1920 STATE IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 523 Probably in consequence of this the diet was restricted to one secretary only, which was the state of affairs by 1640. The letters written by Robert Reade to his cousin Thomas Winde- bank at the time of Sir John Coke's retirement throw much light on the subject.^ Secretary Windebank, whom Reade served, had received no board wages until this date, but had now hopes of obtaining ' the diet and seniority in secretaryship '. The diet is obtained, ' but ', writes Reade, * I do not find we have much more sign of seniority, Mr. Treasurer [Vane] having full as much of the foreign business as Secretary Coke had.' ^ Vane is only granted a diet in September 1641. The warrant is ' for settling on Secretary Vane the diet of ten dishes of meat a meal with the bouche of court and all perquisites thereto belonging as is appointed by the late book signed for regulating the Household Expenses for the Principal Secretary of State '.^ The restriction of the diet to one secretary only dated perhaps from the regulations referred to here. In 1663 there were various attempts to lessen household expenses and once again the ' tables ' were abolished. There was much opposition, however, and probably a compromise was adopted. It is noteworthy that in a note of the expenses of the diet, when the abolition of the system is under considera- tion, ' Mr. Secretary ' is allowed twenty dishes of meat (i. e. the reference is to one secretary only).* It is clear, however, that eventually both principal secretaries again received board wages,^ but probably the junior in standing received a considerably smaller allowance than liis senior colleague. From the list of dues printed below (p. 525) from the Wynne Papers at All Souls College it appears that in 1684 the junior had 6s. 8d. a day and the senior 16s. Viscount Conway also only received 6s. 8d. a day, although a bounty of £486 10s. after his resignation increased the amount to 20s. daily. ^ Finally in 1689 William and Mary 1 Cal. of State Papers, Dom., 1639-40, pp. 341, 385, 401. Reade states that he does not believe the diet will be ' threepence a year advantage to Mr. Secretary but rather a greater charge, yet it must not be neglected for credit's sake '. Windebank's anxiety, however, to retain the board wages after his flight give a very different im- pression of the value of the allowance. (See Cal. of State Papers, Dom., 1640-1, pp. 435-6, 438.)
- Cal. of State Papers, Dom., 1639-40, p. 332. The letter is dated in the calendar
13 January 1640, but it is obviously subsequent to the other letters of Beade's in vol. 442 and the date should clearly be 13 February. It is interesting to note that in the very different points of ' foreign employment ' and the ' diet ' lay the indication of the standing of the respective secretaries of state. » Cal. of State Papers, Dom., 1641-3, p. 116.
- Ormonde MSS., New Series, iii. 78, 174-5, 178.
- Apart from the statement in William & Mary's household list (see below) it is
clear that Conway, for instance, who was always in the junior position, would otherwise have received no board wages.
- Secret Services of Charles II and James II (Camden Soc), p. 69.
