Defiance
Defiance is in Ships.
On 26 Oct 1664 Defiance was ordered.
Calendars. 17 Feb 1666. 43. William Castell (age 37) to the Navy Comrs. The new ship Defiance is gone to Longreach; desires a warrant for her survey, as to the finishing according to contract, [Adm. Paper.]
Calendars. 22 Feb 1666. 117. William Castell (age 37) to the Navy Comrs. Mr. Grey has no masts large enough for the new ship Defiance; if two can be supplied from the stores, will agree to return two of the same size in eight months' time, or make two of the same scantlings upon two months' warning. [Adm. Paper.]
Pepy's Diary. 09 Mar 1666. Thence by water down to Deptford, Kent [Map], where I met my Lord Bruncker (age 46) and Sir W. Batten (age 65) by agreement, and to measuring Mr. Castle's (age 37) new third-rate ship, which is to be called the Defyance1. And here I had my end in saving the King (age 35) some money and getting myself some experience in knowing how they do measure ships.
Note 1. William Castell wrote to the Navy Commissioners on February 17th, 1665-66, to inform them that the "Defiance" had gone to Longreach, and again, on February 22nd, to say that Mr. Grey had no masts large enough for the new ship. Sir William Batten (age 65) on March 29th asked for the consent of the Board to bring the "Defiance" into dock (" Calendar of State Papers", Domestic, 1665-66, pp. 252, 262, 324).
On 27 Mar 1666 Defiance was launched at Deptford, Kent [Map] in the presence of King Charles II of England Scotland and Ireland (age 35).
Calendars. 29 Mar 1666. 52. Sir William Batten to the Navy Comrs. Wishes the consent of the Board to bring the Defiance into dock. Cannot get a bolt made for the new ship; she is hung by shores, which is very inconvenient and hazardous. The smith has received no money from Mr. Fenn; it is impossible to carry on business unless these things be remedied. [Adm. Paper.]
Pepy's Diary. 09 May 1666. Up by five o'clock, which I have not a long time done, and down the river by water to Deptford, Kent [Map], among other things to examine the state of Ironworke, in order to the doing something with reference to Downing that may induce him to returne me the 50 pieces. Walked back again reading of my Civill Law Book, and so home and by coach to White Hall, where we did our usual business before the Duke (age 32), and heard the Duke commend Deane's (age 32) ship "The Rupert" before "The Defyance", built lately by Castle (age 37), in hearing of Sir W. Batten (age 65), which pleased me mightily.
Before Jul 1666 Admiral Arthur Herbert 1st Earl Torrington (age 18) was appointed Lieutenant in Defiance.
Pepy's Diary. 13 Mar 1669. Up, and to the Tower, to see Sir W. Coventry (age 41), and with him talking of business of the Navy, all alone, an hour, he taking physic. And so away to the Office, where all the morning, and then home to dinner, with my people, and so to the Office again, and there all the afternoon till night, when comes, by mistake, my cozen Turner, and her two daughters, which love such freaks, to eat some anchovies and ham of bacon with me, instead of noon, at dinner, when I expected them. But, however, I had done my business before they come, and so was in good humour enough to be with them, and so home to them to supper, and pretty merry, being pleased to see Betty Turner (age 16), which hath something mighty pretty. But that which put me in good humour, both at noon and night, is the fancy that I am this day made a Captain of one of the King's ships, Mr. Wren (age 40) having this day sent me, the Duke of York's (age 35) commission to be Captain of "The Jerzy", in order to my being of a Court-martiall for examining the loss of "The Defyance", and other things; which do give me occasion of much mirth, and may be of some use to me, at least I shall get a little money by it for the time I have it; it being designed that I must really be a Captain to be able to sit in this Court. They staid till about eight at night, and then away, and my wife to read to me, and then to bed in mighty good humour, but for my eyes.
