Page:A Letter from a Person of Quality, to His Friend in the Country (1675).pdf/36

 with Parliament Men about Parliament business, and particular­ly mention'd those of the Armie, Treasury, and Navy; and when it was Objected to them, that the greatest part of the most knowing Gentry were either Justices of the Peace, or of the Militia, and that this took away all converse, or discourse of any alteration, which was in truth of any business in Parliament, and that the Officers of the Navy, and Treasury, might be best able to advise what should be fit in many cases; and that withall none of their Lordships did offer any thing to salve the inconvenience of Parliament Men being deprived of discoursing one with another, upon the matters that were be­fore them. Besides it must be again remembred, that nothing was herein desired to be countenanced, or made lawful, but to preserve that that is already Law, and avowedly justified by it; For without this addition to the Proviso, the Oath renderd Parliaments but a Snare not a Security to the People; Yet to all this was answerd sometimes with passion, and high words, sometimes with Jests, and Raillery (the best they had) and at the last the major Vote answered all objections, and laid a side the addition tendered.

There was another thing before the finishing of the Oath, which I shall here also mention, which was an additional Oath tendered by the Marquess of Winchester, who ought to have been mentioned in the first, and chiefest place for his conduct, and support in the whole debate, being an expert Parliament Man, and one whose Quallity, Parts, and Fortune, and own­ing of good Principles, concurr to give him one of the greatest places in the esteem of good Men. The additional Oath ten­derd, was as followeth, I do swear that I will never by Threats, Injunctions, Promises, Advantages, or Invitation, by or from any person whatsoever, nor from the hopes, or prospect of any Gift, Place, Office, or Benefit whatsoever, give my Vote o­ther then according to my Opinion and Conscience, as I shall be truly, and really persuaded upon the debate of any-business in Parliament; so help me God.

Rh