Dutch fleete in the river) to the taverne, and there eat and drank, and I
find the townsmen had removed most of their goods out of the town, for
fear of the Dutch coming up to them; and from Sir John Griffen, that last
night there was not twelve men to be got in the town to defend it: which
the master of the house tells me is not true, but that the men of the town
did intend to stay, though they did indeed, and so had he, at the Ship,
removed their goods. Thence went off to an Ostend man-of-war, just now
come up, who met the Dutch fleete, who took three ships that he come
convoying hither from him says they are as low as the Nore, or
thereabouts. So I homeward, as long as it was light reading Mr. Boyle's
book of Hydrostatics, which is a most excellent book as ever I read, and I
will take much pains to understand him through if I can, the doctrine
being very useful. When it grew too dark to read I lay down and took a
nap, it being a most excellent fine evening, and about one o'clock got
home, and after having wrote to Sir W. Coventry an account of what I had
done and seen (which is entered in my letter-book), I to bed.

11th. Up, and more letters still from Sir W. Coventry about more
fire-ships, and so Sir W. Batten and I to the office, where Bruncker come
to us, who is just now going to Chatham upon a desire of Commissioner
Pett's, who is in a very fearful stink for fear of the Dutch, and desires
help for God and the King and kingdom's sake. So Bruncker goes down, and
Sir J. Minnes also, from Gravesend. This morning Pett writes us word that
Sheernesse is lost last night, after two or three hours' dispute. The
enemy hath possessed himself of that place; which is very sad, and puts us
into great fears of Chatham. Sir W. Batten and I down by water to
Deptford, and there Sir W. Pen and we did consider of several matters
relating to the dispatch of the fire-ships, and so [Sir] W. Batten and I
home again, and there to dinner, my wife and father having dined, and
after dinner, by W. Hewer's lucky advice, went to Mr. Fenn, and did get