Diary, Jan 1659/60 | Page 8

Fifth-monarchy-men [will] stick to him, if he declares for a free
Parliament. Chillington was sent yesterday to him with the vote of
pardon and indemnity from the Parliament. From the Hall I came home,
where I found letters from Hinchinbroke
[Hinchinbroke was Sir Edward Montagu's seat, from which he
afterwards took his second title. Hinchinbroke House, so often
mentioned in the Diary, stood about half a mile to the westward of the
town of Huntingdon. It was erected late in the reign of Elizabeth, by Sir
Henry Cromwell, on the site of a Benedictine nunnery, granted at the
Dissolution, with all its appurtenances, to his father, Richard Williams,
who had assumed the name of Cromwell, and whose grandson, Sir
Oliver, was the uncle and godfather of the Protector. The knight, who
was renowned for, his hospitality, had the honour of entertaining King
James at Hinchinbroke, but, getting into pecuniary difficulties, was
obliged to sell his estates, which were conveyed, July 28th, 1627, to Sir

Sidney Montagu of Barnwell, father of the first Earl of Sandwich, in
whose descendant they are still vested. On the morning of the 22nd
January, 1830, during the minority of the seventh Earl, Hinchinbroke
was almost entirely destroyed by fire, but the pictures and furniture
were mostly saved, and the house has been rebuilt in the Elizabethan
style, and the interior greatly improved, under the direction of Edward
Blore, Esq., R.A.--B.]
and news of Mr. Sheply's going thither the next week. I dined at home,
and from thence went to Will's to Shaw, who promised me to go along
with me to Atkinson's about some money, but I found him at cards with
Spicer and D. Vines, and could not get him along with me. I was vext
at this, and went and walked in the Hall, where I heard that the
Parliament spent this day in fasting and prayer; and in the afternoon
came letters from the North, that brought certain news that my Lord
Lambent his forces were all forsaking him, and that he was left with
only fifty horse, and that he did now declare for the Parliament himself;
and that my Lord Fairfax did also rest satisfied, and had laid down his
arms, and that what he had done was only to secure the country against
my Lord Lambert his raising of money, and free quarter. I went to
Will's again, where I found them still at cards, and Spicer had won 14s.
of Shaw and Vines. Then I spent a little time with G. Vines and
Maylard at Vines's at our viols.
[It was usual to have a "chest of viols," which consisted of six, viz., two
trebles, two tenors, and two basses (see note in North's "Memoirs of
Musick," ed. Rimbault, p. 70). The bass viol was also called the 'viola
da gamba', because it was held between the legs.]
So home, and from thence to Mr. Hunt's, and sat with them and Mr.
Hawly at cards till ten at night, and was much made of by them. Home
and so to bed, but much troubled with my nose, which was much
swelled.

5th. I went to my office, where the money was again expected from the
Excise office, but none brought, but was promised to be sent this
afternoon. I dined with Mr. Sheply, at my Lord's lodgings, upon his
turkey-pie. And so to my office again; where the Excise money was
brought, and some of it told to soldiers till it was dark. Then I went
home, and after writing a letter to my Lord and told him the news that

the Parliament hath this night voted that the members that were
discharged from sitting in the years 1648 and 49, were duly discharged;
and that there should be writs issued presently for the calling of others
in their places, and that Monk and Fairfax were commanded up to town,
and that the Prince's lodgings were to be provided for Monk at
Whitehall. Then my wife and I, it being a great frost, went to Mrs.
Jem's, in expectation to eat a sack-posset, but Mr. Edward--[Edward
Montage, son of Sir Edward, and afterwards Lord Hinchinbroke.]--not
coming it was put off; and so I left my wife playing at cards with her,
and went myself with my lanthorn to Mr. Fage, to consult concerning
my nose, who told me it was nothing but cold, and after that we did
discourse concerning public business; and he told me it is true the City
had not time enough to do much, but they are resolved to shake off the
soldiers; and that unless there be a free Parliament chosen, he did
believe there are half the Common Council will not levy any money by
order of this Parliament. From thence I went