Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/254

 238 THE WENT WORTH PAPERS.

Duke of Buckingham was for having them sworn all together

to save time, my Lord T r saw that was not altogether the

opinion of the house, so he pull'd the Duke and whisper'd him not to press that matter, and besides 'twas thought my Lord Treasurer might think there was a design in some to oppose the Patent of his son-in-law, for out of doors that matter had been much canvassed. They granted that an Earl's son in the eye of the law was no more then a com- moner, but if their Lordships' resolutions concerning the Duke of Hambleton were rightly grounded upon exceptions that are in the Articles of Union, then the same wou'd be good against Lord Duplin, for the words are — they and their heirs. He was introduced as John Hay, Esquire, created Lord Hay ; tho' he was last introduced I hear he has the precedence given him next the two Earles* sons. But there was nothing moved in that affair, the Lords reserv'd them- selves for one of greater consequence. As soon as the new Lords had been severally sworn my Lord Treasurer told them, according to the order of the house he had attended her majesty with their Address, and he read her answer, wch was to this effect, that she cou'd not imagine there cou'd be anybody after the speech she made them at the opening of the session, that cou'd doubt but that she had given her Plenipotentiars all necessary instructions in the affair of Peace. Then my Lord Keeper told them he had been with her Majesty that morning, and she had given him a message to deliver to the house under her hand and seal, wch he read, wch was to this effect, that having matters of great impor- tance to communicate to both houses she desired they wou'd adjourn themselves forthwith till Munday sevenight, till wch time the house of Commons stood adjourn'd. Upon wch my Lord Sommers began, and said there were many Lords had more experience in the law of Parliament then he, but that for a great part of his life he had made it his study to be versed in the records of both houses, and in all his reading he cou'd never find that any such command ever came singly to either house from the Crown. He confest that such a command had been often sent to both houses at the same

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