In 1667 John Coventry (age 31) was elected MP Weymouth.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Jul 1667. At the office all the morning; and at noon to the 'Change [Map], where I met Fenn; and he tells me that Sir John Coventry (age 31) do bring the confirmation of the peace; but I do not find the 'Change [Map] at all glad of it, but rather the worse, they looking upon it as a peace made only to preserve the King (age 37) for a time in his lusts and ease, and to sacrifice trade and his kingdoms only to his own pleasures: so that the hearts of merchants are quite down. He tells me that the King (age 37) and my Baroness Castlemayne (age 26) are quite broke off, and she is gone away, and is with child, and swears the King (age 37) shall own it; and she will have it christened in the Chapel at White Hall so, and owned for the King's, as other Kings have done; or she will bring it into White Hall gallery, and dash the brains of it out before the King's face¹.

Note 1. Charles owned only four children by Baroness Castlemaine's (age 26) - Anne, Countess of Sussex (age 6), and the Dukes of Southampton (age 5), Grafton (age 3), and Northumberland (age 1). The last of these was born in 1665. The paternity of all her other children was certainly doubtful. See pp. 50,52.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Jul 1667. Up and to the office, where I hear that Sir John Coventry (age 31) is come over from Bredah, a nephew, I think, of [his uncle] Sir W. Coventry's (age 39): but what message he brings I know not.

On 21 Dec 1670, owing to a jest made by Coventry (age 34) in the House of Commons on the subject of the King's amours, Sir Thomas Sandys, an officer of the guards, with other accomplices, by the order of Monmouth (age 21), and (it was said) with the approval of the king himself, waylaid him as he was returning home to Suffolk Street and slit his nose to the bone. The outrage created an extraordinary sensation in the Commons, and in consequence Parliament debated a bill 'to prevent malicious maiming and wounding' (22 & 23 Chas. II, c.1), a measure known as the "Coventry Act" was passed, declaring assaults accompanied by personal mutilation a felony without benefit of clergy, an Act not repealed until 1828.

In 1678 John Coventry (age 42) was elected MP Weymouth.

In 1679 John Coventry (age 43) was elected MP Weymouth.

In 1681 John Coventry (age 45) was elected MP Weymouth.