e-Admirall of England, which, after a
terrible fight, maintained to admiration against a squadron of the
Holland fleet, above six hours, neere the Suffolk coast, having put
off two fireships; at last, being utterly disabled, and few of her
men remaining unhurt, was, by a third, unfortunately set on fire.
But he (though he swome well) neglected to save himselfe, as some
did, and out of perfect love to that worthy Lord, whom, for many
yeares, he had constantly accompanyed, in all his honourable
employments, and in all the engagements of the former warre, dyed
with him, at the age of xxxii., much bewailed by his father, whom he
never offended; and much beloved by all for his knowne piety,
vertue, loyalty, fortitude, and fidelity."--B.]

My Lord, to my great content, did tell me before them, that never
anything was read to the King and Council, all the chief Ministers of
State being there, as my letter about the Victualling was, and no more
said upon it than a most thorough consent to every word was said, and
directed, that it be pursued and practised. After much mirth, and
my Lord having travelled all night last night, he to bed, and we all
parted, I home.

25th. Up and to my Lord Sandwich's, where several Commanders, of whom I
took the state of all their ships, and of all could find not above four
capable of going out. The truth is, the want of victuals being the
whole overthrow of this yeare both at sea, and now at the Nore here and
Portsmouth, where all the fleete lies. By and by comes down my Lord, and
then he and I an houre together alone upon private discourse. He tells
me that Mr. Coventry and he are not reconciled, but declared enemies:
the only occasion of it being, he tells me, his ill usage from him about
the first fight, wherein he had no right done him, which, methinks, is a
poor occasion, for, in my conscience, that was no design of Coventry's.
But, however, when I asked my Lord whether it were not best, though
with some condescension, to be friends with him, he told me it was not
possible, and so I stopped. He tells me, as very private, that there
are great factions at the Court between the King's party and the Duke of
Yorke's, and that the King, which is a strange difficulty, do favour my
Lord in opposition to the Duke's party; that my Lord Chancellor, being,
to be sure, the patron of the Duke's, it is a mystery whence it should
be that Mr. Coventry is