...did not fail to take advantage of the opening thus afforded him, and inquired, with much gravity, " whether did the King's pleasure lie among the men or the women that acted ? " This impertinent allusion to the Sovereign's amours was reported to his Majesty, and " it was said...

...tax on playhouses, Coventry, a member of the opposition, asked in the course of the debate "whether the king's pleasure lie among the men or the women that acted". This allusion was obviously intended to apply to Nell Gwyn and Moll Davies. The King's friends greatly...

...conversation with Killigrew.) When Sir John Coventry proposed a tax on playhouses and asked, in the Commons, "whether did the king's pleasure lie among the men or the women that acted," the king (already the father of ten acknowledged bastards by five different mothers) grew concerned...

...pleasure', consequently exempt from jurisdiction and taxation; when Coventry then asked in the Commons 'whether did the king's pleasure lie among the men or the women that acted', the king (already the father of ten acknowledged bastards byfive different mothers) grew furious at...

...them. 1 Sir John Coventry, MP for Weymouth, in the course of a debate on a proposed levy on playhouses, asked " whether did the king's pleasure lie among the men or the women that a&ed ? " This open allusion to Charles's relations with Nell Gwynn and Moll Davies enraged the Court...

...and a part of his pleasure'. Coventry, an independently minded Catholic, asked the House of Commons 'whether did the king's pleasure lie among the men or the women that acted'. That night, evidently on Charles's orders, Coventry was ambushed by twenty- five of the Duke of Monmouth's...

..." The players were the King'* servants, and a part of his pleasure." Whereupon Sir John Cor ventry asked, " Whether did the King's pleasure lie among the men, or the women that acted ?" This was carried with great indignation to the court. It was said, " This was the first time that...