“DEAREST WILL,—­I wrote to you two letters, and payd for them from the posthouse here at Westminster; to which I have had no answer.  Perhaps they miscarryed.  I sent on an answer to the only letter I received from Bourdeaux, and having put it into Mr. Nelthorp’s hand, I doubt not but it came to your’s.  To proceed.  The same day (March 26th letter) my letter bore date, there was an extraordinary thing done.  The King, about ten o’clock, took boat, with Lauderdale only, and two ordinary attendants, and rowed awhile as towards the bridge, and soon turned back to the Parliament stairs, and so went up into the House of Lords, and took his seat.  Almost all of them were amazed, but all seemed so; and the Duke of York especially was very much surprized.  Being sat, he told them it was a privilege he claimed from his ancestors to be present at their deliberations.  That therefore, they should not, for his coming, interrupt their debates, but proceed, and be covered.  They did so.  It is true that this has been done long ago, but it is now so old, that it is new, and so disused, that at any other but so bewitched a time as this, it would have been looked on as an high usurpation, and breach of privilege.  He indeed sat still, for the most part, and interposed very little; sometimes a word or two.  But the most discerning opinion was, that he did herein as he rowed for having had his face first to the Conventicle Bill, he turned short to the Lord Ross’s.  So that, indeed, it is credible, the King, in prospect of diminishing the Duke of York’s influence in the Lord’s House, in this, or any future matter, resolved, and wisely enough at present, to weigh up and lighten the Duke’s efficacy, by coming himself in person.  After three or four days continuance, the Lords were very well used to the King’s presence, and sent the Lord Steward and Lord Chamberlain, to him, when they might wait, as an House on him, to render their humble thanks for the honour he did them.  The hour was appointed them, and they thanked him, and he took it well.  So this matter, of such importance on all great occasions, seems riveted to them, and us, for the future, and to all posterity.  Now the Lord Ross’s Bill came in order to another debate, and the King present.  Nevertheless the debate lasted an entire day; and it passed by very few voices.  The King has ever since continued his session among them, and says it is better than going to a play.  In this session the Lords sent down to us a proviso[149:1] for the King, that would have restored him to all civil or ecclesiastical prerogatives which his ancestors had enjoyed at any time since the Conquest.  There was never so compendious a piece of absolute universal tyranny.  But the Commons made them ashamed of it, and retrenched it.  The Parliament was never embarrassed, beyond recovery.  We are all venal cowards, except some few.  What plots of State will go on this interval I know not.  There is a new set of justices of peace framing through the whole kingdom.