Where he asked me how things were with me； he bid me look out now at this turn some good place； and he would use all his own； and all the interest of his friends that he had in England； to do me good。 And asked me whether I could； without too much inconvenience； go to sea as his secretary； and bid me think of it。 He also began to talk of things of State； and told me that he should want one in that capacity at sea； that he might trust in； and therefore he would have me to go。 He told me also； that he did believe the King would come in； and did discourse with me about it； and about the affection of the people and City； at which I was full glad。 Wrote by the post； by my Lord's command； for I。 Goods to come up presently。 For my Lord intends to go forth with Goods to the Swiftsure till the Nazeby be ready。 This day I hear that the Lords do intend to sit； a great store of them are now in town； and I see in the Hall to…day。 Overton at Hull do stand out； but can it is thought do nothing； and Lawson； it is said； is gone with some ships thither； but all that is nothing。 My Lord told me； that there was great endeavours to bring in the protector again； but he told me； too； that he did believe it would not last long if he were brought in； no； nor the King neither； （though he seems to think that he will come in）； unless he carry himself very soberly and well。 Every body now drink the King's health without any fear； whereas before it was very private that a man dare do it。 Monk this day is feasted at Mercers' Hall； and is invited one after another to all the twelve Halls in London。 Many think that he is honest yet； and some or more think him to be a fool that would raise himself； but think that he will undo himself by endeavouring it。
7th。 Ash Wednesday。 Going homeward； my Lord overtook me in his coach； and called me in； and so I went with him to St。 James's； and G。 Montagu ＇George Montagu； afterwards M。P。 for Dover； second son of Edward； second Earl of Manchester； and father of the first Earl of Halifax。＇ being gone to White Hall； we walked over the Park thither； all the way he discoursing of the times； and of the change of things since the last year； and wondering how he could bear with so great disappointment as he did。 He did give me the best advice that he could what was best for me； whether to stay or go with him； and offered all the ways that could be； how he might do me good； with the greatest liberty and love。 This day according to order； Sir Arthur ＇Haselrigge。＇ appeared at the House； what was done I know not； but there was all the Rumpers almost come to the House to…day。 My Lord did seem to wonder much why Lambert was so willing to be put into the Tower； and thinks he had some design in it； but I think that he is so poor that he cannot use his liberty for debts； if he were at liberty； and so it is as good and better for him to be there； than any where else。
8th。 To Westminster Hall； where there was a general damp over men's minds and faces upon some of the Officers of the Army being about making a remonstrance upon Charles Stuart or any single person； but at noon it was told； that the General had put a stop to it； so all was well again。 Here I met with Jasper who was to bring me to my Lord at the lobby； whither sending a note to my Lord； he comes out to me and gives me directions to look after getting some money for him from the Admiralty； seeing that things are so unsafe； that he would not lay out a farthing for the State； till he had received some money of theirs。 This afternoon； some of the officers of the Army； and some of the Parliament； had a conference at White Hall to make all right again； but I know not what is done。 At the Dog tavern； in comes Mr。 Wade and Mr。 Sterry； secretary to the plenipotentiary in Denmark； who brought the news of the death of the King of Sweden ＇Charles Gustavus。＇ at Gottenburgh the 3rd of last month。
9th。 To my Lord at his lodging； and came to Westminster with him in the coach； and Mr。 Dudley and he in the Painted Chamber walked a good while； and I telling him that I was willing and ready to go with him to sea； he agreed that I should； and advised me what to write to Mr。 Downing about it。 This day it was resolved that the writs do go out in the name of the Keepers of the Liberty； and I hear that it is resolved privately that a treaty be offered with the King。 And that Monk did check his soldiers highly for what they did yesterday。
