we have appointed Dr. Ifham to preach before us in Henry the VIIth's Chapel on the Faft-day. My Lords the Bishops, on Tuefday, intend to give in their answer to our report about prorogations and adjournments; and we are told that they intend to stick firmly to their prefent practice, that is, neither to let us go to prayers, when we meet, till we have attended at Jerufalem-chamber, and they are fat; nor yet let us fit at all after they rise. If so, we shall certainly adhere, and perhaps break upon that point; for the right is manifeftly with us, though it be determined not to allow it us.

I beg your Lordship's bleffing; and am your Lordship's most obedient and most humble fervant,

FR. ATTERBURY.

LET

LETTER XVI.

To Bp. TRELAWNY.

March 18, 1700-1,

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,

ICA

I

CAN give no very punctual account of what was done to-day in the House, for was not there. I faw it was intended and refolved to do nothing, and thought therefore I fhould not be miffed; which is the first time I have been abfent fince we met, But if these leisurely steps and over-wary measures go on (which I cannot fall in with) I shall be

absent oftener.

I hear all they did to-day was to increase their Conimittee of Religion for Foreign Factories and Plantations with eight more, and to receive the Bishops' excufe for not making answer to our paper about prorogations and adjournments, which they have had now in their hands almost a fortnight; and we are told that their anfwer will not come into our hands till Saturday next, though we shall meet before that on bufinefs. For want of

other

other matter, I have inclosed a paper of the Bishops' questions, and our returns to them *;

of

The Paper of the Converfation between the Upper House and the Prolocutor, Feb. 28. "Whether this Lower Houfe of Convocation did "fit after they were prorogued by his Grace "on the 25th day of this inftant month of February? And,

66

"Whether they did meet this morning without "attending in this place (meaning Jerufalem"chamber) where they were adjourned?"

Upon fome difcourfe concerning these questions, the Prolocutor told his Grace and their Lordfhips, "that the Lower Houfe were preparing fomewhat to lay before them, concerning the method of prorogations, and fome other things of form;" whereto his Grace anfwered, that he and his brethren were ready to receive whatsoever fhould be offered by them, and would confider and do upon it what fhould appear to them to be just and right but, in the mean while, his Grace and his brethren think fit to continue their prefent prac fice."

Upon reading the aforefaid schedule, the queftion was put, "Whether this Houfe fhould not "comply with his Grace and their Lordships' di"rections in this matter for the prefent, till the "Committee appointed to infpect the ufages and cuftoms of this Houfe had made their report (fub proteftatione tamen, falvis juribus & privi legiis hujus Cetus Domus Inferioris Convocationis) "or not?" And it was unanimously refolved in the affirmative.

46

The

of which I think that before I sent your Lordship no copies.

The

The Report of the Committee of the Lower House appointed to fearch the Convocation-books for Directions concerning the Prorogations of this House, made on Thursday, March 6.

"We find, that the common usage of this Houfe hath been, to continue fitting till the Prolocutor did prorogue or adjourn, or intimate the adjournment or prorogation thereof, either perfonally, or by fome member of this Houfe thereunto deputed by him; and in both these cafes (as we conceive) with the confent of this Houfe. And we also find, by fome inftances, that this Houfe did not always prorogue or adjourn to the fame day with the Upper House.

"We find the like common ufage of this Houfe to have been, That when in the Upper House the Convocation was prorogued or adjourned by the words in hunc locum, this House did meet apart from the fame, at the fame particular place where it fat laft; and when the Convocation was prorogued or adjourned to fome other general place, viz. St. Paul's or Lambeth, then alfo this Houfe did affemble in a feparate place diftinctly from their Lordships.

"And we further find no footsteps of evidence to conclude, that it was ever the practice of this House to attend their Lordships, before this House did meet and fit pursuant to their former adjournment. But when this House hath first met and fat, it hath been the conftant practice to at tend their Lordships with bufinefs of their own,

at

The report from the Committee concerning T-d* was finished yesterday, and ordered to be prefented to the House to-day; but was not. It seems fome expreffions in it did not please fome of our lay friends, and it must be altered therefore before it is prefented. The purport of it is, to lay the matter before the Bishops, and beg their direction and advice, what steps we fhall take towards fuppreffing and preventing his and all other fuch like pernicious books.

I received a letter from Mr. N. † by your Lordship's order, yesterday. I cannot affure your Lordship that, in that cautious way in which we now proceed, we shall venture to fay any thing about the Articles. It was mentioned in plain terms once in the House, but hushed up again; and I do not find any inclination in those who govern measures, to revive that, or any other point of moment.

Your Lordship's prefence here may put a new fpirit into things. But at prefent the great

at their own meeting, or when called up to their Lordships by a fpecial meffenger." Agreed to by the Committee, nemine contradicente. * Toland. + Newey.