Page images
PDF
EPUB

A.D. 1661. pose of the land forces: a bill for the well governing and regulating corporations: a bill for the uniformity of public prayer: a bill declaring the sole right of the militia to be in the king, and for the present ordering and governing the same; another against the quakers: and, to strike, indeed, at the roots of the principles of liberty, a bill was passed to restrain unlicensed printing."

Precipitation of the commons.

Согрогаtion bill.

60

These bills went through the house of commons with great precipitation. The corporation bill was carried up to the lords July 6th, and the uniformity bill July 10th; and the commons were so impatient, that, three days afterwards, on the 13th, they sent a message to the lords,* to put them in mind of the despatch of these two bills; and on the 16th another message, for the despatch of the corporation bill: but the lords acted with more coolness and consideration than was agreeable either to the commons or the court.

By the corporation bill, the king was enabled to appoint such commissioners as he should think

* Lords' Journals.

60 This house of commons began by voting that the solemn league and covenant should be burned by the common hangman, and that all their members should receive the sacrament according to the rites of the Church of England upon a certain day.

fit, in all cities, corporations, boroughs, and A.D. 1661. cinque-ports; and it was enacted, that three or more of those commissioners should have proper power to tender to all mayors, aldermen, &c. and other persons, bearing any office, trust, or employment in corporations, the oaths of supremacy; and this following oath, viz. "I, A. B. do declare, and believe, that it is not lawful, upon any pretence whatsoever, to take up arms against the king; and I do also abhor that traitorous position of taking arms by his authority against his person, or against those commissioned by him. So help me God."

Opposed in

the house

The commissioners, any five or more of them, had a power to remove or displace any such persons as the major part did not approve of, notwithstanding they had taken the oath as the law required. This bill met with great opposition in the house of lords; particularly from the Earls of South- of lords. ampton, Manchester, Bedford, Leicester, and Bolingbroke; Lords Holles, Townshend, Delamere, and Ashley; as it was forcing men to swear to a belief of what was repugnant to the constitution and the laws of nature. Lord Ashley set forth the ill consequences of the bill in various instances, viz. the injustice it might do to the wealthiest,

A.D. 1661. the most able, and the most conscientious mem

adjourned.

bers of their respective corporations: the fixing these in the hands of, perhaps, the most profligate persons in them; at least, the dividing of the people into parties: and he showed that, as it would be a restraint upon those who had a regard to their oaths and their country, it was the most effectual method which could be contrived for lodging the executive power of the government in the hands of such persons as would make no difficulty of subjecting the whole nation to an absolute tyranny both of church and state.

The great spirit with which some of these bills were opposed by so many of the lords in employment, gave uneasiness to the projectors. The Parliament king, therefore, went to the parliament, on the 30th of July 1661, and told them, that " he knew they had begun many bills which could not be finished till their meeting again; and, that they might be finished then, he forbore to make this a sessions; but was contented they should adjourn to the 20th of November:" a very unusual, if not unprecedented adjournment!

During the adjournment, reports were spread

of a plot in several counties; and many were A.D.1661.
taken up on these reports, and committed to pri-
son. When the house met, on the 20th of No- Meets

vember 1661, the king told them, that "he
knew the visit he made them that day was not
necessary, was not of course; yet, if there was no
more in it, it would not seem strange that he
came to see the lords spiritual and temporal † and
the commons of England met together." He
took notice of "the activity of many wicked in-
struments to disturb the public peace;" recom-
mending it to the parliament
"to find proper
remedies for such diseases, and to oblige all men
to a proper submission;" and he concluded with
recommending a good correspondence between
the two houses.

Rapin is evidently mistaken here; for he says, that, upon the sole foundation of this plot, (which he proves to be a contrivance of the court,) the corporation act and all the proceedings against the nonconformists were built; and that the project of the act of uniformity was now formed: whereas it appears by the Journals, that both these acts were

VOL. I.

framed and sent to the lords
before the adjournment, and
before there was any sugges-
tion of the plot. It is evident,
that the rumours of the plot
were only to persuade the
public that there was a neces-
sity of passing those laws, and
to induce the lords to it.

These were just restored
to their seats.

S

again.

A.D. 1661.

Proceed

Upon the return of the commons to their house, Sir John Packington opened the scene, parliament. and declared that great numbers were taken up

ings of the

to inquire into the

plot.

in his county for the plot. Others supported him, and said, "Some laws must be made, both to bring the nonconformists under strict obedience or due punishment, and to secure the executive power of the government in such persons as should not question or dispute the comCommittee mands of the prince." A committee of both houses was appointed to examine into the plot; and they had power to sit during the adjournments of parliament. They made a strict inquiry, but as there appeared no foundation for the reports, the public were much alarmed at their power; and, therefore, on the 7th of January 1661-2, (the first day of the parliament's meeting after the Christmas holydays,) Lord Clarendon reported to the house of lords,* "that the committee of both houses had met several times during the adjournment, and considered of the business referred to them; but, finding some imaginary jealousies of the end and intent of the committee's meeting, they had come to no resolutions, but thought fit to leave the busi

A. D. 1661-2.

*Lords' Journals.

« PreviousContinue »