was a great many bonfires, and Bow bells and all the bells in all the churches as we went home were a-ringing. Hence we went homewards, it being about ten at night But the common joy that was every where to be seen! The number of bonfires, there being fourteen between St Dunstan’s and Temple Bar, and at Strand Bridge. I could at one time tell thirty-one fires In King-street seven or eight, and all along burning, and roasting, and drinking for rumps There being rumps tied upon sticks and carried up and down. The butchers at the May Pole in the Strand rang a peal with their knives when they were going to sacrifice their rump. On Ludgate Hill there was one turning of the spit that had a rump tied upon it, and another basting of it Indeed it was past imagination, both the greatness and the suddenness of it. At one end of the street you would think there was a whole lane on fire, and so hot that we were fain to keep on the further side.

12th In the morning, it being Lord’s day, to White Hall, where Dr Hones preached, but I staid not to hear, but walking in the court, I heard that Sir Arth Haselrigge was newly gone into the City to Monk, and that Monk’s wife removed from White Hall last night. After dinner I heard that Monk had been at Paul’s in the morning, and the people had shouted much at his coming out of the church. In the afternoon he was at a church in Broad-street, whereabout he do lodge To my father’s, where Charles Glascocke was overjoyed to see how things are now, who told me the boys had last night broke Barebone’s³⁶ windows.

13th This day Monk was invited to White Hall to dinner by my Lords, not seeming willing, he would not come. I went to Mr Fage from my father’s, who had been this afternoon with Monk, who did promise to live and die with the City, and for the honour of the City, and indeed the City is very open-handed to the soldiers, that they are most of them drunk all day, and had money given them.

14th To Westminster Hall, there being many new remonstrances and declarations from many counties to Monk and the City, and one coming from the North from Sir Thomas Fairfax³⁷. I heard that the Parliament had now changed the oath so much talked of to a promise, and that among other qualifications for the members that are to be chosen, one is, that no man, nor the son of any man that hath been in arms during the life of the father, shall be capable of being chosen to sit in Parliament. This day, by an order of the House, Sir H Vane was sent out of town to his house in Lincolnshire.

15th No news to-day, but all quiet to see what the Parliament will do about the issuing of the writs tomorrow for the filling up of the House, according to Monk’s desire.

17th To Westminster Hall, where I heard that some of the members of the House was gone to meet with some of the secluded members and General Monk in the City Hence to White Hall, thinking to hear more news, where I met with Mr Hunt, who told me how Monk had sent for all his goods that he had here, into the City, and yet again he told me, that some of the members of the House had this day laid in firing into their lodgings at Whitehall for a good while, so that we are at a great stand to think what will become of things, whether Monk will stand to the Parliament or no.

18th This day two soldiers were hanged in the Strand for their late mutiny at Somerset-house.

19th (Lord’s day) To Mr Gunning’s, and heard an excellent sermon. Here I met with Mr Moore, and went home with him to dinner, where he told me the discourse that happened between the secluded members and the members of the House, before Monk last Friday. How the secluded said, that they did not intend by coming in to express revenge upon these men but only to meet and dissolve themselves, and only to issue writs for a free Parliament. He told me how Haselrigge was afraid to have the candle carried before him, for fear that the people seeing him, would do him hurt, and that he was afraid to appear in the City. That there is great likelihood that the secluded members will come in, and so Mr Crewe and my Lord are likely to be great men, at which I was very glad. After dinner there was many secluded members come in to Mr Crewe, which, it being the Lord’s day, did make Mr Moore believe that there was something extraordinary in the business.

20th I went forth to Westminster Hall, where I met with Chetwind, Simons, and Gregory³⁸. They told me how the Speaker Lenthall do refuse to sign the writs for choice of new members in the place of the