where Sir John Bankes lives. So homeward, and
stopped again at Captain Allen’s, and there
’light, and sent the coach and Gibson home, and
I and Coney staid; and there comes to us Mrs. Jowles,
who is a very fine, proper lady, as most I know, and
well dressed. Here was also a gentleman, one
Major Manly, and his wife, neighbours; and here we
staid, and drank, and talked, and set Coney and him
to play while Mrs. Jowles and I to talk, and there
had all our old stories up, and there I had the liberty
to salute her often, and pull off her glove, where
her hand mighty moist, and she mighty free in kindness
to me, and je do not at all doubt that I might have
had that that I would have desired de elle had I had
time to have carried her to Cobham, as she, upon my
proposing it, was very willing to go, for elle is
a whore, that is certain, but a very brave and comely
one. Here was a pretty cozen of hers come in
to supper also, of a great fortune, daughter-in-law
to this Manly, mighty pretty, but had now such a cold,
she could not speak. Here mightily pleased with
Mrs. Jowles, and did get her to the street door, and
there to her su breasts, and baiser her without any
force, and credo that I might have had all else, but
it was not time nor place. Here staid till almost
twelve at night, and then with a lanthorn from thence
walked over the fields, as dark as pitch, and mighty
cold, and snow, to Chatham, and Mr. Coney with great
kindness to me: and there all in bed before I
come home, and so I presently to bed.
25th. Up, and by and by, about eight o’clock,
come Rear-Admiral Kempthorne and seven Captains more,
by the Duke of York’s order, as we expected,
to hold the Court-martiall about the loss of “The
Defyance;” and so presently we by boat to “The
Charles,” which lies over against Upnor Castle,
and there we fell to the business; and there I did
manage the business, the Duke of York having, by special
order, directed them to take the assistance of Commissioner
Middleton and me, forasmuch as there might be need
of advice in what relates to the government of the
ships in harbour. And so I did lay the law open
to them, and rattle the Master Attendants out of their
wits almost; and made the trial last till seven at
night, not eating a bit all the day; only when we had
done examination, and I given my thoughts that the
neglect of the Gunner of the ship was as great as
I thought any neglect could be, which might by the
law deserve death, but Commissioner Middleton did
declare that he was against giving the sentence of
death, we withdrew, as not being of the Court, and
so left them to do what they pleased; and, while they
were debating it, the Boatswain of the ship did bring
us out of the kettle a piece of hot salt beef, and
some brown bread and brandy; and there we did make
a little meal, but so good as I never would desire
to eat better meat while I live, only I would have
cleaner dishes. By and by they had done, and
called us down from the quarterdeck; and there we