Departed St Albans before Dawn; to London in a Manner so Plodding I cannot but Think the Army, marching behind us, may Overtake us and teach the City first. Essex Dawdling Hourly for Pipes, a sup, &c &c &c until even Col Hampden, the most patient and forebearing of Christian Men, pursed his lips in a way I know connotes Annoyance; Capt Cromwell (his troop serving as Screen) positively Beet-red with impatience. Edmund galloping by every Once in a while and fixing me with a look designed I suppose to indicate at once his Great and Righteous Wrath, and Intention to achieve a sort of Satisfaction I suppose by Beating me about the head and Neck. Arrived London appx 3 of the Clock, Essex met by the Lord-Mayor and the Aldermen, and great Cheering crowds. I excused myself and rode to Westminster.

There, I discover some considerable annoyance: first, with my recent Piece in Anglia Rediviva, denouncing as it did the Peace overtures (“this sort of warmongering is not Helpful to the Establishment of an Atmosphere of Trust”) , and second (which supports the Contention of my abused Piece), with the King: he has rejected Sir John Evelyn as a Peace Commissioner, Evelyn having been declared a Traitor in a proclamation of the King to the county of Wiltshire. Says Mr Pym to me: “He might any Day proclaim any Members of Parliament traitors, and except them from Pardon, therefore it is to no purpose to prepare petitions, and appoint messengers to present them, when it is possible those messengers might, the hour before, be proclaimed traitors.” A great fit of Coughing; Mr Pym is very ill. “To consent to this Nonsense,” says Mr Pym, “is to Consent and Approve of the highest breach of Privilege yet.”

Mr Pym then told me, it’s his Opinion, that the King merely seeks to Stall for time, as he Readies his Army, for a march on London. I told him that was my Opinion as well, also that of Col Hampden; and this Theory supported by a letter from Firth pointing out that even Now, Rupert is studying the best Routes for a Attack, and divining the Towns most suitable for Sack and Plunder, in the German manner. Mr Pym asked for an opinion of the Battle, and of the Armies; which I provided as honestly as I could. He asked about reports of Looting, and of Cowardice; and I said while I did not Witness any, the Horse apparently turned and Ran from Rupert; but the Foot raised in London performed Admirably. He answered me with Coughs, in which were spots of Blood. He then gave me a great Heap of documents related to the Scots business, and asked I study and prepare a Memorandum.

So here I am, at my House, the Cats sprawled on the table Observing me scribble these words, which I do largely because there are few things less Appetizing to me than reading about Scotland and the Scots and any proposed or Potential business with those Grasping, dirty, Brutish People. I pray God forgive me for these Opinions of my fellow-Protestants; yet it must be Said, I do not care for the Geneva model nor the Presbyterian system which it seems to me is but another Form of the Wolf’s Maw of Bishops and Archbishops. War makes strange bedfellows, as both Mr Pym and Col Hampden have explained; its my Hope this business can be Resolved before the Scots crawl into Ours, with their Muddy boots and beards crusted with Oats.

Page arrived, with some Mail, and various pieces of News; the most Disturbing of which, that he and Mrs Beale have Observed, on several Occasions, a tall, Spectral man, all in Black, lurking outside the House. I can guess Who, but not the Why, or the What.