That having impartially weigh'd the different Conduct of thefe two Minifters, he was glad that nothing could be charg'd upon the Bishop, which gave them an Opportunity to convince the World, that the Church is not in Danger; but mov'd that Thomas Earl of Strafford be impeach'd of High Grimes and Misdemeanours. Mr. Aiflaby afterwards enlarg'd upon this Charge, which he reduced to three principal Heads, viz.

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ift, The Earl of Strafford's advifing the fatal Sufpenfion of Arms, which was foon after attended with several Misfortunes that befel the Allies; and at last reduc'd. them to the Neceffity of fubmitting to the Terms of an unfafe, difhonourable Peace.

:

2dly, Advifing the feizing of Ghent and Bruges, in order to diftrefs the Allies, and favour the Enemy.

And 3dly, The Infolence and Contempt with which he had treated the moft ferene Houfe of Hanover, and their Generals and Minifters.

Mr. Bailie, a Scotch Member, having feconded Mr. Aiflaby, Sir William Wyndham endeavour'd to justify the Earl of Strafford, as to the firft Head, by faying, That the Peace, which was but the Sequel and necessary Confequence of the Sufpenfion of Arms, had been approv'd as fuch by two fucceffive Parliaments, and declar'd advantageous, fafe, and honourable.” Mr. Shippen, Mr. Ward, (the Lawyer) and Mr. Snell, fpoke alfo in Favour of the Earl of Strafford; as did alfo Mr. Hungerford, who, among other Things, faid, That tho' the Bishop of London had an equal Share with the Earl of Strafford in the Negociation of Peace, he was, it feems, to have the Benefit of his Clergy." General Rofs having likewife faid fomething to excufe the Sufpenfion of Arms, General Cadogan anfwer'd, That confidering the Situation of both Armies, the Confederates loft the fairest Opportunity they ever had in Flanders to deftroy the Enemy's Army, and to penetrate into the very Heart of France; but added, That nothing lefs could be expected from a Princefs and a Ministry, who had entirely deliver'd themfelves into the Hands of France.' Sir James Campbel fpoke. alfo against the Earl of Strafford: But the Member who diftinguish'd himself moft in this Debate, was Sir James Dalrymple, who fumm'd up what had been faid on both Sides; and having illuftrated the prefent Cafe by parallel Inftances and proper Obfervations, urg'd, that both by the Civil and Statute Laws, the Earl of Strafford

Strafford was, at leaft, guilty of High Crimes and Mifdeameanours. Hereupon, about Seven a-Clock in the Evening, the Question was put, and (by a Majority of 268 Voices against 100) refolv'd, That this House will impeach Thomas Earl of Strafford of High Crimes and Mifdemeanours; and order'd, rft, That it be referr❜d to the Committee of Secrecy to draw up Articles of Impeachment, and prepare Evidence against the faid Earl. And 2dly, That the further Confideration of the faid Report be adjourn'd to that Day Sev'nnight; when it was further adjourn'd for a Week longer.

June 23. Mr. Farrer prefented the Bill for raising the Militia, &c. which was read the firft Time, and order'd a fecond Reading. Then the Houfe proceeded to the Hearing the Merits of the Election for the County of Bedford, which was adjourn'd to another Day, and afterwards took up feveral other Sittings.

On the 24th of June, after the Reading of the Reports upon the feveral Petitions of the Merchants, who had fuffer'd in the late dreadful Fire in Thames-freet, a Bill was order'd to be brought in, For Relief of Merchants, Importers of Tobacco and Wine, concern'd in Bonds given in Part of the Duties on the fame. Then the Commons read the first Time an ingrofs'd Bill from the Lords, entitled, An Act to explain the Act made in the twelfth Year of King William the Third, entitled, An Act for the further Limi tation of the Crown, and better fecuring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject; which was order'd to be read a fecond Time the 29th of that Month. After this,. Mr. Carter, a Member of the Houfe, communicated to the Commons the Informations he had receiv'd from feveral Hands of a great Riot at Manchester, in which the Pretender had been proclaim'd; and then mov'd the Houfe, That the Act of the 13th and 14th Years of his late Majefty King William the Third, entitled, An Act for the further Security of his Majefty's Perfon, and the Succeffion of the Crown in the Proteftant Line, and for extinguishing the Hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales, and all other Pretenders, and their open and fecret Abettors, might be read; which being done accordingly, it was order'd, Nemine Contradicente, That a Bill be brought in, For the further Security of his Majesty's Perfon and Government, and the Succeffion of the Crown in the Heirs of the late Princefs Sophia, being Proteftants; and for extinguishing the Hopes of the pretended Prince of Wales, and his open and fecret Abettors: And that Mr. Carter, Mr. Boscaweny

Lord

Lord Coningsby, and Mr. Heyfbam, do prepare and bring in the fame.

June 27. The Call of the House of Commons was further adjourn'd to that Day Sev'nnight.

On the 28th of June Mr. Secretary Stanhope acquainted the House, that he had a Meffage from his Majefty, fign'd by his Majefty; and he prefented the fame to the House, which Mr. Speaker read as followeth :

GEORGE R.

HT

IS Majefty having receiv'd an Address from the Commiffioners appointed for building fifty new Churches in and about the Cities of London and Weltminster, and Su. burbs thereof, reprefenting, how difficult they find it to proceed in perfecting the Eftablishment of fuch Churches, for want of a due Maintenance for the Minifters who are to attend the Service of the same; and praying him to recommend to the Care and Wisdom of the Parliament to provide fuch Maintenance: That this good Work may not be render'd ineffectual for want of fuch a. Provifion, his Majefty does moft heartily recommend it to this House, to confider of the best Means of fettling fuch a Maintenance, as may bring this pious Defign to Perfection, for the Honour of the Church of England, and the Advancement of our Holy Religion.

