dined with them, he having yesterday and to-day a fit of a pain like the
gout, the first time he ever had it. A good dinner. Good discourse, Sir
W. Rider especially much fearing the issue of a Dutch warr, wherein I very
highly commend him. Thence home, and at the office a while, and then with
Mr. Deane to a second lesson upon my Shipwrightry, wherein I go on with
great pleasure. He being gone I to the office late, and so home to supper
and to bed. But, Lord! to see how my very going to the 'Change, and being
without my gowne, presently brought me wind and pain, till I came home and
was well again; but I am come to such a pass that I shall not know what to
do with myself, but I am apt to think that it is only my legs that I take
cold in from my having so long worn a gowne constantly.

29th (Whitsunday. King's Birth and Restauration day). Up, and having
received a letter last night desiring it from Mr. Coventry, I walked to
St. James's, and there he and I did long discourse together of the
business of the office, and the warr with the Dutch; and he seemed to
argue mightily with the little reason that there is for all this. For
first, as to the wrong we pretend they have done us: that of the East
Indys, for their not delivering of Poleron, it is not yet known whether
they have failed or no; that of their hindering the Leopard cannot amount
to above L3,000 if true; that of the Guinny Company, all they had done us
did not amount to above L200 or L300 he told me truly; and that now, from
what Holmes, without any commission, hath done in taking an island and two
forts, hath set us much in debt to them; and he believes that Holmes will
have been so puffed up with this, that he by this time hath been enforced
with more strength than he had then, hath, I say, done a great deale more
wrong to them. He do, as to the effect of the warr, tell me clearly that
it is not any skill of the Dutch that can hinder our trade if we will, we
having so many advantages over them, of winds, good ports, and men; but it
is our pride, and the laziness of the merchant. He seems to think that