Kingdom's good; which are indeed things infeparable, and ought to be fo accounted, as a fundamental maxim in all councils of Princes. THIS I hope will prepare the way a little for what I have to fay, concerning my being one of the Ecclefiaftical Commiffioners, of which error I am now as fenfible as I was at firft ignorant; being fo unhappily converfant in the midft of a perpetual Courtflattery, as never to have heard the leaft word of any illegality in that commiffion, before I was unfortunately engaged in it. FOR though my Lord of CANTERBURY had very prudently refused to be of it; yet it was told us at Court, and by the King himself, that his refufal proceeded only from his unwillingness to act at that time, and not from any illegality he fufpected in the commission: having excus'd himself from it the most respectful way, only upon the account of his age, and the infirmities he lay under. Being thus ignorant of the Laws, and in fuch a station at Court and Council, I need not defire a man of your judgment and candour to confider the hardness of my cafe, when I was commanded to ferve in a commiffion with a Lord Chancellor, a Lord Lord Chief Justice, and two Bishops: who had all of them acted fome time already without fhewing the leaft diffidence of their power, or any hesitation in the execution of it. And perhaps a man of more difcretion than I can pretend to, might have been eafily perfuaded to act in fuch a conjunction, and to think he might do it safely, both in Law and Confcience. But I need not say much to fhew my defire of avoiding, if poffible, a troublesome commission, that had not the leaft temptation of honour or profit to recommend it; and in which therefore you know I continued on no account in the world, but to ferve both the King and Clergy with the little ability I had, in moderating those councils, which we thought might grow higher, if I left my places to be filled by those who greedily waited for them, in order to their foolish defigns. AND fince I have been forced to mention my good will at least, if not my service, to fuch learned men of the clergy, who I thought deferved it; it may be allowed me to give this one Instance of it: That, although in preferring mod to all other places of the household, I ever used to ask permiflion firft, (and accordingly was often re refused for the fake of Roman Catholicks, and others who were recommended by perfons more in favour than my self) yet I was. so careful of keeping that confiderable part of the family unmix'd with méan or unworthy Chaplains (whom others I fear'd would have impos'd on his Majesty, against his intention) that I conftantly fill'd up those vacancies, without giving him the least notice or trouble about it; and supply'd them with the ableft approved Divines I could poffibly find, most commonly recommended to me by thofe Bishops who were not of the Court. This I conceived the most proper courfe in a matter concerning Clergymen, with a King of a different persuasion from theirs ; and I intended it for his real fervice; believing it had been better for that unhappy Prince, as well as the Kingdom, if the greater Ecclefiaftical Dignities had been difpos'd of by others with as much caution. AND thus, Sir, I have endeavour'd to confirm favourable opinion of you in your me; which must be acknowledg'd by every body an approbation of fuch weight, that as I hope it may be an example of great 3 autho THE Earl of Mulgrave's SPEECH In the HOUSE of LORDS, FOR THE Bill touching Free and Impartial Proceed ings in Parliament. T HIS debate is of fo great confequence, that I refolved to be filent, and rather to be advised by the ability of others, than to fhew my own want of it; befides, it is of fo nice a nature, that I who fpeak always unpremeditately, apprehend extremely the faying any thing which may be thought the leaft reflecting: though even that ought not to reftrain a man here from doing his duty to the publick, in a business where it seems to be fo highly concern'd. 1 |
