A. D. 1717. impeached, and that the Prongation was an actual Superfedras “o the whole Proceedings. Et being over-ruled, or rejee, the Houfe fixed June 13, for the Earl's Trial. But the Managers for the Commons, finding them.elves LEable to prepare Matters for the Trial againit that Time, movell for further Time, which granted. Eices of the Nonjurors, and in a fame Seffion in which he w May 20, died Sir John Trevor, The Earl of Oxford, who had been confined in the Tower almoft two Years, caufed a Petition, figned with his Name, to be prefented to the Houfe of Peers by the Lord Trevor, in which he fet forth, that he had been confined, upon an Impeachment brought up against him to their Lordships Houfe by the Commons of Great Britain, for High Treafon, and other Crimes and Mifdemeanours, and fubmitted his Cafe to their Lordships Confideration, praying that his Imprifonment might not be indefinite. Several long Speeches were made upon the Niceties and Scruples which were ftarted in his Cafe; and fome of the Lords infifted in his Behalf, that the Impeachment was ipfo facto deftroyed, and determined, becaufe he was not brought to Trial the June 24, the two Houfes trok their Seats in Weftminster Hell the Prifoner was brought to the Ear, and the Lord Couper, who was appointed Lord High Steward this Occafion, having caufed Commiffion to be read, and mak a fhort Speech to the Prifore, ufual in fuch Cafes, directed to Managers to proceed. Mr. Ha den began, and recapitulated e Charge of the Commons saint him, That the Prisoner, by many wicked Arts and Infinuations, c tained Access to the late Queer, got into her Councils, and in Places of the higheft Truft, for ed a treacherous Correfponder with the Emiffaries of France, gave falfe and pernicious Cours to her Majefty; that he facrific the Trade and Commerce of Gra Britain to its common Enemy that he endeavoured to fubvert ancient Conftitution of Parliamen betray'd the Catalans, faithful 4.lies to this Kingdom, to the m placable Refentments of an enraged and powerful Enemy, &c. A Mr. Hampden had done, Sir 7 Jekyll began, but the Lord He court made a Motion to adjours 2 the Houfe of Lords, where, spor a long Debate, it was refolved, nat to admit the Commons to proceed in making good the Articles High Crimes and Mifdemeanours, till Judgment be first given a the Articles of High T Which Refolution being declared the Managers at the Lords Reurn to the Hall, the Managers relied, that they conceived it to be much the undoubted Right of ne Commons to proceed in their wn Method, in Maintenance of he Articles exhibited by them, and id apprehend that this Refolution f their Lordfhips might be of fo atal Confequence to the Rights nd Privileges of all the Commons f Great Britain, that they could ot take upon them to proceed any arther, without reforting to the House of Commons for their Diection therein. The Commons eing acquainted with what had hus paffed, came to a Refolution, That they conceive it to be the undoubtd Right of the Commons, to impeach Peer, either for High Treafon, or or High Crimes and Misdemeanours, r, if they fee Occafion, to mix both the one and the other in the ame Accufation. And infifted on t, that their Managers fhould proceed in the fame Manner they were going on, when interrupted by their Lordships Refolution. When this was communicated to the House of Lords, it was again debated, Whether the Commons fhould be admitted to proceed in that Method? And it was carried to infift on their former Refolution. They alfo ordered a Paper of Reafons in Maintenance of this Refolution to be drawn up, and delivered to the Commons, containing in Subftance, That their Lordships judge it a Right inherent in every Court of Jultice, to order and direct fuch Methods of Proceedings as fuch Court fhall think fit to be observed in all Caufes depending before them, which can have no Influence to the Prejudice of Juftice, and where fuch Methods of Proceeding are not fettled by any pofitive Rule. That the firft Article in the prefent Cafe being for High A. D. Crimes and Mifdemeanours only, 1717. and the Method of proceeding on an Impeachment of a Peer for High Treafon, as well before as upon the Trial thereof, being very different from the Proceedings in the former Cafe, their Lordships could not confent that a new Precedent fhould be made on this Trial, to the Prejudice of the Peerage of Great Britain in all Times to come, viz. The Trying a Peer on Articles for High Crimes and Mifdemeanours without the Bar, the detaining in Cuftody a Peer fo accufed, and repeated Commitments of him to the Tower, during the Time of fuch Trial, and fubjecting a Peer to as