the fire； and carried safe into Feversham； where she now is。 Which was observed by the Duke of York； and all the company with him； that it was only want of courage； and a general dismay and abjectness of spirit upon all our men； and others did observe our ill management； and God Almighty's curse upon all that we have in hand； for never such an opportunity was of destroying so many good ships of theirs as we now had。 But to see how negligent we were in this business； that our fleet of Jordan's should not have any notice where： Spragg was； nor Spragg of Jordan's so as to be able to meet and join in the business； and help one another； but Jordan； when he saw Spragg's fleet above； did think them to be another part of the enemy's fleet！ while； on the other side； notwithstanding our people at Court made such a secret of Jordan's design that nobody must know it； and even this office itself must not know it； nor for my part； I did not； though Sir W。 Batten says by others' discourse to him he had heard something of it； yet De Ruyter （or he that commanded this fleet） had notice of it； and told it to a fisherman of ours that he took and released on Thursday last； which was the day before our fleet came to him。 But then； that that seems most to our disgrace； and which the Duke of York did take special and vehement notice of； is； that when the Dutch saw so many fire…ships provided for them； themselves lying； I think； about the Nore； they did with all their great ships； with a North…east wind； （as I take it they said； but whatever it was； it was a wind that we should not have done it with；） turn down to the Middle…ground； which； the Duke of York observed； never was nor would have been undertaken by ourselves。 And whereas some of the company answered； it was their great fear； not their choice； that made them do it； the Duke of York answered； that it was； it maybe； their fear and wisdom that made them do it； but yet their fear did not make them mistake； as we should have done； when we have had no fear upon us； and have run our ships on ground。 And this brought it into my mind； that they managed their retreat down this difficult passage； with all their fear； better than we could do ourselves in the main sea； when the Duke of Albemarle ran away from the Dutch； when the Prince was lost； and the Royal Charles and the other great ships came on ground upon the Galloper。 Thus in all things； in wisdom； courage； force； knowledge of our own streams； and success； the Dutch have the best of us； and do end the war with victory on their side。 One thing extraordinary was this day： a man； a Quaker； came naked through the Hall； only very civilly tied about the loins to avoid scandal； and with a chafing…dish of fire and brimstone burning upon his head； did pass through the Hall； crying 〃Repent！ repent！〃 Presently comes down the House of Commons； the King having made a very short and no pleasing speech to them at all； not at all giving them thanks for their readiness to come up to town at this busy time； but told them that he did think he should have had occasion for them； but had none； and therefore did dismiss them to look after their own occasions till October； and that he did wonder any should offer to bring in a suspicion that he intended to rule by an army； or otherwise than by the laws of the land； which he promised them he would do； and so bade them go home and settle the minds of the country in that particular； and only added； that； he had made a peace which be did believe they would find reasonable； and a good peace； but did give them none of the particulars thereof。 Thus they are dismissed again to their general great distaste； I believe the greatest that ever Parliament was； to see themselves so fooled； and the nation in certain condition of ruin； while the King； they see； is only governed by his lust； and women； and rogues about him。 The Speaker； they found； was kept from coming in the morning to the House on purpose till after the King was come to the House of Lords； for fear they should be doing any thing in the House of Commons to the further dissatisfaction of the King and his courtiers。 They do all give up the kingdom for lost； that I speak to； and do hear what the King says； how he and the Duke of York do do what they can to get up an army； that they may need no more Parliaments： and how my Lady Castlemaine hath； before the last breach between her and the King； said to the King； that he must rule by an army； or all would be lost。 