24th.  Slept hard till 8 o’clock, then waked by Mr. Clerke’s being come to consult me about Field’s business, which we did by calling him up to my bedside, and he says we shall trounce him.  Then up, and to the office, and at 11 o’clock by water to Westminster, and to Sir W. Wheeler’s about my Lord’s borrowing of money that I was lately upon with him, and then to my Lord, who continues ill, but will do well I doubt not.  Among other things, he tells me that he hears the Commons will not agree to the King’s late declaration, nor will yield that the Papists have any ground given them to raise themselves up again in England, which I perceive by my Lord was expected at Court.  Thence home again by water presently, and with a bad dinner, being not looked for, to the office, and there we sat, and then Captn.  Cocke and I upon his hemp accounts till 9 at night, and then, I not very well, home to supper and to bed.  My late distemper of heat and itching being come upon me again, so that I must think of sweating again as I did before.

25th.  Up and to my office, where with Captain Cocke making an end of his last night’s accounts till noon, and so home to dinner, my wife being come in from laying out about L4 in provision of several things against Lent.  In the afternoon to the Temple, my brother’s, the Wardrobe, to Mr. Moore, and other places, called at about small businesses, and so at night home to my office and then to supper and to bed.  The Commons in Parliament, I hear, are very high to stand to the Act of Uniformity, and will not indulge the Papists (which is endeavoured by the Court Party) nor the Presbyters.

26th.  Up and drinking a draft of wormewood wine with Sir W. Batten at the Steelyard, he and I by water to the Parliament-house:  he went in, and I walked up and down the Hall.  All the news is the great odds yesterday in the votes between them that are for the Indulgence to the Papists and Presbyters, and those that are against it, which did carry it by 200 against 30.  And pretty it is to consider how the King would appear to be a stiff Protestant and son of the, Church; and yet would appear willing to give a liberty to these people, because of his promise at Breda.  And yet all the world do believe that the King would not have this liberty given them at all.  Thence to my Lord’s, who, I hear, has his ague again, for which I am sorry, and Creed and I to the King’s Head ordinary, where much good company.  Among the rest a young gallant lately come from France, who was full of his French, but methought not very good, but he had enough to make him think himself a wise man a great while.  Thence by water from the New Exchange home to the Tower, and so sat at the office, and then writing letters till 11 at night.  Troubled this evening that my wife is not come home from Chelsey, whither she is gone to see the play at the school where Ashwell is, but she came at last, it seems, by water, and tells me she is much pleased with Ashwell’s acting and carriage, which I am glad of.  So home and to supper and bed.