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in the garden； which is now the greatest pleasure I take； and indeed do please me mightily； to bed。 This evening I had Davila brought home to me and find it a most excellent history as ever I read。
16th。 A wonderful dark sky； and shower of rain this morning。 At Harwich a shower of hail as big as walnuts。
18th。 To St。 James's after my fellows； and here； among other things； before us all； the Duke of York did say； that now at length is come to a sure knowledge that the Dutch did lose in the late engagements twenty…nine captains and thirteen ships。 Upon which Sir W。 Coventry did publickly move； that if his Royal Highness had this of a certainty； it would be of use to send this down to the fleet； and to cause it to be spread about the fleet； for the recovering of the spirits of the officers and seamen； who are under great dejectednes； for want of knowing that they did do any thing against the enemy； notwithstanding all that they did to us。 Which； though it be true； yet methought was one of the most dishonourable motions to our countrymen that ever was made； and is worth remembering。 Thence with Sir W。 Pen home； calling at Lilly's； to have a time appointed when to be drawn among the other Commanders of Flags the last year's fight。 And so full of work Lilly is； that he was fain to take his table…book out to see how his time is appointed； and appointed six days hence for him to come between seven and eight in the morning。 Thence with him home； and there by appointment I find Dr。 Fuller； now Bishop of Limericke； in Ireland； whom I knew in his low condition at Twittenham and find the Bishop the same good man that ever； and in a word； kind to us； and； methinks； one of the comeliest and most becoming prelates in all respects that ever I saw in my life。 During dinner comes an acquaintance of his； Sir Thomas Littleton ＇Afterwards made Treasurer of the Navy in conjunction with Sir Thomas Osborn。＇ whom I knew not while he was in my house； but liked his discourse： and afterwards； by Sir W。 Pen； do come to know that he is one of the greatest speakers in the House of Commons； and the usual second to the great Vaughan。 So was sorry I did observe him no more； and gain more of his acquaintance。 Walked to Woolwich； reading 〃the Rivall Ladys〃 ＇A Tragi…comedy by Dryden。＇ all the way； and find it a most pleasant and fine writ play。
19th。 Full of wants of money； and much stores to buy； for to replenish the stores； and no money to do it with。 The fleet is sailed this morning； God send us good news of them！
21st。 At noon walked in the garden with Commissioner Pett； （newly come to town） who tells me how infinite the disorders are among the commanders and all officers of the fleet。 No discipline： nothing but swearing and cursing； and every body doing what they please； and the Generalls； understanding no better； suffer it； to the reproaching of this Board； or whoever it will be。 He himself hath been challenged twice to the field； or something as good； by Sir Edward Spragge and Capt。 Seamons ＇QUERY Seymour？＇ He tells me that captains carry； for all the late orders； what men they please。 So that he fears； and I do no less； that God Almighty can bless us while we keep in this disorder that we are in： he observing to me too； that there is no man of counsel or advice in the fleet； and the truth is； that the gentlemen captains will undo us for they are not to be kept in order； their friends about the King and Duke； and their own houses are so free； that it is not for any person but the Duke himself to have any command over them。
22nd。 Walked to White Hall； where saw nobody almost； but walked up and down with Hugh May； ＇An architect； and Comptroller of the works at Windsor Castle。 Ob 1684。＇ who is a very ingenious man。 Among other things； discoursing of the present fashion of gardens to make them plain； that we have the best walks of gravell in the world； France having none； nor Italy： and our green of our bowling allies is better than any they have。 So our business here being ayre； this is the best way； only with a little mixture of statues； or pots； which may be handsome； and so filled with another pot of such or such a flower or greene as the season of the year will bear。 And then for flowers； they are best seen in a little plat by themselves； besides； their borders spoil the walks of another garden； and then for fruit； the best way is to have walls built circularly one within another； to the South； on purpose for fruit； and leave the walking garden only for that use。 Sir Richard Fanshaw is lately dead at Madrid。 The fleet cannot get clear of the River； but expect the first wind to be out； and then to be sure to fight。 The Queene and Maids of Honour are at Tunbridge。
23rd。 All full of expectation of the fleet's engagement； but it is not yet。 Sir W。 Coventry says they are eighty…nine men…of… war； but one fifth…rate； and that the Sweepstakes； which carries forty guns。 They are most infinitely manned。 He tells me the Loyal London； Sir J。 Smith； （which； by the way； he commends to be the best ship in the world； large and small） hath above eight hundred men； and moreover takes notice； which is worth notice； that the fleet hath lain now near fourteen days without any demand for a farthing…worth of any thing of any kind； but only to get men。 He also observes； that with this excess of men； nevertheless； they have thought fit to leave behind them sixteen ships； which they have robbed of their men； which certainly might have been manned； and they have been serviceable in the fight； and yet the fleet well…manned； according to the excess of supernumeraries； which we hear they have。 At least two or three of them might have been left manned； and sent away with the Gottenburgh ships。 They conclude this to be much the best fleet； for force of guns； greatness and number of ships and men； that ever England did see； being as Sir W。 Coventry reckons； besides those left behind； eighty…nine men…of…war； and twenty…five ships； though we cannot hear that they have with them above eighteen。 The French are not yet joined with the Dutch； which do dissatisfy the Hollanders； and if they should have a defeat； will undo De Witt； the people generally of Holland do hate this league with France。
25th。 At White Hall； we find the Court gone to Chapel； it being St。 James's…day。 And by and by； while they are at chapel； and we waiting chapel being done； come people out of the Park； telling us that the guns are heard plainly。 And so every body to the Park； and by and by the chapel done； and the King and Duke into the bowling green； and upon the leads； whither I went； and there the guns were plain to be heard； though it was pretty to hear how confident some would be in the lowdnesse of the guns； which it was as much as ever I could do to hear them。 By and by the King to dinner； and I waited there his dining； but； Lord！ how little I should be pleased； I think； to have so many people crowding about me； and among other things it astonished me to see my Lord Barkeshire ＇Thomas Howard； second son of Thomas first Earl of Suffolk created Earl of Berkshire 1625…6； K。G。 Ob。 1669； aged nearly 90。＇ waiting at table； and serving the King drink； in that