Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/265

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

heard on Wednesday, that is to morrow, so I intend to attend this house that day, for whilst counsel is at the bar thc)- that can crowd may heai'.

I have been told by those that were members of the house of commons at the time the Union was treated of that that matter was fully debated, and a toUeration insisted on for the Episcopacy b}' the Archbishop of York's son with a great many reasonable arguments; but he was told by the members for Scotland that the Episcopacy there was better then if they had any such bill, for there was no law against them in Scotland, and a tollcration wou'd suppose they lay under the misfortune of being against the laws in being, and there was liberty for them to preach and pray as they pleased, so that they took the oaths to thc Government. Then 'twas Mr. Sharp's business to show them a law against them, wch he did as he thought by producing their Statute book, where any minister that shou'd read the Liturg>' of the church of England to a congregation forfeit so many marks for the first offence, and for the second or third Banishment ; but that was proved by the Scots to be meant only against their own Ministers of the Kirk, and so look't upon by the house. So the business fell and is now revived out of a mischeivous intention to the peace of the kingdoms, or by those whose Zeal is more predominant then their prudence. As far as I hear of this Bill there's no accation to make such a noise about it one way nor t'other

Whiteman's lieutenant Coll. writs that he's affair {sic afraid }) his men will have their throats cut in their beds. The Scotch Guards and some other Scotch regiments are sent for here and others arc to go from hence in their room. If we had but once a good Peace we shou'd be better able to deal with these sort of people.

1 am pleased to hear the discourse continues that the Master of thc horse is keept for >'ou. I was told by a lord that another Lord told him when he ask't for't he was answer'd 'twas keept for you, and that I heard again by another, and Dr. English told me but yesterday that he had it from very great men, that you wou'd certainly have it, the'

�� �