There is a great want of butter and cheese and most of the ships are forced to eat flesh on those days at half allowance, which causes much grumbling of the seamen. Considering the cold weather, when they find a small piece of beef for four men it makes them very uneasy. The Master of the ST MALO says that he cannot sail with out orders from the owners and must remain here. The ship has lost the benefit of the men-of-war which have now sailed to the Downes and the owner must quickly resolve whether to sail for the Downes or Bideford.