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under third…rates; but it is impossible to do it; unless we have more money towards the doing it than yet we have in any view。 But; however; the show must be made to the world。 In the evening Sir W。 Pen came to me; and we walked together; and talked of the late fight。 I find him very plain; that the whole conduct of the late fight was ill; that two…thirds of the commanders of the whole fleet have told him so: they all saying; that they durst not oppose it at the Council of War; for fear of being called cowards; though it was wholly against their judgement to fight that day with the disproportion of force; and then we not being able to use one gun of our lower tier; which was a greater disproportion than the other。 Besides; we might very well have staid in the Downs without fighting; or any where else; till the Prince could have come up to them; or at least till the weather was fair; that we might have the benefit of our whole force in the ships that we had。 He says three things must be remedied; or else we shall be undone by this fleet。 1。 That we must fight in a line; whereas we fight promiscuously; to our utter and demonstrable ruine: the Dutch fighting otherwise; and we; whenever we beat them;2。 We must not desert ships of our own in distress; as we did; for that makes a captain desperate; and he will fling away his ship; when there are no hopes left him of succour。3。 That ships when they are a little shattered; must not take the liberty to come in of themselves; but refit themselves the best they can; and stay outmany of our ships coming in with very small disableness。 He told me that our very commanders; nay; our very flag…officers; do stand in need of exercising among themselves; and discoursing the business of commanding a fleet: he telling me that even one of our flag…men in the fleet; did not know which tacke lost the wind; or kept it; in the last engagement。 He says it was pure dismaying and fear that made them all run upon the Galloper; not having their wits about them: and that it was a miracle they were not all lost。 He much inveighs upon my discoursing of Sir John Lawson's saying heretofore; that sixty sail would do as much as one hundred; and says that he was a man of no counsel at all; but had got the confidence to say as the gallants did; and did propose to himself to make himself great by them; and saying as they did: but was no man of judgement in his business; but hath been out in the greatest points that have come before them。 And then in the business of fore…castles; which he did oppose; all the world sees now the use of them for shelter of men。 He did talk very rationally to me; insomuch that I took more pleasure this night in hearing him discourse; than I ever did in my life in any thing that he said。
6th。 I believe not less than one thousand people in the streets。 But it is a pretty thing to observe that both there and every where else; a man shall see many women now…a…days of mean sort in the streets; but no men; men being so afraid of the press。 I dined with Sir G。 Carteret; and after dinner had much discourse about; our public business; and he do seem to fear every day more and more what I do; which is a general confusion in the State; plainly answering me to the question; who is it that the weight of the warr depends upon? that it is only Sir W。 Coventry。 He tells me; too; the Duke of Albemarle is dissatisfied; and that the Duchesse do curse Coventry as the man that betrayed her husband to the sea: though I believe that it is not so。 Thence to Lumburd…streete; and received 2000l。; and carried it home: whereof 1000l。 in gold。 This I do for security sake; and convenience of carriage; though it costs me above 70l。 the change of it; at 18 1/2d per peece。 Creed tells me he finds all things mighty dull at Court; and that they now begin to lie long in bed; it being; as we suppose; not seemly for them to be found playing and gaming as they used to be; nor that their minds are at ease enough to follow those sports; and yet not knowing how to employ themselves; (though there be work enough for their thoughts and councils and pains;) they keep long in bed。 But he thinks with me; that there is nothing in the world can help us but the King's personal looking after his business and his officers; and that with that we may yet do well; but otherwise must be undone: nobody at this day taking care of anything; nor hath any body to call him to account for it。
10th。 To the office; the yard being very full of women; (I believe above three hundred) coming to get money for their husbands and friends that are prisoners in Holland; and they lay clamouring and swearing and cursing us; that my wife and I were afraid to send a venison…pasty that we have for supper to…night; to the cook's to be baked; for fear of their offering violence to it: but it went; and no hurt done。 To the Tower to speak with Sir John Robinson about the bad condition of the pressed men for want of clothes。
11th。 I away by coach to St。 James's; and there hear that the Duchesse is lately brought to bed of a boy。 By and by called to wait on the Duke; the King being present; and there agreed; among other things; of the places to build the ten new great ships ordered to be built; and as to the relief of prisoners is Holland。 And then; about several stories of the basenesse of the King of Spain's being served with officers: they in Flanders having as good common men as any Prince in the world; but the veriest cowards for the officers; nay for the general officers; as the Generall and Lieutenant…generall; in the whole world。 But; above all things; the King did speak most in contempt of the ceremoniousnesse of the King of Spain; that he do nothing but under some ridiculous form or other。 I shall get in near 2000l。 into my own hands; which is in the King's; upon tallies; which will be a pleasure to me; and satisfaction to have a good sum in my own hands; whatever evil disturbances should be in the State; though it troubles me to lose so great a profit as the King's interest of ten per cent。 for that money。
12th。 With Sir W。 Coventry into London; to the office。 And all the way I observed him mightily to make mirth of the Duke of Albemarle and his people about him; saying; that he was the happiest man in the world for doing of great things by sorry instruments。 And so particularized in Sir W。 Clerke; and Riggs; and Halsey; and others。 And then again said that the only duality eminent in him was; that he did persevere; and indeed he is a very drudge; and stands by the King's business。
14th。 Up betimes to the office; to write fair a laborious letter I wrote as from the Board to the Duke of York; laying out our want of money again; and particularly the business of Captain Cocke's tender of hemp; which my Lord Brouncker brought in under an unknown hand without name。 Wherein his Lordship will have no great success; I doubt。 That being done; I down to Thames… streete; and there agreed for four or five tons of corke; to send this day to the fleet; being a new device to make barricados with; instead of junke。 After a song in the garden; which is now the greatest pleasure I take; and indeed do please me mightily; to bed。