ignominious Circumftances on his Trial, on Articles of Misdemeanours, as if he was then on his Trial on Articles for High Treafon : Whereas a Peer on his Trial on Articles for Mifdemeanours only ought not to be deprived of his Liberty, nor fequeftered from Parliament, and is intitled to the Privilege of fitting within the Bar during the whole Time of his Trial; in all which Particulars the known Rule of Proceedings in fuch Cafes may be evaded, fhould a Peer be brought to his Trial on feveral Articles exhibited against him on High Crimes and Misdemeanours, and for High Treafon mixed together, and the Commons be admitted to proceed in order to make good the Articles for High Crimes and Mifdemeanours, before Judgment be given upon the Articles for High Treafon. The Commons, having confidered the Reafons mentioned above, fent a Meffage to the Lords to defire a free Conference thereupon, but the Lords refufed to grant it. This again give Rife to many warm Debates in both Houfes to very little Effect. Hereupon the Houfe 4. D. Houfe of Lords proceeded in the 1717. Formalities of Judicature; they went down to the Hall, took their Places in Judgment, ordered the Lieutenant of the Tower to bring his Prifoner to the Bar, and caufed the following Proclamation to be made Whereas Robert Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer fands impeached of High Treafon and other High Crimes and Misdemeanours, by the House of Commons, in the Name of themselves and of all the Commons of Great Britain, all Perfons concerned are to take Notice, that be now ftands upon his Trial, and they may now come forth in Order to make good their Charge. After which the Court fat perfectly filent, and looked one upon another, as if they expected the Commons would appear; but no body appearing the Lords about a quarter of an Hour after returned to their Houfe, where the Queftion being put, whether the Earl fhould be acquitted, it paffed in the Affirmative; and then the Method of giving Judgment was fettled, the Words prefcribed, and Directions given to the Lord High Steward for the remaining Proceedings in the Hall. Whither being adjourned, the Queftion was put feverally to their Lordships, and he was declared by the Lord High Steward to be acquitted by the Unanimous Confent of all; and was immediately difcharged. However the Commons made an Addrefs to his Majefty, that the faid Earl fhould be excepted out of the Act of Grace then depending in the House. July 15, the King went to the Houle, and gave the Royal Affent to feveral Bills, amongst which was the Act of Grace; and the Earl of Oxford, Simon Lord Harcourt, Matthew Prior, Thomas Harley, Arthur Moore, and fome few others, were particularly excepted by Name; and then prorogued the Parliame August 17, Count Gillenberg ed from Harwich for Sweden, where he was exchanged for Mr. Jars, And the latter End of this Month died Dr. William Lloyd, Bilag of Worcefler, aged upwards of ey Years, a very learned Prelate, and accounted one of the beft Texmaries of his Age. Dr. John Hough Lucceeded him in that Bishoprick and not long after Dr. Edward Chandler was promoted to the See of Litchfield and ventry, in the Room of Dr. Hog In the Beginning of October King fet out from Hampton Cart, for New-market. The next Day after his Arrival, Mr. Grigg, Vice Chancellor of the Univertity of Cambridge, attended by many Ga › duates, returned their humbe Thanks and Acknowledgments fa the noble Library bestowed upon them by his Majefty, and afred him of their hearty Zeal and A fecton for his Royal Perion and Government, promifing that fhould be their conftant Study and Endeavours to inftill the fame Praciples in the Minds of the Youth committed to their Charge. H Majefty was pleased to dine with the University, and as a Mark of he being well pleafed with the hand fome Reception he met with there, gave liberally to the Relief of the Poor. The Parliament met November 24, and the King acquainted them of a confiderable Reduction he had made in the Forces, hinted to them the Advantages gained by leffening the National Debts, put them in Mind of fome Arrears due to Foreign Princes before his Acceffion, and exhorted them to Unanimity. The next Day the Lord Wid drington and the Earl of Carnust, pleaded his Majesty's most gracios Pardon at the Bar of the Houle of Lords, and were discharged. Upon Upon the Debates in the Comons about the Number of Land orces, Mr. Shippen, among other hement Expreffions, faid, That Second Paragraph of the King's eech jeemed rather to be calculated the Meridian of Germany, than reat Britain; and that it was a eat Misfortune, that the King was Stranger to our Language