[143] _Parl. Hist._ v. 26. The former address on the king's first quitting London, signed by the peers and bishops, who met at Guildhall, Dec. 11, did not, in express terms, desire the Prince of Orange to assume the government, or to call a parliament, though it evidently tended to that result, censuring the king and extolling the prince's conduct. _Id._ 19. It was signed by the archbishop, his last public act. Burnet has exposed himself to the lash of Ralph by stating this address of Dec. 11 incorrectly. [144] Commons' Journals; _Parl. Hist._ [145] Somerville and several other writers have not accurately stated the question; and suppose the Lords to have debated whether the throne, on the hypothesis of its vacancy, should be filled by a king or a regent. Such a mode of putting the question would have been absurd. I observe that M. Mazure has been deceived by these authorities. [146] _Parl. Hist._ 61. The chief speakers on this side were old Sir Thomas Clarges, brother-in-law of General Monk, who had been distinguished as an opponent of administration under Charles and James, and Mr. Finch, brother of Lord Nottingham, who had been solicitor-general to Charles, but was removed in the late reign. [147] James is called "the late king" in a resolution of the Lords on Feb. 2. [148] 13 Car. II. c. i.; 17 Car. II. c. ii. [149] This was carried by sixty-two to forty-seven, according to Lord Clarendon; several of the tories going over, and others who had been hitherto absent coming down to vote. Forty peers protested, including twelve bishops, out of seventeen present. Trelawney, who had voted against the regency, was one of them; but not Compton, Lloyd of St. Asaph, Crewe, Sprat, or Hall; the three former, I believe, being in the majority. Lloyd had been absent when the vote passed against a regency, out of unwillingness to disagree with the majority of his brethren; but he was entirely of Burnet's mind. The votes of the bishops are not accurately stated in most books; which has induced me to mention them here. Lords' Journals, Feb. 6. [150] It had been resolved, Jan. 29, that before the committee proceed to fill the throne now vacant, they will proceed to secure our religion, laws, and liberties.