W. Pen, who was quoted, it seems, yesterday by Sir Fr. Hollis
to have said that if my Lord Sandwich had done so and so, we might have
taken all the Dutch prizes at the time when he staid and let them go.
But Sir W. Pen did tell us he should say nothing in it but what would do
my Lord honour, and he is a knave I am able to prove if he do otherwise.
He gone, I to my Office, to perfect my Narrative about prize-goods; and
did carry it to the Commissioners of Accounts, who did receive it with
great kindness, and express great value of, and respect to me: and
my heart is at rest that it is lodged there, in so full truth and
plainness, though it may hereafter prove some loss to me. But here I
do see they are entered into many enquiries about prizes, by the great
attendance of commanders and others before them, which is a work I am
not sorry for. Thence I away, with my head busy, but my heart at pretty
good ease, to the Old Exchange, and there met Mr. Houblon. I prayed him
to discourse with some of the merchants that are of the Committee
for Accounts, to see how they do resent my paper, and in general my
particular in the relation to the business of the Navy, which he hath
promised to do carefully for me and tell me. Here it was a mighty pretty
sight to see old Mr. Houblon, whom I never saw before, and all his
sons about him, all good merchants. Thence home to dinner, and had much
discourse with W. Hewer about my going to visit Colonel Thomson, one of
the Committee of Accounts, who, among the rest, is mighty kind to me,
and is likely to mind our business more than any; and I would be glad to
have a good understanding with him. Thence after dinner to White
Hall, to attend the Duke of York, where I did let him know, too, the
troublesome life we lead, and particularly myself, by being obliged to
such attendances every day as I am, on one Committee or another. And
I do find the Duke of York himself troubled, and willing not to be
troubled with occasions of having his name used among the Parliament,
though he himself do declare that he did give directions to Lord
Brouncker to discharge the men at Chatham by ticket, and will own it,
if the House call for it, but not else. Thence I attended the King and
Council, and some of the rest of us, in a business to be heard about the
value of a ship of one Dorrington's:--and it was pretty to observe how
Sir W. Pen making use of this argument against the validity of an oath,
against the King, be