the Speaker, That the king commanded the house to attend him presently in the Banqueting House at Whitehall. Upon which the house. went accordingly. urgent occasions, in which case you shall have notice by proclamation." The Parliament adjourned.] The commons then returned to their own house, where the Speaker reported the King's Speech as above. Mr. Powle standing up to speak, the Speaker interrupted him, and said, I must hear no man speak, now the king's pleasure of adjourning the house is signified.' Some members rising from their seats, and going to the door, before the Speaker had reported the king's command, viz. Mr. John Grey, member for Leicester, and sir Wm. Blacket, member for Newcastle upon Tyne, the Speaker reprimanded them in this manner: "The burgesses of Newcastle and Lei-house cannot be yours, Mr. Speaker, but the cester are in great haste to be gone, before the act of the house; and no question can be put, king's Message is reported, as if they went to when a gentleman stands up to speak. Pray, get places at a show, or a play."* let us keep methods, however. The King spoke as follows. "Gentlemen; Could I have been silent, I would rather have chosen to be so, than to call to mind things so unfit for you to ineddle with, as are contained in some part of your Address; wherein you have intrenched upon so undoubted a right of the crown, that I am confident it will appear in no age (when the sword was not drawn) that the prerogative of making peace and war hath been so dangerously invaded. You do not content yourselves with desiring me to enter into such Leagues, as may be for the safety of the kingdom, but you tell me what sort of Leagues they must be, and with whom: and, as your Address is worded, it is more liable to be understood to be by your leave, than your request, that I should make such other Alliances as I please with other of the Confederates. Should I suffer this fundamental power of making peace and war to be so far invaded (though but once) as to have the manner and circumstances of Leagues prescribed to me by parliament, it is plain, that no prince, or state, would any longer believe, that the sovereignty of England rests in the crown; nor could I think myself to signify any more to foreign princes than the empty sound of a king. Wherefore you may rest assured, that no condition shall make me depart from, or lessen, so essential a part of the monarchy: and I am willing to believe so well of this house of commons, that I am confident these ill consequences are not intended by you.-These are, in short, the reasons why I can by no means approve of your Address. And yet, though you have declined to grant me that Supply, which is so necessary to the ends of it, I do again declare to you, that, as I have done all that lay in my power, since your last meeting, so I will still apply myself, by all means I can, to let the world see my care both for the security and satisfaction of my people; although it may not be with those advantages to them, which, by your assistance, I might have procured.-+I would have you return to your house, and I require that you immediately adjourn to the 16th of July next; but I do not intend you shall sit till winter, unless there should happen any Sir Tho. Lee. The act of adjourning the The Speaker. When there is a command from the crown to adjourn, we are not to dispute about it, but to obey, and adjourn. After a command of this kind, there remains nothing for you to do but to execute it. Unless any man can show me a precedent to the contrary, you will put a hardship upon me to do otherwise. And so the Speaker adjourned the house to the 16th of July next, without naming place, or hour, and suddenly sprung out of the chair. Many called him again to the Chair, some cried stop the Mace upon the table.' Others would have put him again into the chair, or some body else. But the Speaker was soon surrounded by several of his party, and the Mace secured, and he went away with it before him, but not without reproachful speeches; as bidding him remember Lord Finch's case, of the like nature.'—And That he should be called to an account for it. Upon the in "The members returned to the house, several of them rose up probably to express their sense of this cavalier treatment, but were overborne by the Speaker, who took upon him to play the dictator too, by insisting vehemently, that, after the king had required the house to adjourn, there was no more liberty of speech: this being, however, contested, and those who had stood up, demanding still to be heard, the Speaker had the confidence, without any question put, and of his own motion, to pronounce the house adjourned; and therewithal stepped down on the middle of the floor, leaving the members astonished at so flagrant a violation of their inherent privileges." Marvell. "They had also the additional mortification to see this chiding Speech of the king's made public in the Gazette † of the next day, being the first which had ever appeared in that paper, to point them out, both to their own, and all other nations, as refractory, disobedi ent subjects, who had lost all respect to majesty: care being at the same time taken to suppress even the written copies of the proceedings of the house, that nothing might appear in their justification." Ralph. + Upon this occasion, Marvell adds: "Thus were they well rewarded for their itch of perpetual sitting and of acting; the parliament being grown to that height of contempt, as to be gazetted among run-away-servants, lap-dogs, strayed horses, and highway-robbers." stant of the Speaker's going out of the Chair, lord Cavendish proffered to show some precedents of debates after the king's signification of Adjournment; as at that meeting soon after Chatham business, when an Address was voted to the king for disbanding the new raised forces.