thing himself. Thence, having dined for 20s., we to the Duke of York at
White Hall, and there had our usual audience, and did little but talk of
the proceedings of the Parliament, wherein he is as much troubled as we;
for he is not without fears that they do ayme at doing him hurt; but yet
he declares that he will never deny to owne what orders he hath given to
any man to justify him, notwithstanding their having sent to him to desire
his being tender to take upon him the doing any thing of that kind.
Thence with Brouncker and T. Harvey to Westminster Hall, and there met
with Colonel Birch and Sir John Lowther, and did there in the lobby read
over what I have drawn up for our defence, wherein they own themselves
mightily satisfied; and Birch, like a particular friend, do take it upon
him to defend us, and do mightily do me right in all his discourse. Here
walked in the Hall with him a great while, and discoursed with several
members, to prepare them in our business against to-morrow, and meeting my
cozen Roger Pepys, he showed me Granger's written confession,

[Pepys here refers to the extraordinary proceedings which occurred
between Charles, Lord Gerard, and Alexander Fitton, of which a
narrative was published at the Hague in 1665. Granger was a witness
in the cause, and was afterwards said to be conscience-stricken from
his perjury. Some notice of this case will be found in North's
"Examen," p. 558; but the copious and interesting note in Ormerod's
"History of Cheshire," Vol. iii., p. 291, will best satisfy the
reader, who will not fail to be struck by the paragraph with which
it is closed-viz., "It is not improbable that Alexander Fitton, who,
in the first instance, gained rightful possession of Gawsworth under
an acknowledged settlement, was driven headlong into unpremeditated
guilt by the production of a revocation by will which Lord Gerard
had so long concealed. Having lost his own fortune in the
prosecution of his claims, he remained in gaol till taken out by