Honoured Sir

This comes humbly to acquaint you that yesterday sailed out of the Downs the Falcon and Speedwell (bound for the River Thames), and that I have a perfect muster-book from the Purser of the Falcon now, who brought it me ashore according to promise and I am a preparing them to be sent to your office within this two days which I hope will be time enough for the ships before they be paid off.

Yesterday there came into the Downs a Dutch pleasure boat with a pennant above her anchent which when I saw (walking upon the beach with Mr Coulmer) I said to Mr Coulmer, “let you and I go on board her, and see what she doth here”. So we went and found on board two or three brave gallants amongst whom (as he said) the Dutch ambassador’s brother whose pleasure boat this was. He kindly entertained us with a bottle of wine, and told us he came for pleasure to see all along the coast, saying he had been at Dover, and that after he had been ashore at Deale, he would go to Sandwich, from thence to, and through all the creeks and view Sheerness, and Chatham and then to London; and would if he could (he said) sail his boat for £100 with any of the King’s pleasure boats. I having nothing more of news to present you with, (with all our most humble duties: respects, and services to you) I remain