* The Parliament adjourned a second time.] July 16. The parliament met in pursuance of the late adjournment, and were again adjourned by the king's command, till the 3rd of December; though some of them seemed dissatisfied with, the manner of this, as much as they were with the late adjournment. In particular, Lord Cavendish moved, that the house might see the Journal by what order, and in what method, they were adjourned last. Mr. Williams seconded the motion. But some cried out Adjourn, Adjourn,' others called for the question. But the Speaker told them, That he had received Orders from the king, by Mr. Secretary Coventry, to adjourn the house till the 3rd of Dec. and pronounced the house adjourned accordingly. of all the English, who understood the interests of their country.-The king saw, with regret, the violent discontents which prevailed in the nation, and which seemed every day to augment upon him. Desirous by his natural temper to be easy himself, and to make every body else easy, he sought expedients to appease those murmurs, which, as they were very disagreeable for the present, might in their consequences prove extremely dangerous. He knew that, during the late war with Hol land, the malcontents at home had made applications to the prince of Orange; and if he continued still to neglect the prince's interests, and to thwart the inclinations of his own people, he apprehended lest their common complaints should cement a lasting union between them. He saw that the religion of the duke inspired the nation with dismal apprehensions; and though he had obliged his brother to allow the young princesses to be educated in the protestant faith, something farther, he thought, was necessary, in order to satisfy the nation. He entertained, therefore, proposals for marry. ing the prince of Orange to the lady Mary, Principal Occurrences during the Recess the elder princess, and heir apparent to the Marriage of the Prince of Orange with the crown (for the duke had no male issue), and lady Mary-Plan of Peace-Negotiations.] he hoped, by so tempting an offer, to engage "It is certain," says Mr. Hume, "that this him entirely in his interests. A peace be prowas the critical moment, when the king both posed to make; such as would satisfy France, might with ease have preserved the balance of and still preserve his connections with that power in Europe, which it has since cost this crown: and he intended to sanctify it by the island great expence of blood and treasure to approbation of the prince, whom he found to restore, and might by perseverance have at last be extremely revered in England, and reregained, in some tolerable measure, after all spected throughout Europe. All the reasons past errors, the confidence of his people. This for this alliance were seconded by the solicita opportunity being neglected, the wound be- tions of Danby, and also of Temple, who was came incurable; and notwithstanding his mo- at that time in England: and Charles at last mentary appearances of vigour against France granted permission to the prince, when the and popery, and their momentary inclinations campaign should be over, to pay him a visit.to rely on his faith; he was still believed to be The king very graciously received his nephew at bottom engaged in the same interests, and at Newinarket. He would have entered imthey soon elapsed into distrust and jealousy. mediately upon business; but the prince deThe secret memoirs of this reign, which have sired first to be acquainted with the lady Mary: since been published, prove beyond a doubt, and he declared, that, contrary to the usual that the king bad at this time concerted mea- sentiments of persons of his rank, be placed a sures with France, and had no intention to en- great part of happiness in domestic satisfac ter into a war in favour of the allies. He had tion, and would not, upon any consideration of entertained no view, therefore, even when he interest or politics, match himself with a per pawned his royal word' to his people, than to son disagrecable to him. He was introduced procure a grant of money; and he trusted, to the princess, whom he found in the bloom that, while he eluded their expectations, he of youth, and extremely amiable both in her could not afterwards want pretences for pal-person and her behaviour. The king now liating his conduct. -Negotiations meanwhile were carried on between France and Holland, and an eventual treaty was concluded; that is, all their differences were adjusted, provided they could afterwards satisfy their allies on both sides. This work, though in appearance difficult, seemed to be extremely forwarded, by farther bad successes on the part of the confederates, and by the great impatience of the Hollanders; when a new event happened, which promised a more prosperous issue to the quarrel with France, and revived the hopes * Grey. thought that he had a double tie upon him, and might safely expect his compliance with every proposal: he was surprised to find the prince decline all discourse of business, and refuse to concert any terms for the general peace, till his marriage should be finished. He foresaw, he said, from the situation of fairs, that his allies were likely to have hard terms; and he never would expose himself to the reproach of having sacrificed their interests to promote his own purposes. Charles still believed, notwithstanding the cold, severe man ner of the prince, that he would abate of this rigid punctilio of honour; and he protracted the time, hoping, by his own insinuation and address, as well as by the allurements of love and ambition, to win him to compliance. One day, Temple found the prince