“that the latter were not; but that, for aught he can find, they were sent up at the discretion, at first of the Sheriffs, to whom the writs were sent to send up generally the Burgesses and citizens of their county, and he do find that heretofore the Parliament-men, being paid by the country, several boroughs have complained of the Sheriffs putting them to the charge of sending up Burgesses.” This conversation was in January, 1668; in March, Pepys describes his dining with certain counsel retained by creditors of the navy, the secretary having been to Cursitor Street to arrange assignments on the Exchequer to the tune of £1,250,000 in favour of these creditors. The counsel were pleased to flatter Mr. Secretary upon a recent performance of his in the Parliament House, and, finding himself with four learned lawyers, Pepys, with his dinner, enjoyed what he calls “a great deal of good discourse about parliament”-- “their number being uncertain, and always at the will of the king to increase, as he saw reason to erect a new borough. But all concluded the bane of the Parliament hath been the leaving off the old custom of the places allowing wages to those that served them in Parliament, by which they chose men that understood their business and would attend it, and they could expect an account from, which now they cannot, and so the Parliament is become a company of men unable to give account for the interest of the place they serve for.” Andrew Marvell, member for Hull, who had enjoyed much experience of men and measures, found fit subject for satire among the corrupt comrades who now surrounded him in parliament. “_C._ That traitors to th’ Country in a brib’d House of Commons Should give away millions at every summons. _W._ Yet some of those givers such beggarly villains As not to be trusted for twice twenty shillings. _C._ No wonder that beggars should still be for giving, Who, out of what’s given, do get a good living. _W._ Four Knights and a knave, who were burgesses made, For selling their consciences were liberally paid. _C._ How base are the souls of such low-priced sinners, Who vote with the country for Drink and for Dinners. _W._ ’Tis they that brought on us this scandalous yoke, Of excising our cups, and taxing our smoke. _C._ But thanks to the Harlots who made the King dogg’d, For giving no more the Rogues are prorogued.” (ANDREW MARVELL, 1674: _A Dialogue between Two Horses_.) From his “good discourse on parliament,” Mr. Secretary Pepys, by a happy coincidence, straightway betook himself to that palace, where he had the privilege of being well received, and in which, under the Stuarts, more curious scenes were witnessed than falls to the lot of even the average of princely abodes:--