He also observes, that with this excess of men,
nevertheless, they have thought fit to leave behind them sixteen
ships, which they have robbed of their men, which certainly might
have been manned, and they have been serviceable in the fight,
and yet the fleet well-manned, according to the excess of
supernumeraries, which we hear they have. At least two or three
of them might have been left manned, and sent away with the
Gottenburgh ships. They conclude this to be much the best fleet,
for force of guns, greatness and number of ships and men, that
ever England did see; being as Sir W. Coventry reckons, besides
those left behind, eighty-nine men-of-war, and twenty-five ships,
though we cannot hear that they have with them above eighteen.
The French are not yet joined with the Dutch, which do dissatisfy
the Hollanders, and if they should have a defeat, will undo De
Witt; the people generally of Holland do hate this league with
France.
25th. At White Hall; we find the Court gone to Chapel, it being
St. James's-day. And by and by, while they are at chapel, and we
waiting chapel being done, come people out of the Park, telling
us that the guns are heard plainly.
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