-ships presently
to annoy the Dutch, who are in the King's Channel, and expected up
higher. So [Sir] W. Batten and [Sir] W. Pen being come this evening from
their country houses to town we did issue orders about it, and then home
to supper and, to bed,

10th. Up; and news brought us that, the Dutch are come up as high as the
Nore; and more pressing orders for fireships. W. Batten, W. Pen, and
I to St. James's; where the Duke of York gone this morning betimes, to
send away some men down to Chatham. So we three to White Hall, and met
Sir W. Coventry, who presses all that is possible for fire-ships. So
we three to the office presently; and thither comes Sir Fretcheville
Hollis, who is to command them all in some exploits he is to do with
them on the enemy in the River. So we all down to Deptford, and pitched
upon ships and set men at work: but, Lord! to see how backwardly things
move at this pinch, notwithstanding that, by the enemy's being now come
up as high as almost the Hope, Sir J. Minnes, who has gone down to pay
some ships there, hath sent up the money; and so we are possessed of
money to do what we will with. Yet partly ourselves, being used to
be idle and in despair, and partly people that have been used to be
deceived by us as to money, won't believe us; and we know not, though
we have it, how almost to promise it; and our wants such, and men out
of the way, that it is an admirable thing to consider how much the King
suffers, and how necessary it is in a State to keep the King's service
always in a good posture and credit. Here I eat a bit, and then in the
afternoon took boat and down to Greenwich, where I find the stairs full
of people, there being a great riding

[It was an ancient custom in Berkshire, when a man had beaten his
wife, for the neighbours to parade in front of his house, for the
purpose of serenading him with kettles, and horns and hand-bells,
and every species of "rough music," by which name the ceremony was
designated. Perhaps the riding mentioned by Pepys was a punishment
somewhat similar. Malcolm ("Manners of London") quotes from the
"Protestant Mercury," that a porter's lady, who resided near Strand
Lane, beat her husband with so much violence and perseverance, that
the poor man was compelled to leap out of the window to escape her
fury. Exasperated at this virago, the neighbours made a "riding,"
i.e. a pedestrian procession, headed b