matrix which had never been broke by her husband, that caused all pains in
her body. Which if true is excellent invention to clear both the Duchesse
from poison or the Duke from lying with her.

9th. Up, and with Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen in a hackney-coach to
White Hall, the way being most horribly bad upon the breaking up of the
frost, so as not to be passed almost. There did our usual [business] with
the Duke of York, and here I do hear, by my Lord Bruncker, that for
certain Sir W. Coventry hath resigned his place of Commissioner; which I
believe he hath done upon good grounds of security to himself, from all
the blame which must attend our office this next year; but I fear the King
will suffer by it. Thence to Westminster Hall, and there to the
conference of the Houses about the word "Nuisance,"

[In the "Bill against importing Cattle from Ireland and other parts
beyond the Seas," the Lords proposed to insert "Detriment and
Mischief" in place of "Nuisance," but the Commons stood to their
word, and gained their way. The Lords finally consented that
"Nuisance" should stand in the Bill.]

which the Commons would have, and the Lords will not, in the Irish Bill.
The Commons do it professedly to prevent the King's dispensing with it;
which Sir Robert Howard and others did expressly repeat often: viz., "the
King nor any King ever could do any thing which was hurtful to their
people." Now the Lords did argue, that it was an ill precedent, and that
which will ever hereafter be used as a way of preventing the King's
dispensation with acts; and therefore rather advise to pass the Bill
without that word, and let it go, accompanied with a petition, to the
King, that he will not dispense with it; this being a more civil way to
the King. They answered well, that this do imply that the King should