of this Nation, and if not, it may occafion hereafter a Civil War. And without any juft Fear, or Caufe; for the King may very 'well out-live the Duke, and then all that C we are about, would be unneceflary; and why should we, to prevent that which may never happen, attempt to do that, which we can never anfwer, either to our King or Country. I cannot apprehend that our Cafe is fo defperate, but that we may fecure our felves fome other Way, without overturning Foundations. I cannot fear a General without an Army. By ridding our felves of all other Papifts we may be fafe, making fuch other Laws to bind the Duke, as may be neceffary by the Name of James Duke of York; which, and the fmall Revenues which belong to the Crown, without the Affiftance of Parliament, with fuch other Laws as may be contrived, I humbly conceive may be fufficient for our security; and therefore it ought to be confidered in a • Committee of the whole Houfe, that fuch as are for thefe Expedients, may have more freedom of Debate.

But notwithstanding all the Opposition that Mr. Hide, and others the Duke's Friends, could make against the Bill, the fame was Carry'd and Engroffed, and being read the 11th of November, a new Debate arofe thereupon, and a certain Member replying to Sir R. M. that he had made large Encomiums on the Duke, extolling his Endowments, and Services to the Nation; but that for his part, he thought, that the better qualified the Duke of York was, the greater was their Danger. I 3

But

Another against the fame.

But that as to what he said, of having Fought our Battels, and done great things for the Nation, he thought he had not done fairly by the House; for he should also have told them, how the Tripple League was broke, and my Lord of Sandwich loft his Life; how he changed his Religion, and had ever fince encouraged Popery, and affifted that Interest: t; how the City of London was Burnt, and the Actors difcharged; how the Discovery of the Popish-Plot was prevented as much as it could be, and the Presbyterian one encouraged; that fo they might have all afore them.

He was going on more Severely, but was Interrupted by Mr. Hide, who made the following Speech.

SIR,

Α

Although it hath been faid, that no good Proteftant can Speak against this Bill; yet Sir, I cannot forbear to offer 'fome Objections against it. I do not know that any of the Kings Murderers were Condemn'd without being heard; and must we deal thus with the Brother of our King? It is fuch a fevere way of Proceeding, that 'I think we cannot answer it to the World; 6 and therefore it would Concur much better with the Justice of the Houfe to Impeach him, and Try him, in a formal way, and then Cut off his Head, if he deferves it. I will not offer to difpute the Power of Parliament; but I queftion whether this Law, if made, would be good in it felf. Some Laws have a Natural Weakness with them; I think that by which the Old Long Parliament

ment carried on their Rebellion, was judged afterwards void in Law, because there was a Power given, which could not be taken from the Crown. For ought I know, when you have made this Law, it may have the fame flaw in it: If not, I am confident there are a Loyal Party, which will never obey, but think themselves bound by their Oaths of Allegiance and Duty, to Pay Obedience to the Duke, if ever he fhould come to be King, which muft occafion a Civil War. · And, Sir, I do not find that the Proviso 6 that was ordered to be added for the Securi

ty of the Duke's Children, is made strong enough to fecure them, according to the Debate of the Houfe, it being liable to many Objections; and the more, because the words Prefumptive Heir of the Crown are industriously left out, though much infifted on when debated here in the Houfe. Upon the whole matter, my Humble motion is, that the Bill may be thrown out.

We fhall not Intermeddle with the fate of this Bill, but come to an Affair of another Nature, which is, that Tangier being much in Danger from the Moors, and Money wanted for the Support and Defence of it, Mr. Hide on the 17th of November preffed this matter home, and faid, Sir, 'Every one that knows

how advantageously Tangier is Situated, to His Speech 'command the greatest Thorow-fare of Com- about a merce in the World, and how by the Ad-Supply for Tangier, vance of the Mold it is like to prove an Excellent Receptacle for our Merchants Ships, to further and fecure them in their Trading Voyages into the Streights, and for

.

our Men of War, when they may be employed in thofe Parts, to check or oppofe the Turks, or other Enemies; how Advantageous it is for carrying on a Trade with Spain in Cafes of Extremity, and what hopes we have of opening a Trade into Barbary that way I fay, every one that will confider these things, will I fuppose have reafon to conclude, that it is a place of great Importance, and not to be lighted. C And I cannot believe that it is any Nursery 'for Popish Soldiers, as hath been argued; for it is well known under what a Regulation our Soldiers are, not only here in England, but in Ireland too, of taking fuch Oaths, and Tefts as fecure them to be Proteftants. And therefore I am confident they were not Papifts when they went hence, or from Ireland; and I have not heard there is any fuch Converfion made among them there, nor do believe there are fo many Inftruments there for that Work. If this Business come before you Unfeafonably at this time, it is because the Neceffity of the Affair requires hafte. For, either this Houfe muft Speedily give Affistance for Tangier, or else it will be loft: For the Moors are come down with fuch a mighty Army, and his Majefty hath been at fo great an Expence already, that he is not able of himself to do more to oppose them: And this fudden Danger could not by any means have been forefeen; for the motions ८ of the Moors with their Armies are not like thofe Europe, but more quick and fudden, and their Defigns and Confultations out of the Reach of any Difcovery by Intelligence,

.

before

before put in Execution. This Notice is more feasonable now, than it would have been after the Place had been loft, which [ am afraid, will be the next News, if fomething be not done by this House to relieve it; and therefore I humbly move you to "think of fome effectual Way, to relieve it for the Prefent, and fecure it for the Future, against all Attempts.

The Commons all this while, notwithstan- . ding the Lords had rejected the Bill of Exclufion, had their Thoughts really fixed upon it, which made Mr. Hide stand up once more, and fay that it was not only very strange, but if he was not mistaken, contrary to the cuftom of Parliaments; that after the Lords had paft a Negative upon a Bill, that they should ftill prefs for it, and declare themselves refolved not to be fatified without it; though it was well known, that the King did also intend to pass his Negative upon it. And that it could not be had that Seffions, unless his Majefty were pleafed to Prorogue the House on purpose, to give an Oppportunity to go on with it again; which was very unlikely, if the Contents of his Speehces and Messages were confidered, feeing the Lords had confirmed him in his Opinion of it. And therefore he should think it were better to follow his Majesty's Directions in his Meffages, and try fome other way; which would be a great Confirmation of their Readiness to obey his Majefty, and follow his Advice, which he believed was the better way, to prevent any further Disagreement, that fo that Parliament might have a happy Conclufion: