156

HISTORY OH ENGLAND.

CHAP.

xix.

bill for limiting the duration of Parliaments. By this bill it was■ provided that the Parliament then sitting should cease to existon the first of January 1694, and that no future Parliamentshould last longer than three years.

Among the Lords there seems to have been almost perfectunanimity on this subject. William in vain endeavoured to in-duce those peers in whom he placed the greatest confidence tosupport his prerogative. Some of them thought the proposedchange salutary: others hoped to quiet the public mind by aliberal concession; and others had held such language whenthey 7 were opposing the Place Bill that they could not, withoutgross inconsistency, oppose the Triennial Bill. The wholeHouse too bore a grudge to the other House, and had a plea-sure in putting the other House in a most disagreeable dilemma.Burnet, Pembroke, nay, even Caermarthen, who was verylittle in the habit of siding with the people against the throne,supported Shrewsbury. “My Lord,” said the King to Caer-marthen, with bitter displeasure, “you will live to repent thepart which you are taking in this matter.”* The warning wasdisregarded; and the bill, having passed the Lords smoothlyand rapidly, was carried xvith great solemnity by two judges tothe Commons.

Of what took place in the Commons we have but verymeagreaccounts: but from those accounts it is clear that the Whigs, asa body, supported the bill, and that the opposition camechiefly from Tories. Old Titus, who had been a politician inthe days of the Commonwealth, entertained the House with aspeech in the style which had been fashionable in those day r s.Parliaments, he said, resembled the manna which Godbestowed on the chosen people. They were excellent whilethey were fresh: but if kept too long they became noisome;

* Introduction to the Copies and Extracts of some Letters written toand from the Earl ofDanby, now Duke of Leeds, published by His Grace’sDirection, 1710.