lmighty God, I have lived thirty-two
years in the world, and am in the best degree of health at this minute
that I have been almost in my life time, and at this time in the best
condition of estate that ever I was in-the Lord make me thankfull. Up,
and to the office, where busy all the morning. At noon to the 'Change,
where I hear the most horrid and astonishing newes that ever was
yet told in my memory, that De Ruyter with his fleete in Guinny hath
proceeded to the taking of whatever we have, forts, goods, ships, and
men, and tied our men back to back, and thrown them all into the sea,
even women and children also. This a Swede or Hamburgher is come into
the River and tells that he saw the thing done.

[Similar reports of the cruelty of the English to the Dutch in
Guinea were credited in Holland, and were related by Downing in a
letter to Clarendon from the Hague, dated April 14th, 1665 (Lister's
"Life of Clarendon," vol. iii., p. 374).]

But, Lord! to see the consternation all our merchants are in is
observable, and with what fury and revenge they discourse of it. But
I fear it will like other things in a few days cool among us. But that
which I fear most is the reason why he that was so kind to our men at
first should afterward, having let them go, be so cruel when he went
further. What I fear is that there he was informed (which he was not
before) of some of Holmes's dealings with his countrymen, and so was
moved to this fury. God grant it be not so! But a more dishonourable
thing was never suffered by Englishmen, nor a more barbarous done by
man, as this by them to us. Home to dinner, and then to the office,
where we sat all the afternoon, and then at night to take my finall
leave of Mrs. Bland, who sets out to-morrow for Tangier, and then I back
to my office till past 12, and so home to supper and to bed.

24th. Up, and to my office, where all the morning upon advising
again with some fishermen and the water bayliffe of the City, by Mr.
Coventry's direction, touching the protections which are desired for
the fishermen upon the River, and I am glad of the occasion to make
me understand something of it. At noon home to dinner, and all the
afternoon till 9 at night in my chamber, and Mr. Hater with me (to
prevent being disturbed at the office), to perfect my contract book,
which, for want of time, hath a long time lain without being entered
in as I used to do from month to month. Then to my offi