19th Up early and went to Scheveling, where I found no getting on board, though the Duke of York sent every day to see whether he could do it or no By waggon to Lausdune, where the 365 children were born We saw the hill where they say the house stood wherein the children were born. The basins wherein the male and female children were baptized do stand over a large table that hangs upon a wall, with the whole story of the thing in Dutch and Latin, beginning, ‘Marganta Herman Comitissa’, &c The thing was done about 200 years ago.

20th Commissioner Pett at last came to our lodging, and caused the boats to go off, so some in one boat and some in another we all bid adieu to the shore But through the badness of weather we were in great danger, and a great while before we could get to the ship. This hath not been known four days together such weather this time of year, a great while Indeed our fleet was thought to be in great danger, but we found all well.

21st The weather foul all this day also After dinner, about writing one thing or other all day, and setting my papers in order, hearing by letters that came hither in my absence, that the Parliament had ordered all persons to be secured, in order to a trial, that did sit as judges in the late King’s death, and all the officers attending the Court Sir John Lenthall moving in the House, that all that had borne arms against the King should be exempted from pardon, he was called to the bar of the House, and after a severe reproof he was degraded his knighthood At Court I find that all things grow high The old clergy talk as being sure of their lands again, and laugh at the Presbytery, and it is believed that the sales of the King’s and Bishops’ lands will never be confirmed by Parliament, there being nothing now in any man’s power to hinder them and the King from doing what they had a mind, but everybody willing to submit to any thing We expect every day to have the King and Duke on board as soon as it is fair My Lord does nothing now, but offers all things to the pleasure of the Duke as Lord High Admiral So that I am at a loss what to do.

22nd News brought that the two Dukes are coming on board, which, by and by, they did, in a Dutch boat, the Duke of York in yellow trimmings, the Duke of Gloucester in grey and red My Lord went in a boat to meet them, the Captain, myself, and others, standing at the entering port So soon as they were entered we shot the guns off round the fleet. After that they went to view the ship all over, and were most exceedingly pleased with it They seem to be very fine gentlemen After that done, upon the quarter-deck table, under the awning, the Duke of York and my Lord, Mr Coventry⁹⁷ and I, spent an hour at allotting to every ship their service in their return to England, which being done, they went to dinner, where the table was very full the two Dukes at the upper end, my Lord Opdam next on one side, and my Lord on the other Two guns given to every man while he was drinking the King’s health, and so likewise to the Duke’s health. I took down Monsieur d’Esquier to the great cabbin below, and dined with him in state along with only one or two friends of his All dinner the harper belonging to Captain Sparling played to the Dukes After dinner the Dukes and my Lord to sea, the Vice and Rear-Admirals and I in a boat after them After that done, they made to the shore in the Dutch boat that brought them, and I got into the boat with them, but the shore was full of people to expect their coming When we came near the shore, my Lord left them and come into his own boat, and Pen and I with him, my Lord being very well pleased with this day’s work By the time we came on board again, news is sent us that the King is on shore, so my Lord fired all his guns round twice, and all the fleet after him The gun over against my cabbin I fired myself to the King, which was the first time that he had been saluted by his own ships since this change, but holding my head too much over the gun, I had almost spoiled my right eye Nothing in the world but giving of guns almost all this day In the evening we began to remove cabbins, I to the carpenter’s cabbin, and Dr Clerke with me Many of the King’s servants come on board to-night, and so many Dutch of all sorts come to see the ship till it was quite dark, that we could not pass by one another, which was a great trouble to us all This afternoon Mr Downing (who was knighted yesterday by the King) was here on board, and had a ship for his passage into England, with his lady and servants By the same token he called me to him when I was going to write the order, to tell me that I must write him Sir G Downing My Lord lay in the roundhouse tonight This evening I was late writing a French letter by my Lord’s order to Monsieur Wragh, Embassador de Denmarke àla Haye, which my Lord signed in bed.