He did give an account that it was a fight
he was forced to: the Dutch being come in his way, and he being
ordered to the buoy of the Nore, he could not pass by them
without fighting, nor avoid them without great disadvantage and
dishonour, (and this Sir G. Carteret, I afterwards giving him an
account of what he said, says that it is true that he was ordered
up to the Nore.) But I remember he said, had all his captains
fought, he would no more have doubted to have beat the Dutch with
all their number, than to eat the apple that lay on his trencher.
My Lady Duchesse, among other things, discoursed of the wisdom of
dividing the fleet; which the Generall said nothing to, though he
knew well that it come from themselves in the fleet, and was
brought up hither by Sir Edward Spragge. Colonell Howard, asking
how the Prince did, the Duke of Albemarle answering "Pretty
well," the other replied, "But not so well as to go to sea
again."--" How!" says the Duchesse, "what should he go for, if he
were well, for there are no ships for him to command? And so you
have brought your hogs to a fair market," said she.
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