So into
the Duke of York's closet, and there, among other things, Sir W.
Coventry did take notice of what he told me the other day, about
a report of Commissioner Pett's dealing for timber in the Navy
and selling it to us in other names; and besides his own proof,
did produce a paper I had given him this morning about it, in the
case of Widow Murford and Morecocke, which was so handled, that
the Duke of York grew very angry, and commanded us presently to
fall into the examination of it, saying that he would not trust a
man for his sake that lifts up the whites of his eyes. And it
was declared that if he be found to have done so, he should be
reckoned unfit to serve the Navy; and I do believe he will be
turned out: and it was, methought, a worthy saying of Sir W.
Coventry to the Duke of York, "Sir," says he, "I do not make this
complaint out of any disrespect to Commissioner Pett, but because
I do love to do these things fairly and openly." This day coming
from Westminster with W. Batten, we saw at White Hall stairs a
fisher-boat with a sturgeon that he had newly catched in the
River; which I saw, but it was but a little one; but big enough
to prevent my mistake of that for a colt, if ever I become Mayor
of Huntingdon.
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