Whereas (which is a very remarkable
thing,) he hath been told by some of the Treasurers at Warr here
of late, to whom the most of the 120,000l. monthly was paid, that
for most months the payments were gathered so duly, that they
seldom had so much or more than 40s. or the like short in the
whole collection; whereas now the very Commissioners for
Assessments and other publick payments are such persons, and
those that they choose in the country so like themselves, that
from top to bottom there is not a man carefull of any thing, or
if he be, is not solvent; that what between the beggar and the
knave, the King is abused the best part of all his revenue. We
then talked of the Navy, and of Sir W. Pen's rise to be a
general. We told me he was always a conceited man, and one that
would put the best side outward, but that it was his pretence of
sanctity that brought him into play. Lawson, and Portman, and
the fifth-monarchy men, among whom he was a great brother,
importuned that he might be general; and it was pleasant to see
how Blackburne himself did act it, how when the Commissioners of
the Admiralty would enquire of the captains and admirals of such
and such men, how they would with a sigh and casting up the eyes
say, "such a man fears the Lord," or, "I hope such a man hath the
Spirit of God.
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