1702. Anne. " a particular account of that enterprize, nor of all the dif"ficulties our forces may have met with there. But I have had "fuch a representation of diforders and abufes committed at "Port St. Mary's, as hath obliged me to give directions for "the ftricteft examination of that matter. Addrefs of the lords. "I am earnestly defirous, for all our fakes, that this may prove a fhort feffion. However, I hope you will find time "to confider of fome better and more effectual method to "prevent the exportation of wool, and to improve that ma"nufacture, which is of fo great confequence to the whole "kingdom. On my part, nothing shall be omitted for its "encouragement. "I am firmly perfuaded, that the love and good affection "of my fubjects is the fureft pledge of their duty and obe"dience; and the trueft and jufteft fupport of the throne. "And as I am resolved to defend and maintain the Church "as by law established, and to protect you in the full enjoyment of all your rights and liberties; fo I rely upon "your care of me. My interefts and yours are infeparable: "and my endeavours fhall never be wanting to make you "all fafe and happy." The lords returned the ufual addrefs of thanks, congratuthanks by lating the glorious fuccefs of her arms, and those of her allies, under the command of the earl of Marlborough; but the commons, who were met full of prejudice against the memory of king William, and of refentment against those employed by him, fhewed the firft inftance of this difpofition in their address to the queen, which was as follows: The commmons ad ' drefs. Pr. H. C. III. 204. "Moft gracious sovereign, WE your majefty's moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the commons in parliament affembled, do beg "leave to lay before your majefty our moft humble and hearty thanks for your moft gracious fpeech from the "throne; which gives us fuch inftances of your majefty's tender concern for your people, and of your in"tire confidence in their affections, as muft engage "them to make your majefty the utmost returns of duty " and gratitude. "It is great condefcenfion in your majefty to take "notice in fo public a manner of the expreffions of joy "and fatisfaction, with which your majefty was received * in "in all the countries through which you had occafion Anne. lately to pafs. All your fubjects have already received fo 1702. "many benefits under the influence of your majefty's happy "government, that your majefty must have met with the "like in any other part of your dominions, that you had ho"noured with your royal prefence. "The late difappointment at Cadiz does the more "affect us, because it gives your majesty fo much trou"ble. But this misfortune cannot make us forget, that "the protection and fecurity of our trade, the vigorous "support of your majefty's allies, and the wonderful pro"grefs of your majesty's arms, under the conduct of the "earl of Marlborough, have fignally RETRIEVED the an"tient honour and glory of the English nation. "After your majefty's repeated affurances, we neither doubt of the full enjoyment of all our rights and li"berties, nor of your majefty's defending and maintain"ing the church as by law eftablifhed. Your majefty "has been always a moft illuftrious ornament to this "Church, and have been expofed to great hazards for "it. And therefore we promife ourselves, that, in your majesty's reign, we fhall fee it perfectly reftored to "its due rights and privileges, and fecured in the fame "to pofterity; which is only to be done by divefting those "men of the power, who have fhewn they want not the will "to deftroy it. "The profpect of thefe blefings, and your majefty's "defire to have the accounts of the public receipts and "payments inspected, and to have any abufes and mifina nagements thereof punifhed, will very much endear your "majefty to your people, and encourage us moft chearfully "to affift your majefty with thofe fupplies, that may effec"tually enable your majefty to make good fuch alliances, as "fhall be neceffary to profecute the war, where it fhall moft "fenfibly affect your enemies, and thereby difappoint the "boundlefs ambition of France. "Your majefty may fafely rely upon the care of your "faithful commons. The value you are pleased to set upon "the love and affection of your fubjects, is the highest ob ligation that can be laid on them, to give your majefty "pledges thereof in their duty and obedience. They are, "and fhall always be fenfible, that your majefty's interefts "and theirs are infeparable; and, as they gratefully ac"knowledge your majefty's great defigns to make them fafe and happy, fo their prayers and fincereft endeavours VOL. XV Ее fhall Anne. 1702. Debate about the word Retrieved. Burnet. Partiality in judging controverted elections. Burnet: • Earl of Rochefter. "shall never be wanting to make your majesty's reign more "profperous and more glorious than any of your majesty's "royal predeceffors." The word Retrieved, in this addrefs, implying, that the honour of the nation had been loft, occafioned a warm debate. All, who had a juft regard for king William, infifted upon the word Maintained inftead of it, alledging, that Retrieved was a reflection on the late king's memory, who, instead of lofing, had carried the honour of the nation farther than had been done in any reign before his: That to him they owed their prefervation, their fafety, and even the queen's being on the throne. That he had defigned and formed that great confederacy, at the head of which her majefty was now fet. In oppofition to this it was urged, that, during his reign, things had been conducted by ftrangers, and trufted to them; and that a vaft treasure had been spent in unprofitable campaigns in Flanders. The partitiontreaty, and every thing elfe, with which his reign could be loaded, was brought