Diary, April 1667 | Page 5

shitten thing.

2nd. Up, and to the office, where all the morning sitting, and much
troubled, but little business done for want of money, which makes me
mighty melancholy. At noon home to dinner, and Mr. Deane with me,
who hath promised me a very fine draught of the Rupert, which he will
make purposely for me with great perfection, which I will make one of
the beautifullest things that ever was seen of the kind in the world, she
being a ship that will deserve it. Then to the office, where all the
afternoon very busy, and in the evening weary home and there to sing,
but vexed with the unreadiness of the girle's voice to learn the latter
part of my song, though I confess it is very hard, half notes. So to
supper and to bed.

3rd. Up, and with Sir W. Batten to White Hall to Sir W. Coventry's
chamber, and there did receive the Duke's order for Balty's receiving of
the contingent money to be paymaster of it, and it pleases me the more
for that it is but L1500, which will be but a little sum for to try his
ability and honesty in the disposing of, and so I am the willinger to

trust and pass my word for him therein. By and by up to the Duke of
York, where our usual business, and among other things I read two
most dismal letters of the straits we are in (from Collonell Middleton
and Commissioner Taylor) that ever were writ in the world, so as the
Duke of York would have them to shew the King, and to every demand
of money, whereof we proposed many and very pressing ones, Sir G.
Carteret could make no answer but no money, which I confess made
me almost ready to cry for sorrow and vexation, but that which was the
most considerable was when Sir G. Carteret did say that he had no
funds to raise money on; and being asked by Sir W. Coventry whether
the eleven months' tax was not a fund, and he answered, "No, that the
bankers would not lend money upon it." Then Sir W. Coventry burst
out and said he did supplicate his Royal Highness, and would do the
same to the King, that he would remember who they were that did
persuade the King from parting with the Chimney-money to the
Parliament, and taking that in lieu which they would certainly have
given, and which would have raised infallibly ready money; meaning
the bankers and the farmers of the Chimney-money, whereof Sir, G.
Carteret, I think, is one; saying plainly, that whoever did advise the
King to that, did, as much as in them lay, cut the King's throat, and did
wholly betray him; to which the Duke of York did assent; and
remembered that the King did say again and again at the time, that he
was assured, and did fully believe, the money would be raised presently
upon a land- tax. This put as all into a stound; and Sir W. Coventry
went on to declare, that he was glad he was come to have so lately
concern in the Navy as he hath, for he cannot now give any good
account of the Navy business; and that all his work now was to be able
to provide such orders as would justify his Royal Highness in the
business, when it shall be called to account; and that he do do, not
concerning himself whether they are or can be performed, or no; and
that when it comes to be examined, and falls on my Lord Treasurer, he
cannot help it, whatever the issue of it shall be. Hereupon Sir W. Batten
did pray him to keep also by him all our letters that come from the
office that may justify us, which he says he do do, and, God knows, it
is an ill sign when we are once to come to study how to excuse
ourselves. It is a sad consideration, and therewith we broke up, all in a
sad posture, the most that ever I saw in my life. One thing more Sir W.

Coventry did say to the Duke of York, when I moved again, that of
about L9000 debt to Lanyon, at Plymouth, he might pay L3700 worth
of prize-goods, that he bought lately at the candle, out of this debt due
to him from the King; and the Duke of York, and Sir G: Carteret, and
Lord Barkeley, saying, all of them, that my Lord Ashly would not be
got to yield to it, who is Treasurer of the Prizes, Sir W. Coventry did
plainly desire that it might be declared whether the proceeds of the
prizes were to go