that I am in a condition to fling away an angell

[The angel coin was so called from the figure of the Archangel
Michael in conflict with the dragon on the obverse. On the reverse
was a representation of a ship with a large cross as a mast. The
last angel coined was in Charles I.'s reign, and the value varied
from 6s. 8d. to 10s.]

in such a refreshment to myself and family, we home and to bed, leaving
Mercer, by the way, at her own door.

22nd. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and [Sir] J. Minnes to St. James's,
where the first time I have been there since the enemy's being with us,
where little business but lack of money, which now is so professed by Sir
W. Coventry as nothing is more, and the King's whole business owned to be
at a stand for want of it. So up to my Lord Chancellor's, where was a
Committee of Tangier in my Lord's roome, where he is to hear causes, where
all the judges' pictures hang up, very fine. Here I read my letter to
them, which was well received, and they did fall seriously to discourse
the want of money and other particulars, and to some pretty good purpose.
But to see how Sir W. Coventry did oppose both my Lord Chancellor and the
Duke of York himself, about the Order of the Commissioners of the Treasury
to me for not paying of pensions, and with so much reason, and eloquence
so natural, was admirable. And another thing, about his pressing for the
reduction of the charge of Tangier, which they would have put off to
another time; "But," says he, "the King suffers so much by the putting off
of the consideration of reductions of charge, that he is undone; and
therefore I do pray you, sir, to his Royal Highness, that when any thing
offers of the kind, you will not let it escape you." Here was a great
bundle of letters brought hither, sent up from sea, from a vessel of ours