Soon after this address,
Lord Russell was sent by the Commons to the Peers, requesting
their concurrence in the statement that "the Duke of York's being
a papist, the hope of his coming to the crown had given the
greatest countenance and encouragement to the conspiracies and
designs of the papists." And now, in May, 1679, the condition of
popular feeling promising well for its success. the Bill of
Exclusion was introduced, ordaining that "James, Duke of York
should be incapable of inheriting the crowns of England and
Ireland; that on the demise of his majesty without heirs of his
body, his dominions should devolve, as if the Duke of York were
also dead, on that person next in succession who had always
professed the protestant religion established by law." This
passed the House of Commons by a majority of seventy-nine votes.
Alarmed by this bill, Charles resolved to show signs of
resentment, and at the same time check the increasing power of
the Commons, by a sudden and decisive movement. Therefore,
without previously hinting at his intentions, he prorogued
parliament before the bill was sent to the House of Lords. This
was a keen surprise to all, and a bitter disappointment to
Shaftesbury, who vowed those who advised the king to this measure
should answer for it with their heads. Owing to various delays,
the Bill of Exclusion was not brought before the Peers until
eighteen months later. Its introduction was followed by a debate
lasting six hours, in which Shaftesbury distinguished himself by
his force and bitterness.
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