has met with the Dutch Smyrna fleet at Cales,--[The old form of the name
Cadiz.]--and sunk one and taken three. How true or what these ships are
time will show, but it is good newes and the newes of our ships being lost
is doubted at dales and Malaga. God send it false!

17th. Up and walked to Mr. Povy's by appointment, where I found him and
Creed busy about fitting things for the Committee, and thence we to my
Lord Ashly's, where to see how simply, beyond all patience, Povy did
again, by his many words and no understanding, confound himself and his
business, to his disgrace, and rendering every body doubtfull of his being
either a foole or knave, is very wonderfull. We broke up all
dissatisfied, and referred the business to a meeting of Mr. Sherwin and
others to settle, but here it was mighty strange methought to find myself
sit herein Committee with my hat on, while Mr. Sherwin stood bare as a
clerke, with his hat off to his Lord Ashlyand the rest, but I thank God I
think myself never a whit the better man for all that. Thence with Creed
to the 'Change and Coffee-house, and so home, where a brave dinner, by
having a brace of pheasants and very merry about Povy's folly. So anon to
the office, and there sitting very late, and then after a little time at
Sir W. Batten's, where I am mighty great and could if I thought it fit
continue so, I to the office again, and there very late, and so home to
the sorting of some of my books, and so to bed, the weather becoming
pretty warm, and I think and hope the frost will break.

18th. Up and by and by to my bookseller's, and there did give thorough
direction for the new binding of a great many of my old books, to make my
whole study of the same binding, within very few. Thence to my Lady
Sandwich's, who sent for me this morning. Dined with her, and it was to
get a letter of hers conveyed by a safe hand to my Lord's owne hand at