The Quakers were at this time just coming into notice. The first
preaching of George Fox, the founder, was in 1648, and in 1655 the
preachers of the sect numbered seventy-three. Fox computed that
there were seldom less than a thousand quakers in prison. The
statute 13 and 14 Car. II. cap. i. (1662) was "An act for
preventing the mischiefs and dangers that may arise by certain
persons called quakers and others, refusing to take lawful oaths."
Billing is mentioned again on July 22nd, 1667, when he addressed
Pepys in Westminster Hall.]

So after drinking with Mr. Spicer, who had received L600 for me this
morning, I went to Capt. Stone and with him by coach to the Temple Gardens
(all the way talking of the disease of the stone), where we met Mr. Squib,
but would do nothing till to-morrow morning. Thence back on foot home,
where I found a letter from my Lord in character [private cryptic code
Ed.], which I construed, and after my wife had shewn me some ribbon and
shoes that she had taken out of a box of Mr. Montagu's which formerly Mr.
Kipps had left here when his master was at sea, I went to Mr. Crew and
advised with him about it, it being concerning my Lord's coming up to
Town, which he desires upon my advice the last week in my letter. Thence
calling upon Mrs. Ann I went home, and wrote in character to my Lord in
answer to his letter. This day Mr. Crew told me that my Lord St. John is
for a free Parliament, and that he is very great with Monk, who hath now
the absolute command and power to do any thing that he hath a mind to do.
Mr. Moore told me of a picture hung up at the Exchange of a great pair of
buttocks shooting of a turd into Lawson's mouth, and over it was wrote
"The thanks of the house." Boys do now cry "Kiss my Parliament, instead
of "Kiss my [rump]," so great and general a contempt is the Rump come to
among all the good and bad.