messages passed between the two houses,--the
commons still insisting upon a committee to settle preliminaries; at
length the dispute was brought to a free conference.

THE IMPEACHED LORDS ACQUITTED.

Meanwhile the king, going to the house of peers, gave the royal
assent to the bill of succession. In his speech he expressed his warm
acknowledgments for their repeated assurances of supporting him in such
alliances as should be most proper for the preservation of the liberty
of Europe, and for the security of England and the states-general. He
observed that the season of the year was advanced; that the posture
of affairs absolutely required his presence abroad; and he recommended
despatch of the public business, especially of those matters which were
of the greatest importance. The commons thanked him in an address for
having approved of their proceedings: they declared they would support
him in such alliances as he should think fit to make in conjunction
with the emperor and the states-general, for the peace of Europe, and
reducing the exorbitant power of France. They then resumed their dispute
with the upper house. In the free conference, lord Haversham happened to
tax the commons with partiality, in impeaching some lords and screening
others who were equally guilty of the same misdemeanors. Sir Christopher
Musgrave and the managers for the commons immediately withdrew; this
unguarded sally being reported to the house, they immediately resolved,
That John lord Haversham had uttered most scandalous reproaches and
false expressions, highly reflecting upon the honour and justice of the
house of commons, tending to a breach in the good correspondence between
the two houses, and to the interruption of the public justice of the
nation; that the said lord Haversham should be charged before the lords
for the said words; that the lords should be desired to proceed in
justice against him, and to inflict upon him such punishment as so high
an offence against the commons did deserve. The commons had now found a
pretence to justify their delay; and declared they would not renew the
conference until they should have received satisfaction. Lord Haversham
offered to submit to a trial; but insisted on their first proving
the words which he was said to have spoken. When this declaration was
imparted to the commons, they said the lords ought to have censured him
in a summary way, and still refused to renew the conference. The lords,