think that they do look upon him as a thriving man, and said so openly at
table. At dinner-time Mr. Cook came back from London with a packet which
caused my Lord to be full of thoughts all day, and at night he bid me
privately to get two commissions ready, one for Capt. Robert Blake to be
captain of the Worcester, in the room of Capt. Dekings, an anabaptist, and
one that had witnessed a great deal of discontent with the present
proceedings. The other for Capt. Coppin to come out of that into the
Newbury in the room of Blake, whereby I perceive that General Monk do
resolve to make a thorough change, to make way for the King. From London I
hear that since Lambert got out of the Tower, the Fanatiques had held up
their heads high, but I hope all that will come to nothing. Late a
writing of letters to London to get ready for Mr. Cook. Then to bed.

16th. And about 4 o'clock in the morning Mr. Cook waked me where I lay in
the great cabin below, and I did give him his packet and directions for
London. So to sleep again. All the morning giving out orders and tickets
to the Commanders of the Fleet to discharge all supernumeraries that they
had above the number that the Council had set in their last establishment.
After dinner busy all the afternoon writing, and so till night, then to
bed.

17th. All the morning getting ready commissions for the Vice-Admiral and
the Rear-Admiral, wherein my Lord was very careful to express the utmost
of his own power, commanding them to obey what orders they should receive
from the Parliament, &c., or both or either of the Generals.

[Sir Edward Montagu afterwards recommended the Duke of York as High
Admiral, to give regular and lawful commissions to the Commanders of
the Fleet, instead of those which they had received from Sir Edward
himself, or from the Rump Parliament.--Kennett's Register, p. 163.]