Coventry's envy, and a great many more
and likely never to do anything honourably but he shall be envied and
the honour taken as much as can be from it. His absence lessens his
interest at Court, and what is worst we never able to set out a fleete
fit for him to command, or, if out, to keepe them out or fit them to do
any great thing, or if that were so yet nobody at home minds him or
his condition when he is abroad, and lastly the whole affairs of state
looking as if they would all on a sudden break in pieces, and then what
a sad thing it would be for him to be out of the way. My Lord did concur
in every thing and thanked me infinitely for my visit and counsel,
telling me that in every thing he concurs, but puts a query, what if the
King will not think himself safe, if any man should go but him. How he
should go off then? To that I had no answer ready, but the making the
King see that he may be of as good use to him here while another goes
forth. But for that I am not able to say much. We after this talked of
some other little things and so to dinner, where my Lord infinitely kind
to me, and after dinner I rose and left him with some Commanders at the
table taking tobacco and I took the Bezan back with me, and with a brave
gale and tide reached up that night to the Hope, taking great pleasure
in learning the seamen's manner of singing when they sound the depths,
and then to supper and to sleep, which I did most excellently all night,
it being a horrible foule night for wind and raine.

4th. They sayled from midnight, and come to Greenwich about 5 o'clock
in the morning. I however lay till about 7 or 8, and so to my office, my
head a little akeing, partly for want of natural rest, partly having so
much business to do to-day, and partly from the newes I hear that one
of the little boys at my lodging is not well; and they suspect, by their
sending for plaister and fume, that it may be the plague; so I sent Mr.
Hater and W. Hewer to speake with the mother; but they returned to me,
satisfied that there is no hurt nor danger, but the boy is well, and
offers to be searched, however, I was resolved myself to abstain coming
thither for a while. Sir W. Batten and myself at the office all the
morning. At noon with him to dinner at Boreman's, where Mr. Seymour with
us, who is a most conceited fellow and not over much in him. Here Sir W.
Batten told us (which I had not heard before) that the last sitting day
his cloake was taken fro