"The pastime of this meeting, called The Club, was very engaging to young gentlemen; and one who had once tasted the conversation, could scarce ever quit it; for some or others were continually coming and going to import or export news and stories. There it was known, in half an hour, what any member said at the committee of elections, or in the House, if it sate late; and every post conveyed the news and tales legitimated there; as also the malign constructions of all the good actions of the government, especially to places where elections were depending, to shape men's characters into fit qualifications to be chosen or rejected. 66 They were carriers up and down of seditious talk all over the town; so that a puisne politician, from the universal harmony of discourse, would think the grossest fablings to be truth in perfection." CHAP. XIII. PARLIAMENT SUMMONED TO OXFORD. KING'S SPEECH. DISSOLUTION. - KING'S DECLARATION. ANSWER OF THE WHIGS. CLUSION BILL. THE HE contest between the King and the House of Commons could not continue much longer. Both parties foresaw, and desired a crisis.* The King, on his part, prepared for it by summoning the Parliament to Oxford, where his party was strong, and where he would have nothing to fear from the resentment of the inhabitants. He went there himself eight days before the meeting. He dismissed from his council Shaftesbury, Sunderland, Essex, and Temple. On the other hand, a general alarm prevailed amongst the Whig party that some violence was intended. There was a rumour at one time that the Parliament was to be blown up by a new gunpowder plot; but the general idea was, that the King would cause the persons of those obnoxious to him to be seized, under pretence of a conspiracy against his person and government. The Earl of Essex, accompanied by the Duke of Monmouth, and fourteen other peers, presented a petition to the King, that the Parliament might be held in London. Charles frowned, and gave no answer. Lord Grey pretends, that, after this repulse, a design was entertained of refusing to attend the Parliament at Oxford; but, however this may be, the members of Opposition, in both Houses, finally determined to appear in their places. But several of them took the precaution of being attended by many of their servants and retainers; and the members for London, in particular, entered Oxford with a large body of men on horseback, having blue ribbands on their hats, Temple. with the motto, "No Popery! No Slavery!" ance in such critical times. Mar. 21. -an ominous appear The 21st of March being come, the King opened the Parliament with the following remarkable speech, which is certainly drawn up with great art and judgment. 66 66 66 66 My Lords and Gentlemen: - The unwarrantable proceedings of "the last House of Commons were the occasion of my parting with "the last Parliament; for I, who will never use arbitrary government myself, am resolved not to suffer it in others. I am unwilling to " mention particulars, because I am desirous to forget faults; but "whosoever shall calmly consider what offers I have formerly made, " and what assurances I renewed to the last Parliament; how I recommended nothing so much to them, as the alliances I had made "for the preservation of the general peace in Christendom, and the "further examination of the Popish plot; and how I desired their "advice and assistance concerning the preservation of Tangier; and "shall then reflect upon the strange unsuitable returns made to such propositions by men that were called together to consult, perhaps may wonder more that I had patience so long, than that at last I grew weary of their proceedings. I have thought it necessary to "say thus much to you, that I may not have any new occasion given me to remember more of the late miscarriages: it is as much my "interest, and shall be as much my care as yours, to preserve the liberty of the subject; because the crown can never be safe when "that is in danger; and I would have you likewise be convinced, "that neither your liberties nor properties can subsist long, when "the just rights and prerogatives of the crown are invaded, or "the honour of the government brought low, and into disreputation. "I let you see, by my calling this Parliament so soon, that no irregularities in Parliament shall make me out of love with them; and by this means offer you another opportunity of providing for our security here, by giving that countenance and protection to our neighbours and allies, which, you cannot but know, they expect "from us, and extremely stand in need of, at this instant; and at the 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 '66 66 66 "same time give one evidence more, that I have not neglected my part to give that general satisfaction and security which, by the blessing of God, may be attained, if you on your parts bring suit"able dispositions towards it; and that the just care you ought to "have of religion be not so managed and improved into unnecessary fears, as may be made a pretence for changing the foundation of "the government. I hope the example of the ill success of former "heats will dispose you to a better temper, and not so much to inveigh "against what is past, as to consider what is best to be done in the present conjuncture. The farther prosecution of the plot, the trial "of the Lords in the Tower, the providing a more speedy conviction "of recusants, and, if it be practicable, the ridding ourselves quite "of that party that have any considerable authority or interest "amongst them, are things, though of the highest importance, that hardly need to be recommended to you, they are so obvious to 66 every man's consideration, and so necessary for our security. But "I must needs desire you not to lay so much weight upon any one expedient against Popery, as to determine that all others are in"effectual; and, among all your cares for religion, remember, that "without the safety and dignity of the monarchy, neither religion 66 66 661 66 nor property can be preserved. What I have formerly and so “often declared touching the succession, I cannot depart from. But "to remove all reasonable fears that may arise from the possibility "of a Popish successor's coming to the crown, if means can be found that, in such a case, the administration of the government may “remain in Protestant hands, I shall be ready to hearken to any "such expedient by which the religion might be preserved, and the monarchy not destroyed. I must, therefore, earnestly recommend "to you to provide for the religion and government together, with regard to one another, because they support each other: and let us be united at home, that we may recover the esteem and con"sideration we used to have abroad.-I conclude with this one ad"vice to you, that the rules and measures of all your votes may be 66 66 66 "the known and established laws of the land, which neither can nor "ought to be departed from or changed, but by act of parliament: "and I may the more reasonably require that you make the laws "of the land your rule, because I am resolved they shall be mine." Mr. Williams was chosen Speaker, and made a speech to the King, ́in a tone of firmness unusual on such occasions. Notwithstanding this, the King did not choose to follow the precedent he had made in the case of Mr. Seymour. The first business in the House of Commons was a motion to print the votes. This had been done for the first time in the last Parliament, and as it might have some influence on the public, the motion was opposed by Secretary Jenkins, as "a sort of appeal to the people." Colonel Mildmay, in answering him, seems to have foreseen the fate of the Parliament; for he remarked, it had been usual for the Court to prorogue or dissolve with a declaration against them, and therefore it was fit their acts should be publicly known. The motion was agreed to. After the House had desired a conference with the Lords on the subject of the Bill passed in the late Parliament, to repeal the 35th of Elizabeth, Sir Nicholas Carew brought forward the Exclusion Bill. In order to prevent any charge of precipitation, and to give time for the Court to propose expedients, the House put off the debate respecting it. The next vote is one deserving both of attention and imitation: it was a vote of thanks to " many counties, cities, and boroughs," who had elected their representatives free of expense. It is the misfortune of times like those of which I am treating, that the outcasts of society, by working on the passions of contending parties, become the stipendiaries, the idols, and almost the ruin of a nation. The careers of Oates and Dangerfield' are melancholy instances of this remark. Another is now to be recorded. Fitzharris, an Irish Papist, had endeavoured to gain importance at Court, through the means of the Duchess of Portsmouth, and her woman, Mrs. Wall, by bringing information of the designs of the opposite |