in very bad humour, repenting that he had ever come to England, and resolute in a few days to leave it: but before he went, the king, he said, must chuse the terms on which they should hereafter live together: he was sure it must be like the greatest friends or the greatest enemies and he desired Temple to inform his master next morning of these intentions. Charles was struck with this menace, and foresaw how the prince's departure would be interpreted by the people. He resolved, therefore, immediately to yield with a good grace; and having paid a compliment to his nephew's honesty, he told Temple, that the marriage was concluded, and desired him to inform the duke of it, as of an affair already resolved on. The duke seemed surprised; but yielded a prompt obedience: which, he said, was his constant maxim to whatever he found to be the king's pleasure. (23d Oct.) No measure, during this reign, gave such general satisfaction. All parties strove who should most applaud it. And even Arlington, who had been kept out of the secret, told the prince,That some things, good in themselves, were spoiled by the manner of doing them, as some things bad were mended by it; but he would confess, that this was a thing so good in itself, that the manner of doing it could not spoil it.'-This marriage was a great surprise to Lewis, who, accustomed to govern every thing in the English court, now found so important a step taken, not only without his consent, but without his knowledge or participation. A conjunction of England with the allies, and a vigorous war in opposition to French ambition, were the consequences immediately expected, both abroad and at home: but to check these sanguine hopes, the king, a few days after the marriage, prolonged the adjournment of the parliament from the third of December to the fourth of April. This term was too late for granting supplies, or making preparations for war; and could be chosen by the king for no other reason, than as an atonement to France for his consent to the marriage. It appears also, that Charles secretly received from Lewis the sum of 2,000,000 of livres on account of this important service. The king, however, entered into consultations with the prince, together with Danby and Temple, concerning the terms which it would be proper to require of France. After some debate, it was agreed, that France should restore Lorrain to the duke; with Tournay, Valenciennes, Condé, Aeth, Charleroi, Courtray, Oudenarde, and Binche, to Spain, in order to form a good frontier for the Low Countries. The prince insisted Frachecomté should likewise be restored; and Charles thought, that, because he had patrimonial estates of great value in that province, and deemed his property more secure in the hands of Spain, he was engaged by such views to be obstinate in that point: but the prince declared, that to procure but one good town to the Spaniards in Flanders, he would willingly relinquish all those possessions. As the king still insisted on the impossibility of wresting Franchecomté from Lewis, the prince was obliged to acquiesce.-Notwithstanding this concession to France, the projected peace was favourable to the allies; and it was a sufficient indication of vigour in the king, that he had given his assent to it. He farther agreed to send over a minister instantly to Paris, in order to propose these terms. This minister was to enter into no treaty: he was to allow but two days for the acceptance or refusal of the terms: upon the expiration of these, he was presently to return: and in case of refusal, the king promised to enter immediately into the confederacy. To carry so imperious a message, and so little expected from the English court, Temple was the person pitched on, whose declared aversion to the French interest was not likely to make him fail of vigour and promptitude in the execution of his commission.-But Charles next day felt a relenting in this assumed vigour, Instead of Temple he dispatched the earl of Feversham, a creature of the duke's and a Frenchman by birth: and he said, that the message being harsh in itself, it was needless to aggravate it by a disagreeable messenger. The prince left London; and the king, at his departure, assured him that he never would abate in the least point of the scheme concerted, and would enter into war with Lewis, if he rejected it.-Lewis received the message with seeming gentleness and complacency. told Feversham, that the king of England well knew that he might always be master of the peace; but some of the towns in Flanders it seemed very hard to demand, especially Tournay, upon whose fortifications such immense sums had been expended: he would therefore. take some short time to consider of an answer. Feversham said, that he was limited to two days stay: but when that time was elapsed, he was prevailed on to remain some few days longer; and he came away at last without any positive answer. Lewis said, that he hoped his brother would not break with him for one or two towns; and with regard to them too, he would send orders to his ambassador at London to treat with the king himself. Charles was softened by the softness of France; and the blow was thus artfully eluded. The French ambassador, Barillon, owned at last, that he had orders to yield all except Tournay, and even to treat about some equivalent for that fortress, if the king absolutely insisted upon it. The prince was gone, who had given spirit to the English court; and the negotiation began, to draw out into messages and returns from Paris.-By intervals, however, the king could rouse himself, and show still some firmness and resolution. Finding that affairs were not, likely to come to any conclusion with France, he summoned, notwithstanding the long adjournment, the parliament on the 15th of Jan, He now, for weighty considerations, thought fit to meet with both houses sooner; and therefore his pleasure is, that this house be adjourned to the 15th day of Jan. next."