Quote 210 of 281

From the diary of Samuel Pepys (1663-1703)

He [Sir W. Pen] says three thigns must [be] remedied, or else we
all be undone, by this fleet.

1.  That we must fight in line, whereas we fight promiscuously, to
    our utter and demonstrable ruine---the Duch fighting
    otherwise---and we, whenever we beat them.
2.  We must not desert ships of out own in distress as we did, for
    that makes a captain desperate, and will fling away his ship
    when there are no hopes left of him of succour.
3.  That ships, when they are little shattered, must not take the
    liberty to come in of themselfs; but refit themselfs the best
    they can, and stay out---many of our ships coming in with very
    small disablings.

He [Sir W. Pen] did talk very rationally to me, insomuch that I
took more pleasure this night in hearing him discourse then I ever
did in my life in anything that he said. 
		-- Pepys' Diary, 4 Jul. 1666

Tags: diary pleasure ships fleet discourse duch succour themselfs