13th At my Lord’s lodgings, who told me that I was to be secretary, and Crewe deputy treasurer to the Fleet. This day the Parliament voted all that had been done by the former Rump against the House of Lords be void, and to-night that the writs go out without any qualification. Things seem very doubtful what will be the end of all, for the Parliament seems to be strong for the King, while the soldiers do all talk against.

14th To my Lord’s, where infinity of applications to him and to me To my great trouble, my Lord gives me all the papers that was given to him, to put in order and to give him an account of them I went hence to St Jame’s to speake with Mr Clerke Monk’s secretary, about getting some soldiers removed out of Huntingdon to Oundle, which my Lord told me he did to do a courtesy to the town, that he might have the greater interest in them, in the choice of the next Parliament, not that he intends to be chosen himself, but that he might have Mr G Montagu and my Lord Mandevill chose there in spite of the Bernards I did promise to give my wife all that I have in the world, but my books, in case I should die at sea. After supper I went to Westminster Hall, and the Parliament sat till ten at night, thinking and being expected to dissolve themselves today, but they did not Great talk to-night that the discontented officers did think this night to make a stir, but prevented.

16th To Westminster Hall, where I heard how the Parliament had this day dissolved themselves, and did pass very cheerfully through the Hall, and the Speaker without his mace. The whole Hall, was joyfull thereat, as well as themselves, and now they begin to talk loud of the King To-night I am told, that yesterday, about five o’clock in the afternoon, one came with a ladder to the Great Exchange, and wiped with a brush the inscription that was on King Charles, and that there was a great bonfire made in the Exchange, and people called out ‘God bless King Charles II’.

19th Early to my Lord, where infinity of business to do, which makes my head full, and indeed, for these two or three days, I have not been without a great many cares After that to the Admiralty, where a good while with Mr Blackburne, who told me that it was much to be feared that the King would come in, for all good men and good things were now discouraged Thence to Wilkinson’s, where Mr Shepley and I dined, and while we were at dinner, my Lord Monk’s life-guard come by with the Serjeant at Armes before them, with two Proclamations, that all Cavaliers do depart the town but the other that all officers that were lately disbanded should do the same. The last of which Mr R Creed, I remember, said, that he looked upon it as if they had said, that all God’s people should depart the town All the discourse now-a- day is, that the King will come again, and for all I see, it is the wishes of all, and all do believe that it will be so.

21st To my Lord’s, but the wind very high against us, here I did very much business, and then to my Lord Widdrington’s from my Lord, with his desire that he might have the disposal of the writs of the Cinque Ports My Lord was very civil to me, and called for wine, and writ a long letter in answer.

22nd To Westminster, and received my warrant of Mr Blackburne, to be Secretary to the two Generals of the Fleet.

23rd My Lord, Captain Isham, Mr Thomas John Crewe, W Howe, and I to the Tower, where the barges staid for us, my Lord and the Captain in one, and W Howe and I, &c, in the other to the Long Reach, where the Swiftsure lay at anchor, (in our way we saw the great breach which the late high water had made, to the loss of many thousands of pounds to the people about Limehouse) Soon as my Lord on board, the guns went off bravely from the ships And a little while after comes the Vice-Admiral Lawson, and seemed very respectful to my Lord, and so did the rest of the Commanders of the frigates that were thereabouts We were late writing of orders for the getting of ships ready, &c, and also making of others to all the sea-ports between Hastings and Yarmouth, to stop all dangerous persons that are going or coming between Flanders and there.

24th At work hard all the day writing letters to the Council, &c.