discharged from sitting in the years 1648 and ’49, were duly discharged, and that there should be writs issued presently for the calling of others in their places, and that Monk and Fairfax were commanded up to town, and that the Prince’s lodgings were to be provided for Monk at Whitehall. Mr Fage and I did discourse concerning public business, and he told me it is true the City had not time enough to do much, but they had resolved to shake off the soldiers, and that unless there be a free Parliament chosen, he did believe there are half the Common Council will not levy any money by order of this Parliament.

6th This morning Mr Shepley and I did eat our breakfast at Mrs Harper’s, (my brother John being with me,) upon a cold turkey-pie and a goose.

9th I rose early this morning, and looked over and corrected my brother John’s speech, which he is to make the next opposition¹¹. I met with W Simons, Muddiman, and Jack Price, and went with them to Harper’s and staid till two of the clock in the afternoon. I found Muddiman a good scholar, an arch rogue, and owns that though he writes new books for the Parliament, yet he did declare that he did it only to get money, and did talk very basely of many of them. Among other things, W Simons told me how his uncle Scobell¹² was on Saturday last called to the bar, for entering in the journal of the House for the year 1653, these words ‘This day his Excellence the Lord G Cromwell dissolved this House’, which words the Parliament voted a forgery, and demanded of him how they came to be entered. He said that they were his own hand-writing, and that he did it by rights of his office, and the practice of his predecessor, and that the intent of the practice was to let postenty know how such and such a Parliament was dissolved whether by the command of the King, or by their own neglect, as the last House of Lords was, and that to this end, he had said and writ that it was dissolved by his Excellence the Lord G, and that for the word dissolved, he never at the time did hear of any other term, and desired pardon if he would not dare to make a word himself what it was six years after, before they came themselves to call it an interruption, that they were so little satisfied with this answer, that they did chuse a committee to report to the House, whether this crime of Mr Scobell’s did come within the act of indemnity or no Thence into the Hall, where I heard for certain that Monk was coming to London, and that Bradshaw’s¹³ lodgings were preparing for him. I heard Sir H Vane¹⁴ was this day voted out of the House, and to sit no more there, and that he would retire himself to his house at Raby, as also all the rest of the nine officers that had their commissions formerly taken away from them, were commanded to their furthest houses from London during the pleasure of the Parliament.

10th To the Coffee-house, where were a great confluence of gentlemen, viz Mr Harrington,¹⁵ Poultny,¹⁶ chairman, Gold, Dr Petty,¹⁷ &c, where admirable discourse till 9 at night Thence with Doling to Mother Lam’s, who told me how this day Scott¹⁸ was made Intelligencer, and that the rest of the members that were objected against last night were to be heard this day se’nnight.

13th Coming in the morning to my office, I met with Mr Fage and took him to the Swan. He told me how he, Haselrigge,¹⁹ and Morley,²⁰ the last night began at my Lord Mayor’s to exclaim against the City of London, saying that they had forfeited their charter And how the Chamberlain of the City did take them down, letting them know how much they were formerly beholding to the City, &c He also told me that Monk’s letter that came by the sword-bearer was a cunning piece, and that which they did not much trust to but they were resolved to make no more applications to the Parliament, nor to pay any money, unless the secluded members be brought in, or a free Parliament chosen.

16th In the morning I went up to Mr Crewe’s, who did talk to me concerning things of state, and expressed his mind how just it was that the secluded members should come to sit again From thence to my office, where nothing to do, but Mr Downing came and found me all alone, and did mention to me his going back into Holland, and did ask me whether I would go or no, but gave me little encouragement, but bid me consider of it, and asked me whether I did not think that Mr Hawley could perform the work of my office alone I confess I was at a great loss, all the day after, to bethink myself how to carry this business I staid up till the bell-man came by with his bell just under my window as I was writing of this very line, and cried, ‘Past one of the clock, and a cold, frosty, windy morning’.