s here in his absence for him,
who by that means will have the power of paying himself (which we cannot
however hinder) and do us a kindness we think too. But, Lord! what a
shame, methinks, to me, that, in this condition, and at this age, I
should know no better the laws of my owne country! Thence to Westminster
Hall, and spent till noon, it being Parliament time, and at noon walked
with Creed into St. James's Parke, talking of many things, particularly
of the poor parts and great unfitness for business of Mr. Povy, and yet
what a show he makes in the world. Mr. Coventry not being come to his
chamber, I walked through the house with him for an hour in St. James's
fields' talking of the same subject, and then parted, and back and
with great impatience, sometimes reading, sometimes walking, sometimes
thinking that Mr. Coventry, though he invited us to dinner with him, was
gone with the rest of the office without a dinner. At last, at past 4
o'clock I heard that the Parliament was not up yet, and so walked to
Westminster Hall, and there found it so, and meeting with Sir J. Minnes,
and being very hungry, went over with him to the Leg, and before we had
cut a bit, the House rises, however we eat a bit and away to St. James's
and there eat a second part of our dinner with Mr. Coventry and his
brother Harry, Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen. The great matter today in
the House hath been, that Mr. Vaughan, the great speaker, is this day
come to towne, and hath declared himself in a speech of an houre and a
half, with great reason and eloquence, against the repealing of the
Bill for Triennial Parliaments; but with no successe: but the House
have carried it that there shall be such Parliaments, but without any
coercive power upon the King, if he will bring this Act. But, Lord! to
see how the best things are not done without some design; for I perceive
all these gentlemen that I was with to-day were against it (though there
was reason enough on their side); yet purely, I could perceive, because
it was the King's mind to have it; and should he demand any thing else,
I believe they would give it him. But this the discontented Presbyters,
and the faction of the House will be highly displeased with; but it
was carried clearly against them in the House. We had excellent good
table-talke, some of which I have entered in my book of stories. So with
them by coach home, and there find (bye my wife), that Father Fogourdy
hath been with her to-day