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, &c.," was published soon afterwards.]

They told me how the Speaker Lenthall do refuse to sign the writs for
choice of new members in the place of the excluded; and by that means the
writs could not go out to-day. In the evening Simons and I to the Coffee
Club, where nothing to do only I heard Mr. Harrington, and my Lord of
Dorset and another Lord, talking of getting another place as the Cockpit,
and they did believe it would come to something. After a small debate
upon the question whether learned or unlearned subjects are the best the
Club broke up very poorly, and I do not think they will meet any more.
Hence with Vines, &c. to Will's, and after a pot or two home, and so to
bed.

21st. In the morning going out I saw many soldiers going towards
Westminster, and was told that they were going to admit the secluded
members again. So I to Westminster Hall, and in Chancery Row I saw about
twenty of them who had been at White Hall with General Monk, who came
thither this morning, and made a speech to them, and recommended to them a
Commonwealth, and against Charles Stuart. They came to the House and went
in one after another, and at last the Speaker came. But it is very
strange that this could be carried so private, that the other members of
the House heard nothing of all this, till they found them in the House,
insomuch that the soldiers that stood there to let in the secluded
members, they took for such as they had ordered to stand there t