On the 2nd of November the king, in obedience to his Parliament,
offered a reward of twenty pounds for the discovery of any
officer or soldier who, since the passing of the Test Act, "hath
been perverted to the Romish religion, or hears mass." Two days
later a bill was framed "for more effectually preserving the
king's person and government, by disabling papists from sitting
in either House of Parliament." As it was feared a clause would
be inserted in this, excluding the Duke of York, the enemies of
his royal highness more plainly avowed their object by moving
that an address be presented to the king, praying his brother
should "withdraw himself from his majesty's person and counsels."
This was the first step towards the Bill of Exclusion from
Succession which they hoped subsequently to obtain. The monarch,
however, determined to check such designs whilst there was yet
time; and accordingly made a speech to the peers, in which he
said to them, "Whatever reasonable bills you shall present to be
passed into laws, to make you safe in the reign of my successor,
so they tend not to impeach the right of succession, nor the
descent of the crown in the true line, shall find from me a ready
concurrence."
The intended address was therefore abandoned for the present; but
the bill for disabling catholics from sitting in either House of
Parliament, having a clause which excepted the Duke of York from
that indignity, passed on the 30th of November.
Pages:
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366