could not perform it here so well as at Woolwich, but we did do it pretty
well. So took barge at the dock and to Rochester, and there Captain Cocke
and I and our two men took coach about 8 at night and to Gravesend, where
it was very dark before we got thither to the Swan; and there, meeting
with Doncaster, an old waterman of mine above bridge, we eat a short
supper, being very merry with the drolling, drunken coachman that brought
us, and so took water. It being very dark, and the wind rising, and our
waterman unacquainted with this part of the river, so that we presently
cast upon the Essex shore, but got off again, and so, as well as we could,
went on, but I in such fear that I could not sleep till we came to Erith,
and there it begun to be calm, and the stars to shine, and so I began to
take heart again, and the rest too, and so made shift to slumber a little.
Above Woolwich we lost our way, and went back to Blackwall, and up and
down, being guided by nothing but the barking of a dog, which we had
observed in passing by Blackwall, and so,

5th. Got right again with much ado, after two or three circles and so on,
and at Greenwich set in Captain Cocke, and I set forward, hailing to all
the King's ships at Deptford, but could not wake any man: so that we could
have done what we would with their ships. At last waked one man; but it
was a merchant ship, the Royall Catharine: so to the Towerdock and home,
where the girl sat up for me. It was about three o'clock, and putting Mr.
Boddam out of my bed, went to bed, and lay till nine o'clock, and so to
the office, where we sat all the morning, and I did give some accounts of
my service. Dined alone at home, and was glad my house is begun tiling.
And to the office again all the afternoon, till it was so dark that I
could not see hardly what it is that I now set down when I write this
word, and so went to my chamber and to bed, being sleepy.

6th. Up early, and, going to my office, met Sir G. Carteret in coming