WILLIAM AND MART.

157

King. His Majesty exhorted the assembly to consider calmly chap.and without prejudice the recommendations of the Commission, 1689 .and declared that he had nothing in view but the honour andadvantage of the Protestant religion in general, and of theChurch of England in particular.*

The Bishops speedily agreed on an address of thanks for the Differ-^royal message, and requested the concurrence of the Lower tweenHouse. Jane and his adherents raised objection after objection. Houses ofFirst they claimed the privilege of presenting a separate address. u“a' oca "“When they were forced to waive this claim, they refused toagree to any expression which imported that the Church ofEngland had any fellowship with any other Protestant commu-nity. Amendments and reasons were sent backward andforward.Conferences were held at which Burnet on one side and Jane onthe other were the chief speakers. At last, with great diffi-culty , a compromise was made; and an address, cold and un-gracious compared with that which the Bishops had framed, waspresented to the King in the Banqueting House. He dissembledhis vexation, returned a kind answer, and intimated a hopethat the assembly would now at length proceed to consider thegreat question of Comprehension.**

Such however was not the intention of the leaders of the TheLowerHouse. As soon as they were again in Henry the Seventh’s n°use ofChapel, one of them raised a debate about the nonjuringBishops. In spite of the unfortunate scruple which thoseprelates entertained, they were learned and holy men. Their ageabie.advice might, at this conjuncture, be of the greatest service tothe Church. The Upper House was hardly an Upper Ho use in theabsence of the Primate and of many of his most respectablesuffragans. Could nothing be done to remedy this evil?***

* Historical Account of the Present Convocation, 16S9.

** Historical Account of the Present Convocation; Burnet, ii. 58.;

Rennet’s History of the Reign of William and Mary.

%*** Historical Account of the Present Convocation; Rennet’s History.