5th To Westminster by water, only seeing Mr Pinky at his own house, where he shewed me how he had alway kept the Lion and Unicorne, in the back of his chimney bright in expectation of the King’s coming again. At home I found Mr Hunt, who told me how the Parliament had voted that the Covenant be printed and hung in churches again Great hopes of the King’s coming again.

6th Shrove Tuesday I called Mr Shepley and we both went up to my Lord’s lodgings, at Mr Crewe’s, where he bid us to go home again and get a fire against an hour after Which we did at White Hall, whither he came, and after talking with him about our going to sea, he called me by myself into the garden, where he asked me how things were with me he bid me look out now at this turn some good place, and he would use all his own, and all the interest of his friends that he had in England, to do me good And asked me whether I could, without too much inconvenience, go to sea as his secretary, and bid me think of it He also began to talk of things of State, and told me that he should want one in that capacity at sea, that he might trust in, and therefore he would have me to go. He told me also, that he did believe the King would come in, and did discourse with me about it, and about the affection of the people and City, at which I was full glad Wrote by the post, by my Lord’s command, for I Goods to come up presently For my Lord intends to go forth with Goods to the Swiftsure till the Nazeby be ready. This day I hear that the Lords do intend to sit, a great store of them are now in town, and I see in the Hall to-day Overton at Hull do stand out, but can it is thought do nothing, and Lawson, it is said, is gone with some ships thither, but all that is nothing My Lord told me, that there was great endeavours to bring in the Protector again, but he told me, too, that he did believe it would not last long if he were brought in, no, nor the King neither, (though he seems to think that he will come in) unless he carry himself very soberly and well Every body now drink the King’s health without any fear, whereas before it was very private that a man dare do it Monk this day is feasted at Mercers’ Hall, and is invited one after another to all the twelve Halls in London Many think that he is honest yet, and some or more think him to be a fool that would raise himself, but think that he will undo himself by endeavouring it.

7th Ash Wednesday Going homeward, my Lord overtook me in his coach, and called me in and so I went with him to St James’s, and G Montagu⁵⁰ being gone to White Hall, we walked over the Park thither, all the way he discoursing of the times, and of the change of things since the last year, and wondering how he could bear with so great disappointment as he did He did give me the best advice that he could what was best for me, whether to stay or go with him, and offered all the ways that could be, how he might do me good, with the greatest liberty and love. This day, according to order, Sir Arthur⁵¹ appeared at the House, what was done I know not, but there was all the Rumpers almost come to the House to- day My Lord did seem to wonder much why Lambert was so willing to be put into the Tower, and thinks he had some design in it, but I think that he is so poor that he cannot use his liberty for debts, if he were at liberty, and so it is as good and better for him to be there, than any where else.

8th To Westminster Hall, where there was a general damp over men’s minds and faces upon some of the Officers of the Army being about making a remonstrance upon Charles Stuart or any single person, but at noon it was told, that the General had put a stop to it, so all was well again Here I met with Jasper who was to bring me to my Lord at the lobby, whither sending a note to my Lord, he comes out to me and gives me directions to look after getting some money for him from the Admiralty, seeing that things are so unsafe, that he would not lay out a farthing for the State, till he had received some money of theirs. This afternoon, some of the officers of the Army, and some of the Parliament, had a conference at White Hall to make all right again, but I know not what is done At the Dog tavern, in comes Mr Wade and Mr Sterry, secretary to the plenipotentiary in Denmark, who brought the news of the death of the King of Sweden⁵² at Gottenburgh the 3rd of last month.

9th To my Lord at his lodging, and came to Westminster with him in the coach, and Mr Dudley and he in the Painted Chamber walked a good while, and I telling him that I was willing and ready to go with him to sea, he agreed that I should, and advised me what to write to Mr Downing about it. This day it was resolved that the writs do go out in the name of the Keepers of the Liberty, and I hear that it is resolved privately that a treaty be offered with the King And that Monk did check his soldiers highly for what they did yesterday.