Diary, Oct/Nov 1664 | Page 9

p. 40), there is a
circumstantial account of an interview between Orrery (then Lord
Broghill) and Cromwell, in which the former suggested to the latter that
Charles II. should marry Frances Cromwell. Cromwell gave great
attention to the reasons urged, "but walking two or three turns, and
pondering with himself, he told Lord Broghill the king would never
forgive him the death of his father. His lordship desired him to employ
somebody to sound the king in this matter, to see how he would take it,
and offered himself to mediate in it for him. But Cromwell would not
consent, but again repeated, 'The king cannot and will not forgive the
death of his father;' and so he left his lordship, who durst not tell him he
had already dealt with his majesty in that affair. Upon this my lord
withdrew, and meeting Cromwell's wife and daughter, they inquired
how he had succeeded; of which having given them an account, he
added they must try their interest in him, but none could prevail."]
He thinks (with me) that it never was in his power to bring in the King

with the consent of any of his officers about him; and that he scorned to
bring him in as Monk did, to secure himself and deliver every body else.
When I told him of what I found writ in a French book of one Monsieur
Sorbiere, that gives an account of his observations herein England;
among other things he says, that it is reported that Cromwell did, in his
life-time, transpose many of the bodies of the Kings of England from
one grave to another, and that by that means it is not known certainly
whether the head that is now set up upon a post be that of Cromwell, or
of one of the Kings; Mr. White tells me that he believes he never had so
poor a low thought in him to trouble himself about it. He says the hand
of God is much to be seen; that all his children are in good condition
enough as to estate, and that their relations that betrayed their family
are all now either hanged or very miserable.

14th. Up by break of day, and got to Brampton by three o'clock, where
my father and mother overjoyed to see me, my mother, ready to weepe
every time she looked upon me. After dinner my father and I to the
Court, and there did all our business to my mind, as I have set down in
a paper particularly expressing our proceedings at this court. So home,
where W. Joyce full of talk and pleased with his journey, and after
supper I to bed and left my father, mother, and him laughing.

15th. My father and I up and walked alone to Hinchingbroke; and
among the other late chargeable works that my Lord hath done there,
we saw his water-works and the Oral which is very fine; and so is the
house all over, but I am sorry to think of the money at this time spent
therein. Back to my father's (Mr. Sheply being out of town) and there
breakfasted, after making an end with Barton about his businesses, and
then my mother called me into the garden, and there but all to no
purpose desiring me to be friends with John, but I told her I cannot, nor
indeed easily shall, which afflicted the poor woman, but I cannot help it.
Then taking leave, W. Joyce and I set out, calling T. Trice at Bugden,
and thence got by night to Stevenage, and there mighty merry, though I
in bed more weary than the other two days, which, I think, proceeded
from our galloping so much, my other weariness being almost all over;
but I find that a coney skin in my breeches preserves me perfectly from
galling, and that eating after I come to my Inne, without drinking, do

keep me from being stomach sick, which drink do presently make me.
We lay all in several beds in the same room, and W. Joyce full of his
impertinent tricks and talk, which then made us merry, as any other
fool would have done. So to sleep.

16th (Lord's day). It raining, we set out, and about nine o'clock got to
Hatfield in church-time; and I 'light and saw my simple Lord Salsbury
sit there in his gallery. Staid not in the Church, but thence mounted
again and to Barnett by the end of sermon, and there dined at the Red
Lyon very weary again, but all my weariness yesterday night and
to-day in my thighs only, the rest of my weariness in my shoulders and
arms being quite gone. Thence home, parting company at my cozen
Anth. Joyce's, by