the midway between Dover and Calais, we could see both places very easily, and very pleasant it was to me that the further we went the more we lost sight of both lands.  In the afternoon at cards with Mr. North and the Doctor.—­[Clarke]—­There by us, in the Lark frigate, Sir R. Freeman and some others, going from the King to England, come to see my Lord and so onward on their voyage.  In the afternoon upon the quarterdeck the Doctor told Mr. North and me an admirable story called “The Fruitless Precaution,” an exceeding pretty story and worthy my getting without book when I can get the book.[??] This evening came Mr. Sheply on board, whom we had left at Deal and Dover getting of provision and borrowing of money.  In the evening late, after discoursing with the Doctor, &c., to bed.

13th (Lord’s day).  Trimmed in the morning, after that to the cook’s room with Mr. Sheply, the first time that I was there this voyage.  Then to the quarter-deck, upon which the tailors and painters were at work, cutting out some pieces of yellow cloth into the fashion of a crown and C. R. and put it upon a fine sheet, and that into the flag instead of the State’s arms, which after dinner was finished and set up after it had been shewn to my Lord, who took physic to-day and was in his chamber, and liked it so well as to bid me give the tailors 20s. among them for doing of it.  This morn Sir J. Boys and Capt.  Isham met us in the Nonsuch, the first of whom, after a word or two with my Lord, went forward, the other staid.  I heard by them how Mr. Downing had never made any address to the King, and for that was hated exceedingly by the Court, and that he was in a Dutch ship which sailed by us, then going to England with disgrace.  Also how Mr. Morland was knighted by the King this week, and that the King did give the reason of it openly, that it was for his giving him intelligence all the time he was clerk to Secretary Thurloe.  In the afternoon a council of war, only to acquaint them that the Harp must be taken out of all their flags,

[In May, 1658, the old Union Jack (being the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew combined) was revived, with the Irish harp over the centre of the flag.  This harp was taken off at the Restoration.  (See “The National Flags of the Commonwealth,” by H. W. Henfrey,” Journ.  Brit.  Arch.  Assoc.,” vol. xxxi, p. 54.) The sign of the “Commonwealth Arms” was an uncommon one, but a token of one exists—­ “Francis Wood at ye Commonwealth arms in Mary Maudlens” [St. Mary Magdalen, Old Fish Street].]

it being very offensive to the King.  Mr. Cook, who came after us in the Yarmouth, bringing me a letter from my wife and a Latin letter from my brother John, with both of which I was exceedingly pleased.  No sermon all day, we being under sail, only at night prayers, wherein Mr. Ibbott prayed for all that were related to us in a spiritual and fleshly way.  We came within sight of Middle’s shore.