Pepy's Diary. 19 Mar 1669. Thence to the plaisterer's, and took my face, and my Duke of Albemarle's (age 60) home with me by coach, they being done to my mind; and mighty glad I am of understanding this way of having the pictures of any friends. At home to dinner, where Mr. Sheres dined with us, but after dinner I left him and my wife, and with Commissioner Middleton and Kempthorne (age 49) to a Court-martiall, to which, by virtue of my late Captainship, I am called, the first I was ever at; where many Commanders, and Kempthorne (age 49) president. Here was tried a difference between Sir L. Van Hemskirke, the Dutch Captain who commands "The Nonsuch", built by his direction, and his Lieutenant; a drunken kind of silly business. We ordered the Lieutenant to ask him pardon, and have resolved to lay before the Duke of York (age 35) what concerns the Captain, which was striking of his Lieutenant and challenging him to fight, which comes not within any article of the laws martiall. But upon discourse the other day with Sir W. Coventry (age 41), I did advise Middleton, and he and I did forbear to give judgment, but after the debate did withdraw into another cabin, the Court being held in one of the yachts, which was on purpose brought up over against St. Katharine's, it being to be feared that this precedent of our being made Captains, in order to the trying of the loss of "The Defyance", wherein we are the proper persons to enquire into the want of instructions while ships do lie in harbour, evil use might be hereafter made of the precedent by putting the Duke of Buckingham (age 41), or any of these rude fellows that now are uppermost, to make packed Courts, by Captains made on purpose to serve their turns. The other cause was of the loss of "The Providence" at Tangier, where the Captain's being by chance on shore may prove very inconvenient to him, for example's sake, though the man be a good man, and one whom, for Norwood's sake, I would be kind to; but I will not offer any thing to the excusing such a miscarriage. He is at present confined, till he can bring better proofs on his behalf of the reasons of his being on shore. So Middleton and I away to the Office; and there I late busy, making my people, as I have done lately, to read Mr. Holland's' Discourse of the Navy, and what other things I can get to inform me fully in all; and here late, about eight at night, comes Mr. Wren (age 40) to me, who had been at the Tower to Coventry. He come only to see how matters go, and tells me, as a secret, that last night the Duke of York's (age 35) closet was broken open, and his cabinets, and shut again, one of them that the rogue that did it hath left plate and a watch behind him, and therefore they fear that it was only for papers, which looks like a very malicious business in design, to hurt the Duke of York (age 35); but they cannot know that till the Duke of York (age 35) comes to town about the papers, and therefore make no words of it. He gone, I to work again, and then to supper at home, and to bed.
Pepy's Diary. 22 Mar 1669. Thence with W. Hewer (age 27) at noon to Unthanke's, where my wife stays for me and so to the Cocke (age 52), where there was no room, and thence to King Street, to several cook's shops, where nothing to be had; and at last to the corner shop, going down Ivy Lane, by my Lord of Salisbury's, and there got a good dinner, my wife, and W. Newer, and I: and after dinner she, with her coach, home; and he and I to look over my papers for the East India Company, against the afternoon: which done, I with them to White Hall, and there to the Treasury-Chamber, where the East India Company and three Councillors pleaded against me alone, for three or four hours, till seven at night, before the Lords; and the Lords did give me the conquest on behalf of the King (age 38), but could not come to any conclusion, the Company being stiff: and so I think we shall go to law with them. This done, and my eyes mighty bad with this day's work, I to Mr. Wren's, and then up to the Duke of York (age 35), and there with Mr. Wren (age 40) did propound to him my going to Chatham, Kent [Map] to-morrow with Commissioner Middleton, and so this week to make the pay there, and examine the business of "The Defyance" being lost, and other businesses, which I did the rather, that I might be out of the way at the wedding, and be at a little liberty myself for a day, or two, to find a little pleasure, and give my eyes a little ease. The Duke of York (age 35) mightily satisfied with it; and so away home, where my wife troubled at my being so late abroad, poor woman! though never more busy, but I satisfied her; and so begun to put things in order for my journey to-morrow, and so, after supper, to bed.
Pepy's Diary. 25 Mar 1669. Up, and by and by, about eight o'clock, come Rear-Admiral Kempthorne (age 49) and seven Captains more, by the Duke of York's (age 35) order, as we expected, to hold the Court-martiall about the loss of "The Defyance"; and so presently we by boat to "The Charles", which lies over against Upnor Castle, Kent [Map], and there we fell to the business; and there I did manage the business, the Duke of York (age 35) having, by special order, directed them to take the assistance of Commissioner Middleton and me, forasmuch as there might be need of advice in what relates to the government of the ships in harbour. And so I did lay the law open to them, and rattle the Master Attendants out of their wits almost; and made the trial last till seven at night, not eating a bit all the day; only when we had done examination, and I given my thoughts that the neglect of the Gunner of the ship was as great as I thought any neglect could be, which might by the law deserve death, but Commissioner Middleton did declare that he was against giving the sentence of death, we withdrew, as not being of the Court, and so left them to do what they pleased; and, while they were debating it, the Boatswain of the ship did bring us out of the kettle a piece of hot salt beef, and some brown bread and brandy; and there we did make a little meal, but so good as I never would desire to eat better meat while I live, only I would have cleaner dishes.
Pepy's Diary. 25 Mar 1669. By and by they had done, and called us down from the quarterdeck; and there we find they do sentence that the Gunner of "The Defyance" should stand upon "The Charles" three hours with his fault writ upon his breast, and with a halter about his neck, and so be made incapable of any office. The truth is, the man do seem, and is, I believe, a good man; but his neglect, in trusting a girl to carry fire into his cabin, is not to be pardoned. This being done, we took boat and home; and there a good supper was ready for us, which should have been our dinner. The Captains, desirous to be at London, went away presently for Gravesend, Kent [Map], to get thither by this night's tide; and so we to supper, it having been a great snowy and mighty cold, foul day; and so after supper to bed.