the tale Mr. Coventry told, it
being only for a respect to my Lord Fitz-Harding. In fine, Mr. Coventry
did put into the Duke's hand a list of above 250 places that he did give
without receiving one farthing, so much as his ordinary fees for them,
upon his life and oath; and that since the Duke's establishment of fees
he had never received one token more of any man; and that in his whole
life he never conditioned or discoursed of any consideration from any
commanders since he came to the Navy. And afterwards, my Lord Barkeley
merrily discoursing that he wished his profit greater than it was,
and that he did believe that he had got L50,000 since he came in, Mr.
Coventry did openly declare that his Lordship, or any of us, should have
not only all he had got, but all that he had in the world (and yet he
did not come a beggar into the Navy, nor would yet be thought to speak
in any contempt of his Royall Highness's bounty), and should have a
year to consider of it too, for L25,000. The Duke's answer was, that he
wished we all had made more profit than he had of our places, and that
we had all of us got as much as one man below stayres in the Court,
which he presently named, and it was Sir George Lane! This being ended,
and the list left in the Duke's hand, we parted, and I with Sir G.
Carteret, Sir J. Minnes, and Sir W. Batten by coach to the Exchange, and
there a while, and so home, and whether it be the jogging, or by having
my mind more employed (which I believe is a great matter) I know not,
but.... I begin to be suddenly well, at least better than I was. So
home and to dinner, and thence by coach to the Old Exchange, and there
cheapened some laces for my wife, and then to Mr.-----the great laceman
in Cheapside, and bought one cost me L4. more by 20s. than I intended,
but when I came to see them I was resolved to buy one worth wearing with
credit, and so to the New Exchange, and there put it to making, and so
to my Lord's lodgings and left my wife, and so I to the Committee of
Tangier, and then late home with my wife again by coach, beginning to
be very well, and yet when I came home.... the little straining which I
thought was no strain at all at the present did by and by bring me some
pain for a good while. Anon, about 8 o'clock, my wife did give me a
clyster which Mr. Hollyard directed, viz., a pint of strong ale, 4 oz.
of sugar, and 2 oz. of butter. It lay while I lay upon the bed above an
hour, if not two, and then th