into the account; and the keeping of the word Retrieved, in the addrefs, was carried by a majority of one hundred and eighty voices againft eighty; all who had any favour at court, or hoped for any, voting for it (a). The ftrength of the Tory-party, in the house of commons, appeared not only from this, but alfo from all the controverted elections being determined in their favour, with such an open partiality, that it fhewed the party to be refolved (a) Mr. Walsh, at that time knight of the fhire for Worceftershire (called by Dryden the greatest critic of the age) compofed, on this occafion, the upon following verfes, in a poem, called the Golden Age,' in allufion to Virgil's fourth eclogue: Now all our factions, all our fears shall cease, Harley fhall cease to trick, and Seymour cease to rail. Shall fly from conqueft, and fhall conqueft meet. upon every thing that might ferve their ends. Of this there were two remarkable inftances. The one was of the borough of Hindon near Salisbury; in which, upon a complaint of bribery, the proof was fo full and clear, that they ordered a bill to disfranchize the town for that bribery; and yet, because the bribes were given by a man of their party, they would not país a vote on him as guilty of it; fo that a borough was voted to lofe its right of electing, becaufe many in it were guilty of a corruption, in which no man appeared to be an actor. The other was of more importance. Mr. John How ftood for knight of the fhire for Gloucestershire, and had drawn a party in that county to join with him in an addrefs to the queen, in which reflections were made on the danger and ill ufage, which her majefty had gone through in the former reign. This addrefs was received by the queen in fo particular a manner, that it looked like owning the contents thereof to be true; but he made fuch an excufe for this, when the offence it gave was laid before her, that probably she was not acquainted with the matter of the address, when the fo received it. Upon this, great oppofition was made to Mr. How's election; and, when it came to the poll, it appeared that he had loft it. The fheriff was then moved for a fcrutiny, to examine, whether all thofe, who had fworn, that they were freeholders of forty fhillings a year, had fworn true. By the act of parliament the matter was referred to the parties oath, and their fwearing falfely was declared perjury; therefore fuch, as had fworn falfely, were liable to a profecution: But, by all laws, an oath is looked upon as an end of controverfy, till he, who fwore, is convicted of perjury; and the sheriff, being an officer named by the court, if he had a power to review the poll, this put the election of counties wholly in the power of the crown. Yet, upon this occafion, the heat of a party prevailed fo far, that they voted Mr. How duly elected. Anne. 1702. The house of commons very unanimoufly, and with great Supplies difpatch, agreed to all the demands of the court, and voted all granted. the supplies that were neceffary for carrying on the war (b). (b) The commons voted forty thousand feamen, and that the proportion of forces for England, to act in conjunction with thofe of the allies, be thirtythree thousand foot, and feven thoufand horfe and dragoons; On and that three hundred and fifty E e 2 thirty dines at Guildhall. ed, Nov. 12. Anne. On the lord-mayor's day, the queen dined at Guild-hall, and 1702. conferred the honour of knighthood on feveral perfons (c). The next day, the lord Shannon brought the news of the The queen fuccefs at Vigo; and, four days after, the queen acquainted the commons, that, having appointed the 12th of NovemAthanksgiv- ber for a day of thanksgiving, for the fignal fuccefs of her ing appoint arms under the earl of Marlborough and the duke of Ormond, and of her fleet under Sir George Rooke, fhe intended to go to St. Paul's church, and had given orders for providing convenient places in the church for the members of that house, as well as for the houfe of lords. At the day appointed, the queen went in great ftate to St. Paul's, attended by both houses of parliament. The duke of Ormond, happening to be the staff-officer in waiting, rid in one of the queen's coaches, with the duke of Somerfet, and received the loud acclamations of an infinite number of fpectators, with which he feemed pleased; and from that day may be dated the great popularity which he afterwards acquired, and which, in the end, proved fatal to him. The next day, the house of lords returned him thanks for his fervices performed at Vigo; and, at the fame time refolved to addrefs the queen, to order the duke of Ormond and Sir George Rooke to lay before them an account of their proceedings, which was done. The commons alfo voted thanks to the duke and Sir George, and admiral Hopfon was knighted, and a penfion of five hundred pounds a year was fettled on him by the queen, with a reverfion of three hundred pounds a year for his wife. Proceedings against the bishop of Worcester. Nov. 18. At the beginning of the feffion, Sir John Packington had exhibited a complaint against the bishop of Worcester and his fon Mr. Lloyd, for endeavouring to prevent his election. When this complaint was confidered by the house of comPr. H. C. mons, and the evidence heard, it was unanimoufly refolved, "That it appeared to the houfe, that the proceedings of "William lord bifhop of Worcester, his fon, and his agents, "in order to the hindering the election of a member of the "county of Worcester, had been malicious, unchriftian, and III. 209. thirty-three thoufand eight hun- (c) Gilbert Heathcote, Efq; lord-mayor's brother. Richard Hoar, Efq; and Mr. Eaton, linen draper in Cheapfide, overagainst Bow-church, in whole balcony there was a stately canopy erected, and her majefty fate under it, while the show paffed by. "arbitrary |