pass their Bill, and yet with design to dispense with it; which is to
suppose the King guilty of abusing them. And more, they produce
precedents for it; namely, that against new buildings and about leather,
wherein the word "Nuisance" is used to the purpose: and further, that they
do not rob the King of any right he ever had, for he never had a power to
do hurt to his people, nor would exercise it; and therefore there is no
danger, in the passing this Bill, of imposing on his prerogative; and
concluded, that they think they ought to do this, so as the people may
really have the benefit of it when it is passed, for never any people
could expect so reasonably to be indulged something from a King, they
having already given him so much money, and are likely to give more. Thus
they broke up, both adhering to their opinions; but the Commons seemed
much more full of judgment and reason than the Lords. Then the Commons
made their Report to the Lords of their vote, that their Lordships'
proceedings in the Bill for examining Accounts were unparliamentary; they
having, while a Bill was sent up to them from the Commons about the
business, petitioned his Majesty that he would do the same thing by his
Commission. They did give their reasons: viz., that it had no precedent;
that the King ought not to be informed of anything passing in the Houses
till it comes to a Bill; that it will wholly break off all correspondence
between the two Houses, and in the issue wholly infringe the very use and
being of Parliaments. Having left their arguments with the Lords they all
broke up, and I by coach to the ordinary by the Temple, and there dined
alone on a rabbit, and read a book I brought home from Mrs. Michell's, of
the proceedings of the Parliament in the 3rd and 4th year of the late
King, a very good book for speeches and for arguments of law. Thence to
Faythorne, and bought a head or two; one of them my Lord of Ormond's, the
best I ever saw, and then to Arundell House, where first the Royall
Society meet, by the favour of Mr. Harry Howard, who was there, and has
given us his grandfather's library, a noble gift, and a noble favour and