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t 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 Scobell ＇H。 Scobell； clerk to the House of Commons。＇ 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 same 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 posterity 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's lodgings were preparing for him。 ＇John Bradshaw； Serjeant…at…Law； President of the High Court of Justice。＇ I heard Sir H。 Vane 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； ＇Son of a statesman of both his names； and one； of the most turbulent enthusiasts produced by the Rebellion； and an inflexible republican。 His execution； in 1662； for conspiring the death of Charles I。 was much called in question as a measure of great severity。＇ as also all the rest of the nine officers that had their commissions formerly taken away from them； were commanded to their farthest houses from London during the pleasure of the Parliament。
1Oth。 To the Coffee…house； where were a great confluence of gentlemen； viz。 Mr。 Harrington； Poultny； chairman； Gold； Dr。 Petty； &c。； where admirable discourse till 9 at night。 Thence with Doling to Mother Lam's； who told me how this day Scott was made Intelligencer； and that the rest of the members that were objected against last night were to be heard this day se'nnight。
＇James Harrington； the political writer； author of 〃Oceana；〃 and founder of a club called The Rota； in 1659； which met at Miles's coffee…house in Old Palace Yard； and lasted only a few months。 In 1661 he was sent to the Tower； on suspicion of treasonable designs。 His intellects appear to have failed afterwards； and he died 1677。 Sir William Poultny； subsequently M。P。 for Westminster； and a Commissioner of the Privy Seal under King William。 Ob。 1691。 Sir William Petty； an eminent physician； and celebrated for his proficiency in every branch of science。 Ob。 1687。 Thomas Scott； M。P。； made Secretary of State to the Commonwealth Jan。 17th following。＇
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； ＇Sir Arthur Haselrigge； Bart。 of Nosely； co。 Leicester； Colonel of a regiment in the Parliament army； and much esteemed by Cromwell。 Ob。 1660。＇ and Morley； ＇Probably Colonel Morley Lieutenant of the Tower。＇ 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。〃
17th。 In our way to Kensington； we understood how that my Lord Chesterfield ＇Philip； second Earl of Chesterfield； born。 1634； ob。 1713。＇ had killed another gentleman about half an hour before； and was fled。 I went to the Coffee Club and heard very good discourse； it was in answer to Mr。 Harrington's answer； who said that the state of the Roman government was not a settled government； and so it was no wonder that the balance of prosperity was in one hand； and the command in another； it being therefore always in a posture of war； but it was carried by ballot； that it was a steady government； though it is true by the voices it had been carried before that it was an unsteady government； so to…morrow it is to be proved by the opponents that the balance lay in one hand； and the government in another。 Thence I went to Westminster； and met Shaw and Washington； who told me how this day Sydenham ＇Colonel Sydenham had been an active officer during the Civil Wars； on the Parliament side。 M。P。 for Dorsetshire； and governor of Melcombe； and one of the Committee of Safety。＇ was voted out of the House for sitting any more this Parliament； and that Salloway was voted out likewise and sent to the Tower； ＇In the Journals of that date Major Salwey。＇ during the pleasure of the House。 At Harper's Jack Price told me； among other things； how much the Protector is altered； though he would seem to bear out his trouble very well； yet he is scarce able to talk sense with a man； and how he will say that 〃Who should a man trust； if he may not trust to a brother and an uncle；〃 and 〃how much those men have to answer before God Almighty； for their playing the knave with him as they did。〃 He told me also； that there was 100；000l。 offered； and would have been taken for his restitution； had not the Parliament come in as they did again； and that he do believe that the Protector will live to give a testimony of his valour and revenge yet before he dies； and that the Protector will say so himself sometimes。
18th。 All the world is at a loss to think what Monk will do： the City saying that he will be for them； and the Parliament saying he will be for them。
19th。 This morning I was sent for to Mr。 Downing； and at his bed side he told me； that he had a kindness for me； and that he thought that he had done me one； and that was； that he had got me to be one of the Clerks of the Council； at which I was a little stumbled； and could not tell what to do； whether to thank him or no； but by and by I did； but not very heartily； for I feared that his doing of it was only to ease himself of the salary which he gives me。 Mr。 Moore and I went to the French Ordinary； where Mr。 Downing this day feasted Sir Arth。 Haselrigge； and a great many more of the Parliament； and did stay to put him in mind of me。 Here he gave me a note to go and invite some other members to dinner to…morrow。 So I went to White Hall； and did stay at Marsh's with Simons； Luellin； and all the rest of the Clerks of the Council； who I hear are all turned out； only the two Leighs； and they do all tell me that my name was mentioned last night； but that nothing was done in it。
20th。 In the morning I met Lord Widdrington in the street； ＇Sir Thomas Widdrington； Knight； Serjeant…at…Law。 one of Cromwell's Commissioners of the Treasury； appointed Speaker 1656； and first Commissioner for the Great Seal； January； 1659； he was M。P。 for York。＇ going to seal the patents