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uke； even from the Prince and Duke of Albemarle themselves； and made the most of to me and them by Sir W。 Coventry； therefore I think it discretion； great and necessary discretion； to keep in with him。 To the Tower several times； about the business of the pressed men； and late at it till twelve at night shipping of them。 But； Lord！ how some poor women did cry； and in my life I never did see such natural expression of passion as I did here in some women's bewailing themselves； and running to every parcel of men that were brought； one after another； to look for their husbands； and wept over every vessel that went off； thinking they might be there； and looking after the ship as far as ever they could by moone…light； that it grieved me to the heart to hear them。 Besides； to see poor patient labouring men and housekeepers leaving poor wives and families； taken up on a sudden by strangers； was very hard； and that without press…money； but forced against all law to be gone。 It is a great tyranny。
2nd。 Up betimes； and forced to go to my Lord Mayor's； about the business of the pressed men； and indeed I find him a mean man of understanding and dispatch of any publick business。 Thence out of curiosity to Bridewell to see the pressed men； where there are about 300； but so unruly that I durst not go among them： and they have reason to be so； having been kept these three days prisoners； with little or no victuals； and pressed out and contrary to all course of law； without press…money； and men that are not liable to it。 Were I met with prating Colonel Cox； one of the City collonells； heretofore a great presbyter： but to hear how the fellow did commend himself； and the service he do the King； and； like an asse； at Paul's did take me out of my way on purpose to show me the gate； （the little north gate） where he had two men shot close by him on each time； and his own hair burnt by a bullet…shot in the insurrection of Venner； and himself escaped。 I found one of the vessels loaden with the Bridewell birds in a great mutiny； and they would not sail； not they； but with good words； and cajoling the ringleader into the Tower； （where； when he was come； he was clapped up in the Hole） they were got very quietly； but I think it is much if they do not run the vessel on ground。
3rd。 Mr。 Finch； one of the Commissioners of Excise； and I fell to discourse of the Parliament； and the great men there； and among others； Mr。 Vaughan； whom he reports as a man of excellent judgement and learning； but most passionate and opiniastre。 He had done himself the most wrong （though he values it not）； that is； the displeasure of the King in his standing so long against the breaking of the Act for a triennial parliament； but yet do believe him to be a most loyall gentleman。 He told me Mr。 Prin's character； that he is a man of mighty labour and reading； and memory； but the worst judge of matters； or layer together of what he hath read； in the world； （which I do not； however； believe him in；） that he believes him very true to the King in his heart； but can never be reconciled to episcopacy； that the House do not lay much weight upon him； or any thing he says。 News came yesterday from Harwich； that the Dutch had appeared upon our coast with their fleet； and we believe did go to the Gun…fleete； and they are supposed to be there now； but I have heard nothing of them to…day。 Yesterday Dr。 Whistler； at Sir W。 Pen's； told me that Alexander Broome； ＇Alexander Broome； an attorney in the Lord Mayor's Court； author of 〃Loyal Songs and Madrigals；〃 much sung by the Cavaliers； and of a translation of Horace。 He was regretted as an agreeable companion。＇ the great song…maker； is lately dead。
4th。 Thanks be to God； the plague is； as I hear； encreased but two this week； but in the country in several places it rages mightily； and particularly in Colchester； where it hath； long been； and is believed will quite depopulate the place。 With the Duke； all of us discoursing about the places where to build ten great ships： the King and Council have resolved on none to be 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