Here were also great variety
of other exotique plants, and several labarinths, and a pretty
aviary.
26th. In the morning come Mr. Chichly [Mr., afterwards Sir
Thomas Chicheley, a Privy-Counsellor and Commissioner of the
Ordnance.] to Sir W. Coventry, to tell him the ill success of
the guns made for the Loyall London; which is, that in the trial
every one of the great guns, the whole cannon of seven (as I take
it), broke in pieces.
27th. To Sir W. Coventry's chamber (where I saw his father my
Lord Coventry's picture hung up, done by Stone, who then brought
it home. It is a good picture, drawn in his judge's robes, and
the great seal by him. And while it was hanging up, "This," says
Sir W. Coventry, merrily, "is the use we make of our fathers.")
But what I observed most from the discourse was this of Sir W.
Coventry, that he do look upon ourselves in a desperate
condition. The issue of all standing upon this one point, that
by the next fight, if we beat, the Dutch will certainly be
content to take eggs for their money, (that was his expression);
or if we be beaten, we must be contented to make peace, and glad
if we can have it without paying too dear for it.
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