I am told that many petitions were provided for the Parliament； complaining of the wrongs they have received from the Court and courtiers； in city and country； if the Parliament had but sat： and I do perceive they all do resolve to have a good account of the money spent before ever they give a farthing more； and the whole kingdom is every where sensible of their being abused； insomuch that they forced their Parliament…men to come up to sit； and my cozen Roger told me that （but that was in mirth） he believed； if he had not come up he should have had his house burned。 The kingdom never in so troubled a condition in this world as now； nobody pleased with the peace； and yet nobody daring to wish for the continuance of the war； it being plain that nothing do nor can thrive under us。 Here I saw old good Mr。 Vaughan； and several of the great men of the Commons； and some of them old men； that are come 200 miles and more to attend this session of Parliament； and have been at great charge and disappointments in their other private business； and now all to no purpose； neither to serve their country； content themselves； nor receive any thanks from the King。 It is verily expected by many of them that the King will continue the prorogation in October； so as； if it be possible； never to have this Parliament more。 My Lord Bristoll took his place in the House of Lords this day； but not in his robes； and when the King came in he withdrew： but my Lord of Buckingham was there as brisk as ever； and sat in his robes； which is a monstrous thing； that a man should be proclaimed against； and put in the Tower； and released without any trial； and yet not restored to his places。 But above all； I saw my Lord Mordaunt ＇Vide note Nov。 26； 1666。＇ as merry as the best； that it seems hath done such further indignities to Mr。 Taylor since the last sitting of Parliament as would hang him； if there were nothing else； would the King do what were fit for him； but nothing of that is now likely to be。 Cozen Roger and Creed to dinner with me； and very merry： but among other things they told me of the strange； bold sermon of Dr。 Creeton ＇Probably Robert Creyghton of Trin。 Col。 Cambridge； A。M。 1662。 Ling。 Graec。 Prof。 Reg。 1672…3。＇ yesterday before the King； how he preached against the sins of the Court； and particularly against adultery； over and over instancing how for that single sin in David the whole nation was undone； and of our negligence in having our castles without ammunition and powder when the Dutch came upon us； and how we have no courage now…a…days； but let our ships be taken out of our harbour。 Here Creed did tell us the story of the duell last night； in Covent…garden； between Sir H。 Bellasses and Tom Porter。 It is worth remembering the silliness of the quarrel； and is a kind of emblem of the general complexion of this whole kingdom at present。 They two dined yesterday at Sir Robert Carr's ＇M。P。 Knight and Baronet； of Sleaford； Lincolnshire； and one of the proposed knights of the Royal Oak for that county。＇ where it seems people do drink high； all that come。 It happened that these two； the greatest friends in the world； were talking together： and Sir H。 Bellasses talked a little louder than ordinary to Tom Porter； giving of him some advice。 Some of the company standing by said； 〃What！ are they quarrelling； that they talk so high？〃 Sir H。 Bellasses hearing it； said； 〃No！〃 says he： 〃I would have you know I never quarrel； but I strike； and take that as a rule of mine！〃 〃How？〃 says Tom Porter； 〃strike！ I would I could see the man in England that durst give me a blow！〃 with that Sir H。 Bellasses did give him a box of the ears； and so they were going to fight there； but were hindered。 And by and by Tom Porter went out； and meeting Dryden the poet； told him of the business； and that he was resolved to fight Sir H。 Bellasses presently； for he knew； if he did not； they should be friends to…morrow； and then the blow would rest upon him； which he would prevent； and desired Dryden to let him have his boy to bring him notice which way Sir H。 Bellasses goes。 By and by he is informed that Sir H。 Bellasses's coach was coming： so Tom Porter went down out of the Coffee…house where he stayed for the tidings； and stopped the coach； and bade Sir H。 Bellasses come out。 〃Why；〃 says H。 Bellasses； 〃you will not hurt me coming out…will you？〃 〃No；〃 says Tom Porter； So out he went； and both drew： and H。 Bellasses having drawn and flung away his scabbard； Tom Porter asked him whether he was ready？ The other answering him he was； they fell to fight； some of their acquaintance by。 They wounded one another； and H。 Bellasses so much that it is feared he will die： and finding himself severely wounded； he called to Tom Porter； and kissed him and bade him shift for himself； 〃for；〃 says he； 〃Tom； thou hast hurt me； but I will make shift to stand u