Hereupon the Commons refolv'd to take his Majesty's gracious Meffage into Confideration, on Monday the 4th of July.

June 29. The ingrofs'd Bill from the Lords, to explain a Claufe in the Act of Succeffion, relating to the Naturaliz'd Foreigners, was read a fecond Time, and committed to a Committee of the whole Houfe on Monday the 4th of July; and order'd, That the proper Officers of the Courts of Chancery, King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, and the Cle ks of the Peace for the County of Middlefex, and the Cities of London and Westminster, do lay before the House Lists of what Perfons took the Oaths, in order to their Naturalization, pursuant to the Aft for Naturalizing foreign Proteftants, in the faid Courts, and at the General Quarter-Seffions of the faid County and Cities respectively.

June 30. The Commons read the firft Time an ingrofs'd Bill from the Lords, entitled, An Act for fettling the Precedency of Robert Marquefs of Linfey, Great Chamberlain of England, when created a Duke of Great Britain; and of fuch as fhall fucceed to the faid Honour; which was order'd

to

to be read a Second Time. Then the Houfe read the first Time Two other Bills: One for Relief of Merchants, Importers of Tobacco and Wine, &c. And another, for erecting

Court of Judicature to determine Differences touching Houfes and Buildings burnt down, demolished, or defaced, in and near Thames-Street in the City of London. After this Mr. Farrer from the Committee appointed to infpect the Laws expired or near expiring, reported which of them were fit to be revived or continued; and the House having agreed to the Refolutions of the faid Committee, order'd that a Bill or Bills be brought in upon the fame.

July 1, a Bill was order'd to be brought in to restrain Waggoners, Carriers, and all others, from drawing any Carriage with more than Five Horfes in Length.

It was alfo order'd, Nemine contradicente, that a Bill be brought in, for preventing Tumults and Riotous Af femblies, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing the Rioters: After which a Complaint being made to the Houfe, by the Right Hon. Robert Walpole, Efq; of a printed Pamphlet, intitled, The Evening Poft, from Tuesday, June 28, to Thursday, June 30, 1715, wherein is printed a Copy of a Letter fubfcribed R. W. to the Lord S

at

the Bath (which printed Letter had been cried about the Streets, as if wrote by the faid Mr. Walpole to the Lord Sunderland, and had alfo been maliciously and industrioufly fent all over the Kingdom) the faid Evening Post, and another printed Copy of the faid Letter, were delivered in at the Table, and the printed Copy in the faid Evening Poft was read, as follows:

I

My LORD;

Have receiv'd Your Lordship's Letter, the Contents of which are rather a Concern to me than a Surprize; in the General Corruption, I had little Reafon to believe the Neighbourhood where your Lordship is, should escape untainted.

of

By this Poft you will have an Account from Lord Twhat has been done in these Parts, with fome Particulars of the Oxford Riot; the Inclos'd (My Lord) is a Copy of a Letter fent to Dr. Charlette; but it is not Writing that will ever be able to reduce that University to a State of Difcipline or Order; other Means are necessary.

I am now to tell Your Lordship, the Committee has finish'd their Report, and will lay it before the Houfe in a few Days; what the Refult will be I am doubtful, but we have now nothing for is but a bold Pufh, and accordingly have determin'd

to

to allow no Time to the Enemy to examine or confider the Report.

The Impeachment will be for High Treafon, and other Crimes; and I wish we have not in this Refolution ftrain'd the Matter too far. Not that I believe we are in any Danger of not feeing Your Lordship confirm whatever Accufation we shall bring before you; the People, who think they have a Right to look into our Actions, know their Strength, know how far they have gone, and that they can fecure themselves only by going further.

If on any drunken Holiday the Government is over-run withi Rioters and Seditious Affemblies, what Oppofition may we not reasonably expect, when we are leading the Favourites of the Faction to the Scaffold?

If we fail in our Attempt, we must be content to bear the Yoke we have been preparing for our Enemies: If we should fucceed, we shall never more be troubled with that Spirit that has been fo long grievous to us

The Guards are fent for to be in a Readiness, but I am very doubtful how far they will come into what is neceffari, fhould there be Occafion for them; and must therefore go along with thofe who hold a Neceffity of raising Affiftance from Foreign Troops. My Lord, I shall say no more, Jacta eft Alea; and Fortune. in a few Weeks will difpofe of us one Way or other.

Lord S

at the Bath.

I am &c.

R. W.

Upon the Reading of this Letter it was refolved, Nemine contradicente, That the faid Letter inferted in the faid Evening Poft, is a falfe, fcandalous, and traiterous Libel, highly reflecting on His Majefty and both Houses of Parliament. And ordered, That a Committee be appointed to enquire into the Author, Printer, and Publisher of the faid falfe, fcandalous, and traiterous Libel. And a Committee was accordingly appointed. Then a Complaint being alfo made to the Houfe of a Paragraph in the faid Pamphlet call'd The Evening Poft, relating to John Bournois, a French Schoolmafter, who was whipp'd for fpeaking feditious Words against His Majefty; the faid Paragraph was read, as follows:

John Bournois, the French Schoolmaster, who was whipp'd from Stocks-market to Aldgate, for speaking feditious Words against His Majefty, was laft Week, upon giving Sureties for his good Behaviour, difcharged out of Newgate, but died the next Day of the King's Evil.

After which it was order'd, First, That it be an Inftrution to the faid Committee, That they do enquire inta

the