Disputes in the English Parliament--The Attainder of Russell reversed--Other Attainders reversed; Case of Samuel Johnson--Case of Devonshire--Case of Oates--Bill of Rights--Disputes about a Bill of Indemnity--Last Days of Jeffreys--The Whigs dissatisfied with the King--Intemperance of Howe--Attack on Caermarthen--Attack on Halifax--Preparations for a Campaign in Ireland--Schomberg--Recess of the Parliament--State of Ireland; Advice of Avaux--Dismission of Melfort; Schomberg lands in Ulster--Carrickfergus taken--Schomberg advances into Leinster; the English and Irish Armies encamp near each other--Schomberg declines a Battle--Frauds of the English Commissariat--Conspiracy among the French Troops in the English Service--Pestilence in the English Army--The English and Irish Armies go into Winter Quarters--Various Opinions about Schomberg's Conduct--Maritime Affairs--Maladministration of Torrington--Continental Affairs--Skirmish at Walcourt--Imputations thrown on Marlborough--Pope Innocent XI. succeeded by Alexander VIII.--The High Church Clergy divided on the Subject of the Oaths--Arguments for taking the Oaths--Arguments against taking the Oaths--A great Majority of the Clergy take the Oaths--The Nonjurors; Ken--Leslie--Sherlock--Hickes--Collier--Dodwell--Kettlewell; Fitzwilliam--General Character of the Nonjuring Clergy--The Plan of Comprehension;Tillotson--An Ecclesiastical Commission issued.--Proceedings of the Commission--The Convocation of the Province of Canterbury summoned; Temper of the Clergy--The Clergy ill affected towards the King--The Clergy exasperated against the Dissenters by the Proceedings of the Scotch Presbyterians--Constitution of the Convocation--Election of Members of Convocation; Ecclesiastical Preferments bestowed,--Compton discontented--The Convocation meets--The High Churchmen a Majority of the Lower House of Convocation--Difference between the two Houses of Convocation--The Lower House of Convocation proves unmanageable.--The Convocation prorogued TWENTY-four hours before the war in Scotland was brought to a close by the discomfiture of the Celtic army at Dunkeld, the Parliament broke up at Westminster. The Houses had sate ever since January without a recess. The Commons, who were cooped up in a narrow space, had suffered severely from heat and discomfort; and the health of many members had given way. The fruit however had not been proportioned to the toil. The last three months of the session had been almost entirely wasted in disputes, which have left no trace in the Statute Book. The progress of salutary laws had been impeded, sometimes by bickerings between the Whigs and the Tories, and sometimes by bickerings between the Lords and the Commons.
The Revolution had scarcely been accomplished when it appeared that the supporters of the Exclusion Bill had not forgotten what they had suffered during the ascendancy of their enemies, and were bent on obtaining both reparation and revenge. Even before the throne was filled, the Lords appointed a committee to examine into the truth of the frightful stories which had been circulated concerning the death of Essex. The committee, which consisted of zealous Whigs, continued its inquiries till all reasonable men were convinced that he had fallen by his own hand, and till his wife, his brother, and his most intimate friends were desirous that the investigation should be carried no further.381 Atonement was made, without any opposition on the part of the Tories, to the memory and the families of some other victims, who were themselves beyond the reach of human power. Soon after the Convention had been turned into a Parliament, a bill for reversing the attainder of Lord Russell was presented to the peers, was speedily passed by them, was sent down to the Lower House, and was welcomed there with no common signs of emotion.
Many of the members had sate in that very chamber with Russell.
