["Then the writing in golden letters, that was engraven under the statue of Charles I, in the Royal Exchange (’Exit tyrannus, Regum ultimus, anno libertatis Angliae, anno Domini 1648, Januarie xxx.) was washed out by a painter, who in the day time raised a ladder, and with a pot and brush washed the writing quite out, threw down his pot and brush and said it should never do him any more service, in regard that it had the honour to put out rebels’ hand-writing.  He then came down, took away his ladder, not a misword said to him, and by whose order it was done was not then known.  The merchants were glad and joyful, many people were gathered together, and against the Exchange made a bonfire.  “Rugge’s Diurnal.”  In the Thomason Collection of Civil War Tracts at the British Museum is a pamphlet which is dated in Ms. March 21st, 1659-60, where this act is said to be by order of Monk:  “The Loyal Subjects Teares for the Sufferings and Absence of their Sovereign Charles ii., King of England, Scotland, and Ireland; with an Observation upon the expunging of ‘Exit Tyrannus, Regum ultimus’, by order of General Monk, and some Advice to the Independents, Anabaptists, Phanatiques, &c.  London, 1660.”]

From the Hall I went home to bed, very sad in mind to part with my wife, but God’s will be done.

17th.  This morning bade adieu in bed to the company of my wife.  We rose and I gave my wife some money to serve her for a time, and what papers of consequence I had.  Then I left her to get her ready and went to my Lord’s with my boy Eliezer to my Lord’s lodging at Mr. Crew’s.  Here I had much business with my Lord, and papers, great store, given me by my Lord to dispose of as of the rest.  After that, with Mr. Moore home to my house and took my wife by coach to the Chequer in Holborn, where, after we had drank, &c., she took coach and so farewell.  I staid behind with Tom Alcock and Mr. Anderson, my old chamber fellow at Cambridge his brother, and drank with them there, who were come to me thither about one that would have a place at sea.  Thence with Mr. Hawly to dinner at Mr. Crew’s.  After dinner to my own house, where all things were put up into the dining-room and locked up, and my wife took the keys along with her.

This day, in the presence of Mr. Moore (who made it) and Mr. Hawly, I did before I went out with my wife, seal my will to her, whereby I did give her all that I have in the world, but my books which I give to my brother John, excepting only French books, which my wife is to have.  In the evening at the Admiralty, I met my Lord there and got a commission for Williamson to be captain of the Harp frigate, and afterwards went by coach taking Mr. Crips with me to my Lord and got him to sign it at table as he was at supper.  And so to Westminster back again with him with me, who had a great desire to go to sea and my Lord told me that he would do him any favour.  So I went home with him to his mother’s house by me in Axe Yard, where I found Dr. Clodius’s wife and sat there talking and hearing of old Mrs. Crisp playing of her old lessons upon the harpsichon till it was time to go to bed.  After that to bed, and Laud, her son lay with me in the best chamber in her house, which indeed was finely furnished.