To
Redriffe; and just in time within two minutes, and saw the new
vessel of Sir William Petty's launched, the King and Duke being
there. It swims and looks finely, and I believe will do well.
24th. At noon to the 'Change, to the Coffee-house; and there
heard Sir Richard Ford tell the whole story of our defeat at
Guinny. Wherein our men are guilty of the most horrid cowardice
and perfidiousness, as he says and tells it, that ever Englishmen
were. Captain Reynolds, that was the only commander of any of
the King's ships there, was shot at by De Ruyter, with a bloody
flag flying. He, instead of opposing (which, indeed, had been to
no purpose, but only to maintain honour) did poorly go on board
himself, to ask what De Ruyter would have; and so yield to
whatever Ruyter would desire. The King and Duke are highly vexed
at it, it seems, and the business deserves it. I saw the Comet,
which is now, whether worn away or no I know not, but appears not
with a tail, but only is larger and duller than any other star,
and is come to rise betimes, and to make a great arch, and is
gone quite to a new place in the heavens than it was before: but
I hope in a clearer night something more will be seen.
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