LETTElR FROM CLERK TO LONG PARLIAMENT l47 



The following notices of Scobell are taken from "Pepys's 

 Diary," edited by Lord Braybrooke. In this edition the 

 old spelling is now and then used, apparently at random, 

 and it has therefore been thought advisable to give the 

 extracts in the spelling of the present day. 



9th January 1659-60. 



"Among other things, W. Simons told me how his uncle 

 Scobell was on Saturday last called to the bar, for 

 entering in the journal of the House, for the year 

 1653, these words: "This day his Excellence the 

 Lord General Cromwell dissolved this House," which 

 words the Parliament voted a forgery, and demanded 

 of him how they came to be entered. He said that 

 they were his own handwriting, and that he did it 

 by rights of his office, and the practice of his pre- 

 decessor ; and that the intent of the practice was to 

 let posterity know how such and such a Parliament 

 was dissolved, whether by the command of the King, 

 or by their own neglect, as the last House of Lords 

 was ; and that to this end, he had said and writ that 

 it was dissolved by his Excellency the Lord G. ; and 

 that for the word dissolved, he never at the time 

 did hear of any other term ; and desired pardon if he 

 would not dare to make a word himself what it was 

 six years after, before they came themselves to call 

 it an interruption ; that they were so little satisfied 

 with this answer, that they did choose a committee 

 to report to the House whether this crime of Mr 

 Scobell's did come within the act of indemnity or no. 

 Thence into the Hall, where I heard for certain that 

 Monk was coming to London, and that Bradshaw's 

 lodgings were preparing for him." 



This last sentence explains the whole affair. The Parlia- 

 ment knew that the King would soon " enjoy his own 

 again," and Scobell was to be made the scapegoat. It 

 was now safe to treat him "roughly": — 



