st their great pretence of merit from the
King, for their sufferings and loyalty; telling them that they might
thank him for that repute which they have for their loyalty, for that
it was he that forced them to be so, against their wills, when he was
there: and, moreover, did offer a paper to the Lords to read from the
Town, sent in 1648; but the Lords would not read it; but I believe it
was something about bringing the King to trial, or some such thing,
in that year. Thence I to the Three Tuns Tavern, by Charing Cross, and
there dined with W. Pen, Sir J. Minnes, and Commissioner Middleton; and
as merry as my mind could be, that hath so much trouble upon it at home.
And thence to White Hall, and there staid in Mr. Wren's chamber with
him, reading over my draught of a letter, which Mr. Gibson then attended
me with; and there he did like all, but doubted whether it would be
necessary for the Duke to write in so sharp a style to the Office, as I
had drawn it in; which I yield to him, to consider the present posture
of the times and the Duke of York and whether it were not better to err
on that hand than the other. He told me that he did not think it was
necessary for the Duke of York to do so, and that it would not suit so
well with his nature nor greatness; which last, perhaps, is true, but
then do too truly shew the effects of having Princes in places, where
order and discipline should be. I left it to him to do as the Duke of
York pleases; and so fell to other talk, and with great freedom,
of public things; and he told me, upon my several inquiries to that
purpose, that he did believe it was not yet resolved whether the
Parliament should ever meet more or no, the three great rulers of things
now standing thus:--The Duke of Buckingham is absolutely against their
meeting, as moved thereto by his people that he advises with, the people
of the late times, who do never expect to have any thing done by this
Parliament for their religion, and who do propose that, by the sale of
the Church-lands, they shall be able to put the King out of debt: my
Lord Keeper is utterly against putting away this and choosing another
Parliament, lest they prove worse than this, and will make all the
King's friends, and the King himself, in a desperate condition: my Lord
Arlington know not which is best for him, being to seek whether this
or the next will use him worst. He tells me that he believes that it is
intended to call this Parliament, and tr