here my boy and I to sing,
and at it all the evening, and to supper, and so to bed. This evening
come Sir J. Minnes to me, to let me know that a Parliament-man hath
been with him, to tell him that the Parliament intend to examine him
particularly about Sir W. Coventry's selling of places, and about my
Lord Bruncker's discharging the ships at Chatham by ticket: for the
former of which I am more particularly sorry that that business of [Sir]
W. Coventry should come up again; though this old man tells me, and, I
believe, that he can say nothing to it.

28th. Up, and by water to White Hall (calling at Michell's and drank a
dram of strong water, but it being early I did not see his wife), and
thence walked to Sir W. Coventry's lodging, but he was gone out, and so
going towards St. James's I find him at his house which is fitting
for him; and there I to him, and was with him above an hour alone,
discoursing of the matters of the nation, and our Office, and himself.
He owns that he is, at this day, the chief person aymed at by the
Parliament--that is, by the friends of my Lord Chancellor, and also by
the Duke of Albemarle, by reason of his unhappy shewing of the Duke of
Albemarle's letter, the other day, in the House; but that he thinks that
he is not liable to any hurt they can fasten on him for anything, he
is so well armed to justify himself in every thing, unless in the old
business of selling places, when he says every body did; and he will now
not be forward to tell his own story, as he hath been; but tells me he
is grown wiser, and will put them to prove any thing, and he will defend
himself: besides that, he will dispute the statute, thinking that it
will not be found to reach him. We did talk many things, which, as they
come into my mind now, I shall set down without order: that he is weary
of public employment; and neither ever designed, nor will ever, if his
commission were brought to him wrapt in gold, would he accept of any
single place in the State, as particularly Secretary of State; which, he
says, the world discourses Morrice is willing to resign, and he thinks
the King might have thought of him, but he would not, by any means, now
take it, if given him, nor anything, but in commission with others, who
may bear part of the blame; for now he observes well, that whoever did
do anything singly are now in danger, however honest and painful
they were, saying that he himself was the only man, he thinks, at the
counc