my desire to go along with me to St. Bartholomew’s, to hear one Mr. Sparks, but it raining very hard we went to Mr. Gunning’s and heard an excellent sermon, and speaking of the character that the Scripture gives of Ann the mother of the blessed Virgin, he did there speak largely in commendation of widowhood, and not as we do to marry two or three wives or husbands, one after another.  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 is afraid to appear in the City.  That there is great likelihood that the secluded members will come in, and so Mr. Crew and my Lord are likely to be great men, at which I was very glad.  After diner there was many secluded members come in to Mr. Crew, which, it being the Lord’s day, did make Mr. Moore believe that there was something extraordinary in the business.  Hence home and brought my wife to Mr. Mossum’s to hear him, and indeed he made a very good sermon, but only too eloquent for a pulpit.  Here Mr. L’Impertinent helped me to a seat.  After sermon to my father’s; and fell in discourse concerning our going to Cambridge the next week with my brother John.  To Mrs. Turner where her brother, Mr. Edward Pepys, was there, and I sat a great while talking of public business of the times with him.  So to supper to my Father’s, all supper talking of John’s going to Cambridge.  So home, and it raining my wife got my mother’s French mantle and my brother John’s hat, and so we went all along home and to bed.

20th.  In the morning at my lute.  Then to my office, where my partner and I made even our balance.  Took him home to dinner with me, where my brother John came to dine with me.  After dinner I took him to my study at home and at my Lord’s, and gave him some books and other things against his going to Cambridge.  After he was gone I went forth to Westminster Hall, where I met with Chetwind, Simons, and Gregory.  And with them to Marsh’s at Whitehall to drink, and staid there a pretty while reading a pamphlet well writ and directed to General Monk, in praise of the form of monarchy which was settled here before the wars.

[This pamphlet is among the Thomason Collection of Civil War Tracts (British Museum), and dated in Ms. this same day, February 20th—­ “A Plea for Limited Monarchy as it was established in this Nation before the late War.  In an Humble Address to his Excellency General Monck.  By a Zealot for the good old Laws of his Country, before any Faction or Caprice, with additions.”  “An Eccho to the Plea for Limited Monarchy,