cold reception of the Bishops should make it neceffary for us to go to the prefs with them, and then your Lordfhip fhall have a printed copy fent you. We are thinking to thank the House of Commons*, as well as the Queen, for their readiness in endeavouring to make her gracious meffage effectual. I am your Lordship's ever dutiful humble fervant, FR. ATTERBURY. LETTER LXII. To Bp. TRELAWNY. Feb. 24, 1703. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, WAS much furprized to find yesterday, by the copy of Mr. Ward's opinion, which Dr. Edisbury fhewed me, that he thought your Lordship had not the next turn upon the avoidance which will happen on Tuesday next. The Master of the Rolls + (I fent * See p. 178. † Sir John Trevor, your your Lordship word) was of another opinion; and to me the cafe feems very plain. However, upon receiving this opinion from Mr. Ward, Dr. Edifbury and I did both think it neceffary to confult other counfel, the result of which will be fent your Lordship this poft. Ward is a Crown lawyer, and hath bent his studies chiefly that way. I hope this hath prejudiced him in behalf of the prerogative. Mr. Broderick (who is a thorough lawyer) hath studied another way, and is not over zealous for the prerogative. If both these fhould agree in the fame opinion, it will be a fafe guide to your Lordship. I have put the claim of rights, and the reprefentation of grievances, into hands to be transcribed for your Lordship; and Dr. Edifbury hath promised to inclose and send them this poft. We paffed the claim of rights yesterday very eafily: we could not deliver it; the Bishops preventing us by rifing early: but we ordered it to be delivered the firft paper which was given to their Lordships. After this, we agreed to make a compliment to the House of Commons; for our friends in the Houfe of Commons had changed their minds, and told us it would be proper. We VOL. III. N have have made a long Order of Thanks *, which will be prefented to the Speaker to-day (the Prolocutor and four of us attending him at "By the Lower House of Convocation. "Die Mercurii, Februarii 232, 1703-4. "Ordered, That Mr. Prolocutor, Mr. Dean of Winchester, Dr. Edwards, Dr. Smalridge, and Dr. Atterbury, do attend Mr. Speaker of the honourable Houfe of Commons, and acquaint him, that, after the Clergy's having waited on her Majefty with their most humble fenfe of her unexampled bounty to her poor Clergy, the Lower Houfe of Convocation cannot but take notice, with how much kindness and generofity yourfelf, Sir, and the honourable Houfe of Commons, had prevented them by your Addrefs upon the fame fubject; wherein you have been pleafed, not only to express your readinefs to affift and further her Majefty's most charitable intentions, but fo far likewife to efpoufe the intereft of the Clergy, as to pay your own most hearty thanks on their behalf. Our Houfe, Sir, commands me to return their moft humble acknowledgments to you, and to that honourable Houfe, for this fo fingular a favour; which you have enlarged, by promifing to purfue fuch methods, as may beft conduce to the fupport, honour, intereft, and future fecurity, of the Church of England, as now by law eftablifhed and they beg leave, at the fame time, with the most fenfible gratitude, to profefs, that they cannot have any greater affurance of what your honourable Houfe has now promifed, than the experience they have had of what it always has performed. J. ALDRICH, Prolocutor." John Wickart, D. D. his his houfe with it); and will, I fuppofe, be inferted in the Votes to-morrow. We were alarmed yesterday with an ac count that the original bill about tenths and first-fruits was loft or mislaid, so that Jodrell* could not find it, in order to a fecond reading this day. If fo, there is an end of it this feffion, for there is fcarce time for their beginning all again de novo. I have not heard to-day whether Jodrell hath retrieved it. I am your Lordship's ever dutiful and most humble fervant, FR. ATTERBURY. LETTER LXIII. To Bp. TRELAWNY, Feb. 26, 1703-4. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, INCE I wrote to your Lordfhip about the SIN Addrefs, I find that other Bifhops have taken the hint, and are promoting that matter with their Clergy; and, particularly, that the Archbishop of York+ expects one from his *Clerk of the Houfe of Cominons. It was a falfe alarm. See p. 195. Dr. Sharpe. diocese very speedily. I hope Dr. Edisbury fent your Lordship the grievances and claim of right, and the opinions of counsel in relation to the Commendam, last post: I shall fee him this evening, and, if there be any thing further to be added on that head, will not fail to advertise your Lordship. I am your Lordship's ever dutiful and most humble fervant, FR. ATTERBURY. LETTER LXIV: To Bp. TRELAWN Y. Feb. 29, 1703-4. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, I HAVE inclofed a copy of the Speaker's letter to the Prolocutor*, which is to be read in our Houfe on Friday next; and, I suppose, *Reverend Sir, "I acquainted the Houfe this day with what you were pleafed to communicate to me yesterday from the Lower Houfe of Convocation. I alfo did read to the Houfe the Order of Thanks which you left with me; which, I am to acquaint you, was received with that refpect and affection as is juftly due to that reverend and learned Body of the Clergy. I will not at this time leffen that public ac |