Highness James Duke of York, &c., and from His Excellency the Earle of
Sandwich." (Which however was more than needed; but Lawson tells my Lord
in his letter, that it was not he, but the Council of Warr that would have
"His Royal Highness" put into the title, though he did not contribute one
word to it.) But the Duke of York did yesterday propose them to the
Council, to be printed with this title: "Concluded on, by Sir J. Lawson,
Knt." and my Lord quite left out. Here I find my Lord very politique;
for he tells me, that he discerns they design to set up Lawson as much as
they can and that he do counterplot them by setting him up higher still;
by which they will find themselves spoiled of their design, and at last
grow jealous of Lawson. This he told me with much pleasure; and that
several of the Duke's servants, by name my Lord Barkeley [of Stratton],
Mr. Talbot, and others, had complained to my Lord, of Coventry, and would
have him out. My Lord do acknowledge that his greatest obstacle is
Coventry. He did seem to hint such a question as this: "Hitherto I have
been supported by the King and Chancellor against the Duke; but what if it
should come about, that it should be the Duke and Chancellor against the
King?" which, though he said it in these plain words, yet I could not
fully understand it; but may more here after. My Lord did also tell me,
that the Duke himself at Portsmouth did thank my Lord for all his pains
and care; and that he perceived it must be the old Captains that must do
the business; and that the new ones would spoil all. And that my Lord did
very discreetly tell the Duke (though quite against his judgement and
inclination), that, however, the King's new captains ought to be borne
with a little and encouraged. By which he will oblige that party, and
prevent, as much as may be, their envy; but he says that certainly things
will go to rack if ever the old captains should be wholly out, and the new
ones only command. Then we fell to talk of Sir J. Minnes, of whom my Lord
hath a very slight opinion, and that at first he did come to my Lord very
displeased and sullen, and had studied and turned over all his books to