Pepys’ Diary.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 493, 30 June 1932, Page 10

Pepys’ Diary.

June 13th, IG6O. Being invited to Sir Christopher Mings’s funeral. I into the church and there heard the service, and staid till they buried him, and then out. And there met with Sir W. Coventry (who was there out of great generosity, and no person of quality there but he) and went with him into his coach, and being in it with him there happened this extraordinary case. About a dozen able, lusty, proper men come to the coachside with tears in their eyes, and one of them that spoke for the rest begun and says to Sir W. Coventry, 14 We are here a dozen of us that have long known and loved, and served our dead commander Sir Christopher Mings, and have now done the last office of laying him in the ground. W e would be glad we had any other to offer after him, and in revenge of him. All we have is our lives; if you will please to get His Royal Highness to give us a fireship among us all, here is a dozen of us, out of all which choose you one to be commander, and the rest of us, whoever he is, will serve him, and if possible do that that shall show our 'memory of our dead commander, and our revenge.” Sir W. Coventry was herewith much moved (as well as I, who could hardly abstain from weeping), and took their names, and so parted; telling me that he would move His Royal Highness as in a thing very extraordinary, which was done.