of Lord

Lord Shaftesbury, standing near the bishops' A.D. 1675. bench one day, when he spoke long in this debate, overheard one of the bishops saying to another, Repartee "I wonder when he will have done preaching?" ShaftesHe immediately turned round and replied, "When I am made a bishop, my lord;" and then proceeded in his speech to the house.

Notwithstanding a proviso was obtained by the country lords for preserving the freedom of debates and votes in parliament, an objection was still made to the bill by the Earl of Bolingbroke, that a restraint was laid even upon members of parliament out of doors; and that the oath took away all private converse upon any public parliamentary affairs even with one another.

Upon this, Lord Shaftesbury presently drew up some words for preserving the rights, privileges, and freedoms which men enjoyed by the law established. He was supported by many others in his motion; but was strongly opposed by the courtiers, who plainly declared that they designed by the bill to prevent caballing, and to hinder parliament men from consulting with persons in public offices, either of the army, treasury, or navy, about parliamentary business: they

bury's.

Further

debate on

the bill.

A.D. 1675. silenced every objection by their majority of

Mean spirit of the no

bility.

The bill pushed on

votes.

Though there were many worthy persons among the nobility, who were true lovers of their country and asserters of its liberties, the greater part meanly acted under the influence of the court, and in subservience to the commands of the ministers. Unmindful of the virtues of their ancestors, their only emulation was to acquire wealth or excel in luxury; and they were contented to load themselves with chains, provided these chains were more glittering than those of their fellow-subjects. It was a melancholy presage for the public, when the men whose example was the most likely to be imitated became thus depraved, and when the foremost in rank were generally the first in corruption.

This bill, which would have rendered parliaby the court. ments entirely useless, was so highly agreeable to

the court, that the ministry exerted their utmost strength in its favour. Just before the meeting of parliament, a privy seal was passed for eighty thousand pounds secret-service money. The design of this money was to prepare the two houses to concur in the bill, and it actually secured a majority in each house. But this measure, and

the dangerous tendency of the bill, only served a.d. 1675. to animate the lords in the opposition; who, by

their constant and close attendance, and by the strength of their arguments, checked the progress of it in such a manner, that the debates upon it continued for seventeen days.

CHAPTER IV.

Dr. Shirley's Appeal.-Lord Shaftesbury's Speech in the Debate. -Contention between the two Houses-Its effects.-Parliament prorogued for fifteen months. - Pamphlets against Shaftesbury. Meeting of Parliament. - Lord Shaftesbury contends that the Parliament was dissolved-Is committed to the Tower.

A.D. 1675. THE vigorous stand made by the opposition against this bill, rendered the court still more intent upon succeeding in its scheme; and therefore another privy seal was passed for one hundred and twenty thousand pounds more, for the same service; and every question was carried in spite of the force of argument. But what truth could not do, Lord Shaftesbury effected by his policy.

Having gained time, by the spirit which appeared against the bill, he contrived, before it could be reported from the committee, to raise such a difference between the houses, upon a point of privilege, as rendered their sitting impracticable, and defeated the intentions of the

court.

appeal.

between the

commons.

An appeal from a decree in chancery had been A.D. 1675. brought into the house of lords by Dr. Shirley, Dr.Shirley's against Sir John Fagg, a member of the house of commons. The lords received the appeal; which was resented by the commons, and declared to be a breach of privilege. They likewise passed a Difference vote, that no appeal from any court of equity was lords and cognizable by the house of lords, and ordered Dr. Shirley into the custody of the serjeant-atarms. The speaker's warrant for doing this was forcibly taken from the serjeant's deputy by Lord Mohun. The commons demanded justice of the peers against him; but he was so strongly supported by Lord Shaftesbury and others, that the lords justified by a vote what he had done. The house of commons ordered the barristers who pleaded in the cause to be taken into custody," and the lords immediately ordered their release. These steps, which were pursued with great heat

107

107 During the debate upon this resolution, some ladies were in the gallery peeping over the gentlemen's shoulders. The speaker spying them called out, "What borough do those ladies. serve for?" To which Mr. William Coventry replied, "They serve for the speaker's chamber." Sir Thomas Littleton suggested that the speaker should suppose they were gentlemen with fine sleeves dressed like ladies. "Yes; but I am sure I saw petticoats," rejoined the speaker.—Grey.