uts. He died very rich, and had, for the last yeare,
lived very handsomely, his lady bringing him to it. He was no great
painstaker in person, yet died very rich; and, as Dr. Clerke says, was
of a very great judgment, but hath writ nothing to leave his name to
posterity. In the gallery among others met with Major Halsey, a great
creature of the Duke of Albemarle's; who tells me that the Duke, by
name, hath said that he expected to have the worke here up in the River
done, having left Sir W. Batten and Mr. Phipps there. He says that the
Duke of Albemarle do say that this is a victory we have had, having,
as he was sure, killed them 8000 men, and sunk about fourteen of their
ships; but nothing like this appears true. He lays much of the little
success we had, however, upon the fleete's being divided by order
from above, and the want of spirit in the commanders; and that he was
commanded by order to go out of the Downes to the Gun-fleete, and in
the way meeting the Dutch fleete, what should he do? should he not fight
them? especially having beat them heretofore at as great disadvantage.
He tells me further, that having been downe with the Duke of Albemarle,
he finds that Holmes and Spragge do govern most business of the Navy;
and by others I understand that Sir Thomas Allen is offended thereat;
that he is not so much advised with as he ought to be. He tells me also,
as he says, of his own knowledge, that several people before the Duke
went out did offer to supply the King with L100,000 provided he would be
treasurer of it, to see it laid out for the Navy; which he refused, and
so it died. But I believe none of this. This day I saw my Lady Falmouth,
with whom I remember now I have dined at my Lord Barkeley's heretofore,
a pretty woman: she was now in her second or third mourning, and pretty
pleasant in her looks. By and by the Council rises, and Sir W. Coventry
comes out; and he and I went aside, and discoursed of much business of
the Navy; and afterwards took his coach, and to Hide-Parke, he and I
alone: there we had much talke. First, he started a discourse of a talke
he hears about the towne, which, says he, is a very bad one, and fit to
be suppressed, if we knew how which is, the comparing of the successe
of the last year with that of this; saying that that was good, and that
bad. I was as sparing in speaking as I could, being jealous of him and
myself also, but wished it could be stopped; but said I doubted it could
not