ete come
to anchor between the Horse and the Island, so that when they came to
weigh many of the ships could not turn, but run foul of the Horse, and
there stuck, but that the weather was good. He says that nothing can do
the King more disservice, nor please the standing officers of the ship
better than these silly commanders that now we have, for they sign to
anything that their officers desire of them, nor have judgment to
contradict them if they would. He told me other good things, which made
me bless God that we have received no greater disasters this year than we
have, though they have been the greatest that ever was known in England
before, put all their losses of the King's ships by want of skill and
seamanship together from the beginning. He being gone, comes Sir G.
Carteret, and he and I walked together awhile, discoursing upon the sad
condition of the times, what need we have, and how impossible it is to get
money. He told me my Lord Chancellor the other day did ask him how it
come to pass that his friend Pepys do so much magnify all things to worst,
as I did on Sunday last, in the bad condition of the fleete. Sir G.
Carteret tells me that he answered him, that I was but the mouth of the
rest, and spoke what they have dictated to me; which did, as he says,
presently take off his displeasure. So that I am well at present with
him, but I must have a care not to be over busy in the office again, and
burn my fingers. He tells me he wishes he had sold his place at some good
rate to somebody or other at the beginning of the warr, and that he would
do it now, but no body will deale with him for it. He tells me the Duke
of Albemarle is very much discontented, and the Duke of York do not, it
seems, please him. He tells me that our case as to money is not to be
made good at present, and therefore wishes a good and speedy peace before
it be too late, and from his discourse methinks I find that there is
something moving towards it. Many people at the office, but having no
more of the office I did put it off till the next meeting. Thence, with
Sir G. Carteret, home to dinner, with him, my Lady and Mr. Ashburnham, the
Cofferer. Here they talk that the Queene hath a great mind to alter her
fashion, and to have the feet seen, which she loves mightily; and they do
believe that it [will] come into it in a little time. Here I met with the
King's declaration about his proceedings with the King of Denmarke, and
particul