[Among the State Papers is a letter from Captain Thomas Allin to Sir Richard Fanshaw, dated from “The Plymouth, Cadiz Bay,” December 25th, 1664, in which he writes:  “On the 19th attacked with his seven ships left, a Dutch fleet of fourteen, three of which were men-of- war; sunk two vessels and took two others, one a rich prize from Smyrna; the others retired much battered.  Has also taken a Dutch prize laden with iron and planks, coming from Lisbon ("Calendar,” Domestic, 1664-65, p. 122).]

has met with the Dutch Smyrna fleet at Cales,—­[The old form of the name Cadiz.]—­and sunk one and taken three.  How true or what these ships are time will show, but it is good newes and the newes of our ships being lost is doubted at dales and Malaga.  God send it false!

17th.  Up and walked to Mr. Povy’s by appointment, where I found him and Creed busy about fitting things for the Committee, and thence we to my Lord Ashly’s, where to see how simply, beyond all patience, Povy did again, by his many words and no understanding, confound himself and his business, to his disgrace, and rendering every body doubtfull of his being either a foole or knave, is very wonderfull.  We broke up all dissatisfied, and referred the business to a meeting of Mr. Sherwin and others to settle, but here it was mighty strange methought to find myself sit herein Committee with my hat on, while Mr. Sherwin stood bare as a clerke, with his hat off to his Lord Ashlyand the rest, but I thank God I think myself never a whit the better man for all that.  Thence with Creed to the ’Change and Coffee-house, and so home, where a brave dinner, by having a brace of pheasants and very merry about Povy’s folly.  So anon to the office, and there sitting very late, and then after a little time at Sir W. Batten’s, where I am mighty great and could if I thought it fit continue so, I to the office again, and there very late, and so home to the sorting of some of my books, and so to bed, the weather becoming pretty warm, and I think and hope the frost will break.

18th.  Up and by and by to my bookseller’s, and there did give thorough direction for the new binding of a great many of my old books, to make my whole study of the same binding, within very few.  Thence to my Lady Sandwich’s, who sent for me this morning.  Dined with her, and it was to get a letter of hers conveyed by a safe hand to my Lord’s owne hand at Portsmouth, which I did undertake.  Here my Lady did begin to talk of what she had heard concerning Creed, of his being suspected to be a fanatique and a false fellow.  I told her I thought he was as shrewd and cunning a man as any in England, and one that I would feare first should outwit me in any thing.  To which she readily concurred.  Thence to Mr. Povy’s by agreement, and there with Mr. Sherwin, Auditor Beale, and Creed and I hard at it very late about Mr. Povy’s accounts, but such accounts I never did see, or hope again to see in my days.  At night, late, they gone, I did get him to put out of this account our sums that are in posse only yet, which he approved of when told, but would never have stayed it if I had been gone.  Thence at 9 at night home, and so to supper vexed and my head akeing and to bed.