That they pretend they are to come to Dover; and that
thereupon the Governor of Dover Castle is getting the
victuallers' provision out of the town into the Castle to secure
it. But I do think this is a ridiculous conceit; but a little
time will show.
30th. Mightily troubled all this morning with going to my Lord
Mayor, (Sir Thomas Bludworth, a silly man I think, [As his
conduct during the Great Fire fully proved.]) and other places,
about getting shipped some men that they have these two last
nights pressed in the City out of houses: the persons wholly
unfit for sea, and many of them people of very good fashion,
which is a shame to think of, and carried to Bridewell they are,
yet without being impressed with money legally as they ought to
be. But to see how the King's business is done; my Lord Mayor
himself did scruple at this time of extremity to do this thing,
because he had not money to pay the pressed-money to the men. I
did out of my own purse disburse 15l. to pay for their pressing
and diet last night and this morning; which is a thing worth
record of my Lord Mayor.
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