He left Ury in May, and went to London to exert himself for the deliverance of the Quakers of the north country, who were still harassed by imprisonment and fines, for holding meetings at Aberdeen, in contravention, as it was alleged, of a statute enacted against “_armed field conventicles_,” which evidently did not apply to these peaceable people. From “_Theobalds near London_,” he wrote to the princess-palatine on this subject, in which he gives an account of a conversation that passed between him and the Duke of York relative to the sufferings of the Quakers. It appears by this letter, that he had addressed his royal highness in very plain language, for he says, “I told him, I understood from Scotland, that, notwithstanding Lauderdale was there, and had promised to do something before he went, yet our friends’ bonds were rather increased, and that there was only one thing to be done which I desired of him, and that was to write effectually to the Duke of Lauderdale, in that style wherein Lauderdale might understand that he was serious in the business, and did really intend the thing he did write concerning should take effect; which I knew he might do, and I supposed the other might answer; which, if he would do, I must acknowledge as a great kindness. But if he did write, and not in that manner, so that the other might not suppose him to be serious, I would rather he would excuse himself the trouble:--desiring withal, to excuse my plain manner of dealing, as being different from the court way of soliciting: all which he seemed to take in good part, and said he would write as I desired.”--He soon after returned to Ury, and was permitted to enjoy the full exercise of his religion unmolested, until the 9th of November 1679, when he was taken out of a meeting at Aberdeen, as well as several of his friends but they were discharged in a few hours, and never after wards disturbed by the magistrate.