The second day, being Sunday, the Burghers feasted her Highness at the Town House; this evening the Lord Admiral brought me to take leave of her Highness and to kiss her hand; the next day her Highness took leave of the Lord Admiral and his train, having attended her to the place where she was embarked; which done, the Lord Admiral returned from Middelburg in his barge on board the Prince, where he found such a multitude of people, men, women, and children, that came from all places in Holland to see the ship, that we could scarce have room to go up and down till very night, which confluence of people lasted from the time we anchored at Flushing till we weighed thence.
Fourth day; [the] Lord Admiral gave order we should weigh from Flushing to avoid the trouble of people, which accordingly was done, and we fell down to Cassant Point,[430] where we anchored all that day and next night.
The 6th day, in the morning, we weighed with the wind at east-north-east, a fresh gale and very fair weather, and this evening we anchored under the Gunfleet.[431]
The 7th day, the wind continuing easterly, we weighed and set sail, and by 12 of the clock we came to anchor at Gillingham, from whence I attended the Lord Admiral in his barge to Chatham, where he lay that night at Mr. Legatt's house. I found my wife and family all in health, and gave God thanks for his preservation of us in our journey and safe return home to our mutual comforts.
Sir Robert Mansell lay at my house. On Saturday morning, being the 8th day, the Lord Admiral went from Chatham, on whom I attended to Gravesend, and there taking leave returned back to my house [at] Chatham.
At Whitsuntide Sir Robert Mansell was committed to the Marshalsea,[432] upon some displeasure[433] his Majesty took against him by the instigation of the Lord Northampton, where he was detained prisoner, till the 13th June following [he] was released at Greenwich.
In the latter end of July I received commandment to take the charge of new building the Defiance, being then in dry dock at Woolwich. Old Mr. Baker having the charge of new building the Merhonor at the same time in the same dock with her, upon which business I was entered the second August.
About the middle of August, old Mr. Baker sickened and, perceiving his sickness was to death, was desirous to recommend the finishing of the Merhonor to me, and to that end importuned me to ride to Windsor to the Lord Admiral to signify his earnest suit to his Lordship in that behalf; which was willingly condescended unto, and I had his Lordship's warrant at the same time for it; he deceasing the last of this month, and his funeral was solemnized at Deptford, the second of September, where myself was present.
About the midst of September, my good, faithful friend, Mr. Sebastian Vicars, the carver, departed this life; and the 27th day of this month my second son Henry departed this life at Chatham; and at the very instant my noble, worthy friend, Sir Thomas Button, then Captain Button, alighted at my house, newly being returned from the dangerous voyage of the North-west Passage, where he had wintered.