glad he was come to have so lately concern in
the Navy as he hath, for he cannot now give any good account of the
Navy business; and that all his work now was to be able to provide such
orders as would justify his Royal Highness in the business, when it
shall be called to account; and that he do do, not concerning himself
whether they are or can be performed, or no; and that when it comes to
be examined, and falls on my Lord Treasurer, he cannot help it, whatever
the issue of it shall be. Hereupon Sir W. Batten did pray him to keep
also by him all our letters that come from the office that may justify
us, which he says he do do, and, God knows, it is an ill sign when
we are once to come to study how to excuse ourselves. It is a sad
consideration, and therewith we broke up, all in a sad posture, the most
that ever I saw in my life. One thing more Sir W. Coventry did say
to the Duke of York, when I moved again, that of about L9000 debt to
Lanyon, at Plymouth, he might pay L3700 worth of prize-goods, that he
bought lately at the candle, out of this debt due to him from the King;
and the Duke of York, and Sir G: Carteret, and Lord Barkeley, saying,
all of them, that my Lord Ashly would not be got to yield to it, who
is Treasurer of the Prizes, Sir W. Coventry did plainly desire that it
might be declared whether the proceeds of the prizes were to go to the
helping on of the war, or no; and, if it were, how then could this be
denied? which put them all into another stound; and it is true, God
forgive us! Thence to the chappell, and there, by chance, hear that Dr.
Crew is to preach; and so into the organ-loft, where I met Mr. Carteret,
and my Lady Jemimah, and Sir Thomas Crew's two daughters, and Dr. Childe
played; and Dr. Crew did make a very pretty, neat, sober, honest sermon;
and delivered it very readily, decently, and gravely, beyond his years:
so as I was exceedingly taken with it, and I believe the whole
chappell, he being but young; but his manner of his delivery I do like
exceedingly. His text was, "But seeke ye first the kingdom of God, and
his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Thence
with my Lady to Sir G. Carteret's lodgings, and so up into the house,
and there do hear that the Dutch letters are come, and say that the
Dutch have ordered a passe to be sent for our Commissioners, and that it
is now upon the way, coming with a trumpeter blinded, as is usual. But I
perceive every body begins t