Exchequer for Mr. Downing. Thence to Westminster Hall, where I heard an
action very finely pleaded between my Lord Dorset and some other noble
persons, his lady and other ladies of quality being here, and it was
about; L330 per annum, that was to be paid to a poor Spittal, which was
given by some of his predecessors; and given on his side. Thence Swan and
I to a drinking-house near Temple Bar, where while he wrote I played on my
flageolet till a dish of poached eggs was got ready for us, which we eat,
and so by coach home. I called at Mr. Harper's, who told me how Monk had
this day clapt up many of the Common-council, and that the Parliament had
voted that he should pull down their gates and portcullisses, their posts
and their chains, which he do intend to do, and do lie in the City all
night. I went home and got some ahlum to my mouth, where I have the
beginnings of a cancer, and had also a plaster to my boil underneath my
chin.

10th. In the morning I went to Mr. Swan, who took me to the Court of
Wards, where I saw the three Lords Commissioners sitting upon some cause
where Mr. Scobell was concerned, and my Lord Fountaine took him up very
roughly about some things that he said. After that we went to the
Exchequer, where the Barons were hearing of causes, and there I made
affidavit that Mr. Downing was gone into Holland by order of the Council
of State, and this affidavit I gave to Mr. Stevens our lawyer. Thence to
my office, where I got money of Mr. Hawly to pay the lawyer, and there
found Mr. Lenard, one of the Clerks of the Council, and took him to the
Swan and gave him his morning draft. Then home to dinner, and after that
to the Exchequer, where I heard all the afternoon a great many causes
before the Barons; in the end came ours, and Squib proved clearly by his
patent that the house and office did now belong to him. Our lawyer made
some kind of opposition, but to no purpose, and so the cause was found
against us, and the foreman of the jury brought in L10 damages, which the