Non tamen pigebit vel incondita ac rudi voce memoriam prioris fervitutis, ac TACIT. Agricola. LONDON: Printed for JAMES RIVINGTON and JAMES FLETCHER, MDCCLIX. THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND. BOOK EIGHT H. From the REVOLUTION to the Death of ********** WILLIAM III. HE old Whig principle was not yet wholly A. C. 1693. from the Texpelled lower houfe. The un- An account bill, and liaments. due influence of the court was exerted in of the placefuch an open fcandalous manner, as gave offence to that for trithe majority of the commons. In the midst of all ennial partheir condefcenfion, Sir Edward Huffey, member for Lincoln, brought in a bill touching free and impartial proceedings in parliament. It was intended to disable all members of parliament from enjoying places of trust and profit, and particularly leveiled against the officers of the army and navy, who had infinuated themfelves into the house in fuch numbers, that this was commonly called the officers parliament. The bill paffed the house of commons, and was fent up to the lords, by whom A. C. 1692. it was read a fecond time, and committed; but the ministry employing their whole ftrength against it, on the report it was thrown out by a majority of two voices. The earl of Mulgrave again distinguished himself by his elocution, in a speech that was held in great veneration by the people; and among those who entered a proteft in the journals of the house, when the majority rejected the bill, was prince George of Denmark, duke of Cumberland. The court had not recollected themselves from the confternation produced from fuch a vigorous oppofition, when the earl of Shrewsbury pro.. duced another bill for triennial parliaments, provided that there fhould be an annual feffion; that if, at the expiration of the three years, the crown fhould not order the writs to be iffued, the lord chancellor, or keeper, or commiffioner of the great feal, fhould iffue them ex officio, and by authority of this act, under fevere penalties. The immediate object of this bill was the diffolution of the prefent parliament, which had already fat three feffions, and began to be formidable to the people, from its conceffions to the miniftry. The benefits that would accrue to the conftitution from the eftablishment of triennial parliaments were very well understood, as thefe points had been frequently difcuffed in former reigns. The courtiers now objected, that frequent elections would render the freeholders proud and infolent, encourage faction among the electors, and intail a continual expence upon the member, as he would find himself obliged, during the whole time of his fitting, to behave like a candidate, confcious how foon the time of election would revolve. In fpite of the minifterial interest in the upper houfe, the bill paffed, and contained a provifo, that the prefent parliament fhould not continue any longer than the month of January next enfuing. The court renewed its efforts against |