-The house adjourned accordingly. Jan. 15. 1677-8. The house being met, his majesty sent the following Message by Mr. Secretary Coventry, which was read by the Speaker: "C. R. His majesty hath matters of very great importance to communicate to both houses, in order to the satisfaction of their late Addresses, for the preservation of Flanders. But it so happening that matters are not yet so ripe, as within a few days they will be, therefore his majesty's pleasure is, that this house be immediately adjourned till Monday, the 28th of this instant January,"* an unusual measure, and capable of giving | alarm to the French court. Temple was sent for to the council, and the king told him, that he intended he should go to Holland, in order to form a treaty of alliance with the States; and that the purpose of it should be, like the triple league, to force both France and Spain to accept of the terms porposed. Temple was sorry to find this act of vigour qualified by such a regard to France, and by such an appearance of indifference and neutrality between the parties. He told the king, that the reso- | lution agreed on, was to begin the war in conjunction with all the confederates, in case of no direct and immediate answer from France; that this measure would satisfy the prince, the allics, and the people of England; advantages which could not be expected from such an al- | liance with Holland alone; that France would be disobliged, and Spain likewise; nor would the Dutch be satisfied with such a faint imitation of the triple league, a measure concerted when they were equally at peace with both parties. For these reasons, Temple declined the employment; and Lawrence Hyde, second son of chancellor Clarendon, was sent in his place.-(1678.) The prince of Orange could not regard without contempt such symptoms of weakness and vigour conjoined in the Eng-faction: I have accordingly made such Alllish counsels. He was resolved, however, to make the best of a measure which he did not approve; and as Spain secretly consented that her ally should form a league, which was seemingly directed against her as well as France, but which was to fall only on the latter, the States concluded the treaty in the terms proposed by the king." Dec. 3. The house met, when Mr. Secretary Coventry delivered the following Message from his majesty, which was read by the Speaker: "C. R. His majesty, having giving notice by his Proclamation, that he intended the houses should be adjourned till the 4th of April,* hath "Before the meeting appointed for the 3d of Dec. his majesty's Proclamation was issued, signifying that he expected not the members attendance, but that those of them about town should adjourn themselves till the 4th of April, 1678,' These words, that the house may adjourn themselves' were very well received by those of the commons who imagined themselves thereby restored to their right, after Mr. Speaker Seymour's invasion: when, in reversal of this, (he probably desiring to retain a jurisdiction that he had twice usurped, and to add this flower to the crown, of his own planting) Mr. Secretary Coventry delivered a written Message from his majesty, on the 3d of Dec. of a contrary effect, though not of the same validity with the Proclamation, viz. That the houses should be adjourned only to the 15th of Jan. 1677; which as soon as read, Mr. Seymour would not give leave to a worthy member, of fering, to speak; but abruptly, now the third time, of his own authority, adjourned them without putting the question; though sir John Several members proffered to speak, but the Speaker would not suffer them, but adjourned the house. The King's Speech to both Houses.] Jan. 28. This day his majesty came to the house of peers, and sending for the commons, made this remarkable Speech: "My lords and gentlemen; When we parted last, I told you, that before we met again,! would do that which should be to your satis ances with Holland, as are for the preservation of Flanders; and which cannot fail of that end, unless prevented either by the want of due Finch, for once doing so, (3 Ch.) was accused of high treason. This only can be said perhaps in his excuse, That whereas that in 3 Ch. was a parliament legally constituted, Mr. Seymour did here do as a sheriff that disperses & riotous assembly. In this manner they were kicked from adjournment to adjournment, as from one stair down to another; and when they were at the bottom, kicked up agam, having no mind yet to go out of doors." Mar vell. * One reason for this adjournment was, to know if the Spaniards would comply with a de mand that the king had made of Ostend, and Portmahon, for the accommodation of his ships and troops, and which Mr. Godolphin was in this interval soliciting at Brussels: and another is given by the lord treasurer Danby in a Letter to Mr. Montagu ambassador at Paris dated Jan. 17, viz. To see if any expedient for the peace could be found out in that time." Ralph. "It appears however from sir Wm. Temple. that the true reason of this Adjournment was to have time to receive the news of a League with Holland, which was signed Jan. 16, but being properly defensive, to prevent the king of France from pursuing his conquests in the Netherlands, it was very far from answering the desires of the parliament. The king be lieved, nevertheless, that this league would be capable to impose upon them; and therefore deferred their meeting to receive the news of its conclusion." Rapin. assistances to support those Alliances, or by the small regard the Spaniards themselves must have to their own preservation. The first of these I cannot suspect, by reason of your repeated engagements to maintain them; and I know you are so wise as to consider, that a war, which must be the necessary consequence of them, ought neither to be prosecuted by halves, nor to want such assurances of perseverance as may give me encouragement to pursue it. Besides, it will not be less necessary to let our enemies have such a prospect of our resolutions, as may let them see certainly that we shall not be weary of our arms, till Christendom be restored to such a peace as shall not be in the power of any prince alone to disturb.