"As the pestilence rages in London town," said he, "it is not meet that a man should risk an inglorious death when he would serve His Majesty better by dying for his country while fighting the Dutch.  Therefore, instead of going by coach to London, and thence to Chatham by river, we are sending a shallop to Dover, whence you can travel through the county of Kent to Chatham.  Several officers and men are making the passage, to bring up the crew of the _Prince Royal_ to full strength, for she has had some hard knocks, and promotion is sure to be rapid should she again meet with the Dutch."