13th。 At my Lord's lodgings； who told me that I was to be secretary； and Crewe deputy treasurer to the Fleet。 This day the Parliament voted all that had been done by the former Rump against the House of Lords be void； and to…night that the writs go out without any qualification。 Things seem very doubtful what will be the end of all； for the Parliament seems to be strong for the King； while the soldiers do all talk against。
14th。 To my Lord's； where infinity of applications to him and to me。 To my great trouble； my Lord gives me all the papers that was given to him； to put in order and to give him an account of them。 I went hence to St。 James's to speake with Mr。 Clerke； Monk's secretary； about getting some soldiers removed out of Huntingdon to Oundle； which my Lord told me he did to do a courtesy to the town； that he might have the greater interest in them； in the choice of the next Parliament； not that he intends to be chosen himself； but that he might have Mr。 Montagu and my Lord Mandevill chose there in spite of the Bernards。 I did promise to give my wife all that I have in the world； but my books； in case I should die at sea。 After supper I went to Westminster Hall； and the Parliament sat till ten at night； thinking and being expected to dissolve themselves to…day； but they did not。 Great talk to…night that the discontented officers did think this night to make a stir； but prevented。
16th。 To Westminster Hall； where I heard how the Parliament had this day dissolved themselves； and did pass very cheerfully through the Hall； and the Speaker without his mace。 The whole Hall； was joyfull thereat； as well as themselves； and now they begin to talk loud of the King。 To…night I am told； that yesterday； about five o'clock in the afternoon； one came with a ladder to the Great Exchange； and wiped with a brush the inscription that was on King Charles； and that there was a great bonfire made in the Exchange； and people called out 〃God bless King Charles the Second！〃
19th。 Early to my Lord； where infinity of business to do； which makes my head full； and indeed； for these two or three days； I have not been without a great many cares。 After that to the Admiralty； where a good while with Mr。 Blackburne； who told me that it was much to be feared that the King would come in； for all good men and good things were now discouraged。 Thence to Wilkinson's； where Mr。 Shepley and I dined； and while we were at dinner； my Lord Monk's life…guard come by with the Serjeant at Armes before them； with two Proclamations； that all Cavaliers do depart the town： but the other that all officers that were lately disbanded should do the same。 The last of which Mr。 R。 Creed； I remember； said； that he looked upon it as if they had said； that all God's people should depart the town。 All the discourse now…a…day is； that the King will come again； and for all I see； it is the wishes of all； and all do believe that it will be so。
21st。 To my Lord's； but the wind very high against us； here I did very much business； and then to my Lord Widdrington's from my Lord； with his desire that he might have the disposal of the writs of the Cinque Ports。 My Lord was very civil to me； and called for wine； and writ a long letter in answer。
22nd。 To Westminster； and received my warrant of Mr。 Blackburne； to be Secretary to the two Generals of the Fleet。
23rd。 My Lord； Captain Isham； Mr。 Thomas； John Crewe； W。 Howe； and I to the Tower； where the barges staid for us； my Lord and the Captain in one； and W。 Howe and I； &c。； in the other； to the Long Beach； where the Swiftsure lay at anchor； （in our way we saw the great breach which the late high water had made； to the loss of many 1000l。 to the people about Limehouse。） Soon as my Lord on board； the guns went off bravely from the ships。 And a little while after comes the Vice…Admiral Lawson； and seemed very respectful to my Lord； and so did the rest of the Commanders of the frigates that were thereabouts。 We were late writing of orders for the getting of ships ready； &c。； and also making of others to all the sea…ports between Hastings and Yarmouth； to stop all dangerous persons that are going or coming between Flanders and there。
24th。 At work hard all the day writing letters to the Council； &c。
25th。 About two o'clock in the morning； letters came from London by our Coxon； so they waked me； but I bid him stay till morning； which he did； and then I rose and carried them into my Lord； who read them a…bed。 Among the rest； there was the writ and mandate for him to dispose to the Cinque Ports for choice of Parliament… men。 There was also one for me from Mr。 Blackburne； who with his own hand superscribes it to S。 P。 Esq。； of which God knows I was not a little proud。 I wrote a letter to the Clerk of Dover Castle to