s, solicitors, counsellors, and sergeants-at-law,
soliciting, prosecuting, or pleading, in any case of the same nature.
These resolutions, signed by the clerk, were fixed upon the gate of
Westminster-hall. On the other hand, the lords appointed a committee
to draw up a state of the case; and, upon their report, resolved, That
every person being wilfully hindered to exercise his right of voting,
might maintain an action in the queen's courts against the officer by
whom his vote should be refused, to assert his right, and recover damage
for the injury; that an assertion to the contrary was destructive of
the property of the subjects, against the freedom of elections, and
manifestly tended to the encouragement of partiality and corruption;
that the declaring of Matthew Ashby guilty of a breach of privilege of
the house of commons, was an unprecedented attempt upon the judicature
of parliament, and an attempt to subject the law of England to the votes
of the house of commons. Copies of the case, and these resolutions, were
sent by the lord-keeper to all the sheriffs of England, to be circulated
through all the boroughs of their respective counties.

THE QUEEN'S BOUNTY to the POOR CLERGY.

On the seventh day of February, the queen ordered secretary Hedges
to tell the house of commons that she had remitted the arrears of
the tenths to the poor clergy; that she would grant her whole revenue
arising out of the first fruits and tenths, as far as it should become
free from incumbrance, as an augmentation of their maintenance; that if
the house of commons could find any method by which her intentions to
the poor clergy might be made more effectual, it would be an advantage
to the public, and acceptable to her majesty. The commons immediately
brought in a bill enabling her to alienate this branch of the revenue,
and create a corporation by charter, to direct the application of it to
the uses proposed; they likewise repealed the statute of mortmain, so
far as to allow all men to bequeath by will, or grant by deed, any sum
they should think fit to give towards the augmentation of benefices.
Addresses of thanks and acknowledgment from all the clergy of England
were presented to the queen for her gracious bounty; but very little
regard was paid to Burnet, bishop of Sarum, although the queen declared
that prelate author of the project. He was generally hated, either as a
Scot, a low-churchman, or a meddling partisan.

INQU