families and rich goods in the City; and do think verily that the French,
being come down with his army to Dunkirke, it is to invade us, and that we
shall be invaded. Mr. Clerke, the, solicitor, comes to me about business,
and tells me that he hears that the King hath chosen Mr. Pierpont and
Vaughan of the West, Privy-councillors; that my Lord Chancellor was
affronted in the Hall this day, by people telling him of his Dunkirke
house; and that there are regiments ordered to be got together, whereof to
be commanders my Lord Fairfax, Ingoldsby, Bethell, Norton, and Birch, and
other Presbyterians; and that Dr. Bates will have liberty to preach. Now,
whether this be true or not, I know not; but do think that nothing but
this will unite us together. Late at night comes Mr. Hudson, the cooper,
my neighbour, and tells me that he come from Chatham this evening at five
o'clock, and saw this afternoon "The Royal James," "Oake," and "London,"
burnt by the enemy with their fire-ships: that two or three men-of-war
come up with them, and made no more of Upnor Castle's shooting, than of a
fly; that those ships lay below Upnor Castle, but therein, I conceive, he
is in an error; that the Dutch are fitting out "The Royall Charles;" that
we shot so far as from the Yard thither, so that the shot did no good, for
the bullets grazed on the water; that Upnor played hard with their guns at
first, but slowly afterwards, either from the men being beat off, or their
powder spent. But we hear that the fleete in the Hope is not come up any
higher the last flood; and Sir W. Batten tells me that ships are provided
to sink in the River, about Woolwich, that will prevent their coming up
higher if they should attempt it. I made my will also this day, and did
give all I had equally between my father and wife, and left copies of it
in each of Mr. Hater and W. Hewer's hands, who both witnessed the will,
and so to supper and then to bed, and slept pretty well, but yet often
waking.

14th. Up, and to the office; where Mr. Fryer comes and tells me that