en the
leaving off the old custom of the places allowing wages to those that
served them in Parliament, by which they chose men that understood their
business and would attend it, and they could expect an account from,
which now they cannot; and so the Parliament is become a company of men
unable to give account for the interest of the place they serve
for. Thence, the meeting of the Counsel with the King's Counsel this
afternoon being put off by reason of the death of Serjeant Maynard's
lady, I to White Hall, where the Parliament was to wait on the King; and
they did: and it was to be told that he did think fit to tell them that
they might expect to be adjourned at Whitsuntide, and that they might
make haste to raise their money; but this, I fear, will displease them,
who did expect to sit as long as they pleased, and whether this be
done by the King upon some new counsel I know not, for the King must be
beholding to them till they do settle this business of money. Great talk
to-day as if Beaufort was come into the Channel with about 20 ships, and
it makes people apprehensive, but yet the Parliament do not stir a bit
faster in the business of money. Here I met with Creed, expecting a
Committee of Tangier, but the Committee met not, so he and I up and
down, having nothing to do, and particularly to the New Cockpit by the
King's Gate in Holborne, but seeing a great deal of rabble we did refuse
to go in, but took coach and to Hide Park, and there till all the tour
was empty, and so he and I to the Lodge in the Park, and there eat and
drank till it was night, and then carried him to White Hall, having
had abundance of excellent talk with him in reproach of the times and
managements we live under, and so I home, and there to talk and to
supper with my wife, and so to bed.

31st. Up pretty betimes and to the office, where we sat all the morning,
and at noon I home to dinner, where uncle Thomas dined with me, as he do
every quarter, and I paid him his pension; and also comes Mr. Hollier
a little fuddled, and so did talk nothing but Latin, and laugh, that it
was very good sport to see a sober man in such a humour, though he was
not drunk to scandal. At dinner comes a summons for this office and the
Victualler to attend a Committee of Parliament this afternoon, with
Sir D. Gawden, which I accordingly did, with my papers relating to
the sending of victuals to Sir John Harman's fleete; and there, Sir R.
Brookes in the chair, we d