25th About two o’clock in the morning, letters came from London by our Coxon so they waked me but I bid him stay till morning which he did, and then I rose and carried them into my Lord, who read them a-bed Among the rest, there was the writ and mandate for him to dispose to the Cinque Ports for choice of Parliament-men There was also one for me from Mr Blackburne, who with his own hand superscribes it to S P Esq, of which God knows I was not a little proud I wrote a letter to the Clerk of Dover Castle to come to my Lord about issuing of those writs

26th This day it is two years since it pleased God that I was cut for the stone at Mrs Turner’s⁵³ in Salisbury Court And did resolve while I live to keep it a festival, as I did the last year at my house, and for ever to have Mrs Turner and her company with me But now it pleased God that I am prevented to do it openly, only within my soul I can and do rejoice, and bless God, being at this time, blessed be his holy name, in as good health as ever I was in my life This morning I rose early, and went about making of an establishment of the whole Fleet, and a list of all the ships, with the number of men and guns About an hour after that, we had a meeting of the principal commanders and seamen, to proportion out the number of these things All the afternoon very many orders were made, till I was very weary.

27th This morning the wind came about, and we fell into the Hope I sat the first time with my Lord at table since my coming to sea All the afternoon exceeding busy in writing of letters and orders In the afternoon, Sir Harry Wright⁵⁴ come on board us, about his business of being chosen a Parliament-man My Lord brought him to see my cabbin, when I was hard a-writing At night supped with my Lord too, with the Captain.

28th This morning and the whole day busy At night there was a gentleman very well bred, his name was Banes, going for Flushing, who spoke French and Latin very well, brought by direction from Captain Clerke hither, as a prisoner, because he called out of the vessel that he went in, ‘Where is your King, we have done our business, Vive le Roi He confessed himself a Cavaher in his heart, and that he and his whole family, had fought for the King, but that he was then drunk, having been taking his leave at Gravesend the night before, and so could not remember what it was that he said, but in his words and carriage showed much of a gentleman. My Lord had a great kindness for him, but did not think it safe to release him But a while after, he sent a letter down to my Lord, which my Lord did like very well, and did advise with me that the gentleman was to be released. So I went up and sat and talked with him in Latin and French, and about eleven at night he took boat again, and so God bless him This day we had news of the election at Huntingdon for Bernard⁵⁵ and Pedley, at which my Lord was much troubled for his friends’ missing of it.

29th We he still a little below Gravesend At night Mr Shepley returned from London, and told us of several elections for the next Parliament That the King’s effigies was new making to be set up in the Exchange again This evening was a great whispering that some of the Vice-Admiral’s captains were dissatisfied, and did intend to fight themselves, to oppose the General But it was soon hushed, and the Vice-Admiral did wholly deny any such thing, and protested to stand by the General.

30th This day, while my Lord and we were at dinner, the Nazeby came in sight towards us, and at last came to another close by as My Lord and many others went on board her, where every thing was out of order, and a new chimney made for my Lord in his bed-chamber, which he was much pleased with My Lord, in his discourse, discovered a great deal of love to this ship⁵⁶.

April 1st (Lord’s day) Mr Ibbot⁵⁷ preached very well After dinner my lord did give me a private list of all the ships that were to be set out this summer, wherein I do discover that he hath made it his care to put by as much of the Anabaptists as he can By reason of my Lord and my being busy to send away the packet by Mr Cooke of the Nazeby, it was four o’clock before we could begin sermon again This day Captain Guy come on board from Dunkirk, who tells me that the King will come in, and that the soldiers at Dunkirk do drink the King’s health in the streets.