Sir W. Coventry did tell
me it as the wisest thing that ever was said to the King by any
statesman of his time, and it was by my Lord Treasurer that is
dead, whom, I find, he takes for a very great statesman,--that
when the King did show himself forward for passing the Act of
Indemnity, he did advise the King that he would hold his hand in
doing it till he had got his power restored that had been
diminished by the late times, and his revenue settled in such a
manner as he might depend on himself without resting upon
Parliaments, and then pass it. But my Lord Chancellor, who
thought he could have the command of Parliaments for ever,
because for the King's sake they were awhile willing to grant all
the King desired, did press for its being done; and so it was,
and the King from that time able to do nothing with the
Parliament almost. Mightily pleased with the news brought me to-
night; that the King and Duke of York are come back this
afternoon, and no sooner come but a warrant was sent to the Tower
for the releasing Sir W. Coventry: which do put me in some hopes
that there may be in this absence some accommodation made between
the Duke of York and the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Arlington.
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