Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. II.djvu/203

188 that are either in your circumstances abroad, or have any employments at home, I am confident you will find it so bad with every body else, that you will think it less hard to yourself, when you find it is not unkindness but necessity that is the occasion of it; and to make this a little more intelligible to you, there is not one minister the King hath abroad that is not more behind than yourself, except Sayile, who, by his peculiar talent of drinking with Mr. Duncombe, doth get himself supplied by him, even before it is ordered at the Treasury; and for those that have places here near his Majesty's person, not to put you amongst the very nearest, I can assure you that the Privy Purse, and one body nearer than that too, have been sufferers this last year, very near to the same degree with yourself. This is not a condition for those who have any share in the administration in the King's revenue to brag of, but I had rather tell you the truth, though it be to discover our nakedness than let you remain under the apprehensions that there is either injustice or unkindness to yourself in particular; and if that notion can be taken out of your head, I suppose the matter itself will be less intolerable to you; I