-I do acknowledge to you, that I have used all the means possible, by a mediation, to have procured an honourable and safe peace for Christendom; knowing how preferable such a peace would have been to any war, and especially to this kingdom, which must necessarily own the vast benefits it has received by peace, whilst its neighbours only have yet smarted by the war: but, finding it no longer to be hoped for by fair means, it shall not be my fault, if that be not obtained by force, which cannot be had otherwise.-For this reason I have recalled my troops from France; and have considered, that although the Dutch shall do their parts, we cannot have less on ours than 90 sail of capital ships constantly maintained, nor less than 30 or 40,000 land men (with their dependencies) to be employed upon our Fleets and elsewhere. And because there shall be no fear of misemploying what you shall give to these uses, I am contented that such Money be appropriated to those ends as strictly as you can desire. I have given testimony enough of my care in that kind, by the progress I have made in building the new ships; wherein, for the making them more useful, I have directed such larger dimensions, as will cost me above 100,000l. more than the act allows. I have gone as far as I could, in repairing the old Fleet, and in buying of necessary Stores for the Navy and Ordnance; and in this, and other provisions for better securing both my foreign plantations and the islands nearer home, I have expended a great deal more than the 200,000l. you enabled me to borrow upon the Excise, although I have not found such a credit as I expected upon that security. I have borne the Charge both of a rebellion in Virginia, and a new war with Algiers. I stand engaged to the prince of Orange for my niece's portion: and I shall not be able to maintain my constant necessary Establishments, unless the new Impost upon "The Prince of Orange arrived in England Oct. 9, 1677. On the 24th, the match between his highness, and lady Mary, the duke of York's daughter, was declared at the committee, on the morrow to the council, which was, upon that occasion, extraordinarily assembled, and in the next Gazette to the whole VOL. IV. Wines, &c. be continued to me, which would otherwise turn only to their profit to whom we least intend it.-I hope these things will need little recommendation to you, when you consider your promises in some and the necessity of the rest. And to let you see that I have not only employed my time and treasure for your safety, but done all I could to remove all sorts of jealousies, I have married my niece to the prince of Orange, by which I hope I have given full satisfaction that I shall never suffer his interest to be ruined, if I can be assisted as I ought to be to preserve them.-Having done all this, I expect from you a plentiful Supply, suitable to such great occasions; whereon depends not only the honour, but (for aught I know) the being of an English nation, which will not be saved by finding faults afterwards, but may be prevented by avoiding the chief fault of doing weakly and by halves what can only be hoped from a vigorous and thorough prosecution of what we undertake.--These considerations are of the greatest importance that ever concerned this kingdom; and therefore I would have you enter immediately upon them, without suffering any other business whatsoever to divert you from bringing them to good resolutions." Resolved, nem. con. "That the king's Speech be taken into consideration to-morrow." Debate on the irregular Adjournments of the House by the Speaker.] Mr. Sacheverell. I was unwilling to give interruption to this busi-, ness, as long as I see the way before me, and now we have done the king right, it is time to right ourselves upon you, Mr. Speaker. I was present when you adjourned the house twice,* and you would not suffer any gentleman to speak. Because I would reduce things to a certainty, and leave no umbrage betwixt the king and us, of his majesty's power of adjourning us, I will state the case betwixt the house and you, Mr. Speaker. It seems you will undertake to be bigger than the house, and, contrary to four known rights of the house, will undertake to violate them upon your own authority. I have drawn up the heads of them, and I offer them, not as an impeachment, but a charge, and I offer them to be read, the substance whereof is, That it is the standing Order and undoubted right of the house, that the house be not adjourned by the Speaker, but by consent of the house, and not by the Speaker only. And that when any gentleman stands up to speak, the person is not to be silenced, unless the house over-rule him.' But you, Mr. Speaker, contrary to your duty, after several members stood up to speak, would not suffer them to go on, and, though you acknowledged kingdom. Wherever the news spread, joy accompanied it. It was looked upon as a deliverance from the French, and no man, at that time, dreaded any other slavery." Ralph. It was celebrated November the fourth,' the prince's birth day. The prince's portion was 40,000!. *See p. 890. 3 M |