Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

been excluded from the power of a King, and the government quite altered, and little more than the name of a King left; so I could not see either sin or fault in the one, when all the people were willing to admit the other; but thought it - better to have a King with his prerogative, and the nation easy and safe under him, than a King without it, which would breed perpetual jealousies and a continual struggle.”

CHAP. XII.

DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE COMMONS.

ADDRESS TO THE

THRONE. TRIAL OF LORD STAFFORD. -DOUBTS STARTED BY THE SHERIFFS RESPECTING HIS EXECUTION.-BILL OF ASSOCIATION MOVED BY LORD CAVEN

[blocks in formation]

TICE SCROGGS.

IMPEACHMENT AGAINST CHIEF-JUS

DISPUTES BETWEEN THE KING AND

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, ON THE SUBJECT OF THE EXCLUSION BILL.

[ocr errors]

PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION.

[ocr errors][merged small]

THE loss of the Exclusion Bill occasioned, as might have been expected, great indignation in the Commons. Lord Russell is said to have exclaimed, with a violence unusual to his nature,

66

If my own father had been one of the sixty-four, I should have voted him an enemy to the King and kingdom."* Every one acquainted with him knew that he was the last man in the country capable of acting with such barbarous patriotism.

The resentment of the Commons appeared in a signal manner on a debate upon the King's message, asking supplies for the support of Tangier. Sir William Jones, after some observ

* Oldmixon.

ations on the use that had been made of Tangier, as a nursery for Popish soldiers, broadly argued, that it would be imprudent in the House to grant any money to the Crown, till they should be satisfied that it would not be employed to the destruction of the Protestant religion. He was supported by Lord Russell, who declared that whenever the King should free the House from the danger of a Popish successor, and remove from his Council and places of trust all those that were for the Duke's interest, he should be ready to give all he had in the world; but, till then, a vote of money would only have the effect of destroying themselves with their own hands.

Lord Russell was followed by Sir William Temple, now for the first time a member, who observed, that the debate had become one on the state of the nation, and that by the vote of that day it would be discovered whether the Commons intended to support the alliances made by the Crown. He urged the importance of Tangier, and the small expense it would occasion, but he pressed the House to this grant more forcibly in consideration of the low state of the Protestant interest abroad. He entreated the Parliament to come to an agreement with the King.

Notwithstanding this speech, an address was ordered to be drawn up, humbly representing

the dangerous state and condition of the kingdom, in answer to His Majesty's message. The address now presented was in effect a long remonstrance, or abstract of all the grievances of the subject, the whole of which were attributed to the design carrying on to introduce Popery. It ended with declaring, that if such designs should succeed, the Commons freed themselves by this protest from the guilt of the blood and devastation which were likely to ensue.

But the Commons were not satisfied with stopping the supplies, and delaying the business of the country: they resolved to proceed against those who had been the most forward in opposing the Bill of Exclusion. As no special crime could be urged against Lord Halifax, they voted an address to the King, to remove him from his presence and councils, on the ground of the Earl's having advised the late prorogations. Lord Russell, and Sir William Jones, who had formerly been friends of Lord Halifax, were silent on this question.* The King, in his answer, said that he did not think the reasons given in the address sufficient to induce him to remove the Earl of Halifax. "But whenever the "House," he added, "shall, in a due and regular

*Burnet,

"course, prove any crime, either against the "said Earl, or any other person, who either now "is, or hereafter shall be, in his council, he will "leave him or them to their own legal defence, "without interposing to protect them." By these words he tacitly gave up the power assumed in the case of the Earl of Danby. Mr. Seymour, the great opponent of the Exclusion Bill in the Commons, was impeached for diverting money, when treasurer of the navy, to other purposes than those to which it had been appropriated. It is impossible to say whether this charge was founded, or not, but the use made of it at this time to punish a very different offence, was factious and ungenerous. The Commons next proceeded to the trial of Lord Stafford, one of the five Popish lords in the Tower. He had to contend not only with the improbable evidence of Oates, Dugdale, and Turberville, but also with the legal talents of Maynard, and Jones; the result was that he was found guilty by 55 peers, against 31 who acquitted him. Amongst those who voted him guilty, were the Duke of Lauderdale, Lord Guildford, Lord Sunderland, Lord Nottingham, and Lord Anglesey, all staunch supporters of the prerogative. Lord Stafford, after his condemnation, told Burnet, who had been sent to him to procure a confession, rather than a conversion, that he could give information

« ПредишнаНапред »