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e 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。 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； t