and onftitution. Thefe Words gave ffence to feveral Members, and ne, who took them down in Wring, urged, that they were a fcanlous Invective against the King's erfon and Goverment, of which e Houfe ought to fhew the highResentment, and therefore mov1, that the Member, who spoke em, fhould be fent to the Tower; ad was feconded by fome others. everal Queftions were started on is Occafion, as, whether the Words taken down in Writings were ne very fame he had fpoken, and vhether there was any Precedent f a Cenfure paffed on a Member of the Houfe for Words spoken in Committee. All which were arried in the Affirmative, and he was voted to the Tower by 175 Votes against 81. November 2, 2, the Princefs of Wales was fafely delivered of a Prince in the Royal Palace at St. James's, who was chriftened on the 28th of the fame Month by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and named George William; but died the February following, and was privately interred in the Abby Church of Westminster. In the latter End of this Year was ifiued a Proclamation for lowering the Gold Coins; and Richard Lord Onflow, and Robert Shirley Earl Ferrers, departed this Life. many Perfons who had no Right to In the Beginning of the follow- March 17, Ferdinando Marquifs January 22, it was obferved in a mas A. D. 1718. A. D. mas Lord Parker, and Sir John 1718. Pratt, was made Lord Chief Juice of the King's Bench in his Room. About this Time Dr. Samuel Brad ford was promoted to the See of Carlisle, in the Room of Dr. Wm. Nicholson, who was tranflated to the See of Londonderry in Ireland. July 22, the Quadruple Alliance between the Emperor, the King of Great Britain, the moft Chriftian King, and the States General, was figned at London. In this Treaty the contracting Powers engage for the reciprocal Prefervation of their feveral Dominions and Subjects, and for the maintaining mutual Peace; the former Treaties of Utrecht and Baden were confirmed, except in fome few Points; and the feveral Powers mutually promife to give no Protection in any of their Dominions to thofe who are or fhall be declared Rebels by any one of the other contracting Powers; and if any one of the four Treating Pow. ers be attacked or disturbed by their own Subjects, or any Prince or State, the other three fhall endeavour, on Requeft, to procure them Juftice, and to prevent the Aggreffor from continuing Hoftilities; but if friendly Offices be no: fufficient for the Reconciliation of the two contending Parties, and Satisfaction and Reparation of the injured Power, the High Treaters fhall furnish to their Ally who is attacked, in two Months after being thereunto required, the following Succours, jointly or feparately; viz. his Im perial Majefty 8,000 Foot, and 4000 Horfe; his Britannick Majety, and the moft Chriftian King, the fame Number of Forces; and the States General 4000 Foot, and 2000 Horse. The Power attacked fhall have his free Choice, either of Troops, Ships of War, &c. or Subfidies in ready Money. Agreed that 1,000 Foot fhall be valued at Ten Thoufand Dutch Florins pr Month, and 1000 Horfe at Thiry thoufand Dutch Florins per Month, and the fame Proportion fall be obferved with refpect to the Shire, If the Succours herein above redfied be not answerable to the Neceffity, the Treating Powers forthwith agree on farther Supplies, and likewife, if it be neceílary, af fit in the War against the Aggre for, &c. The Spaniards having formed a Defign of feizing the land cily, fitted out a Fleet for that Purpofe, which failed from Bertlona June 17, and in the Beginning of the following Month made à Defcent upon the Ifland, and be came Matters of feveral Places therein, the People being generally inch ned to fubmit to the Spanish Govere ment. But while they were badly employed in attacking the Cia ei of Mina, the British Fleet, commarded by Sir George Byng, came to their Affiftance, engaged the Span Fieet, and entirely defeated them, Jan 31. || And not long after the King of Sy acceded to the Quadruple Alliance In the Beginning of November. Dr. White Kennet was co: fecrate: Bishop of Peterborough, in the Room of Dr. Richard Cumberland, decez fed. November 11, the Parliament me at Westminster, and the King xquainted them with the Treaties be had concluded, complained of the Spaniards ill Ufage of the Bris Ships, and recommended to them to confider of proper Methods for preventing Frauds and Abufes in the Revenue. The Bills for ftrengthening the Proteftant Interest in these Kingdoms, and that for limiting the Peerage, occafioned very warm De bates in this Seffion; the former however paffed into a Law, and the latter was dropped for the prefer. |