[716] His exclamation at Barillon's pressing the reduction of the army to 8000 men is well known: "God's fish! are all the King of France's promises to make me master of my subjects come to this! or does he think that a matter to be done with 8000 men!" Temple says, "He seemed at this time (May 1678) more resolved to enter into the war than I had ever before seen or thought him."
[717] Dalrymple, 178 et post.
[718] Memoirs relating to the Impeachment of the Earl of Danby, 1710, pp. 151, 227; State Trials, vol. xi.
[719] The violence of the next House of Commons, who refused to acquiesce in Danby's banishment, to which the Lords had changed their bill of attainder, may seem to render this very doubtful. But it is to be remembered that they were exasperated by the pardon he had clandestinely obtained, and pleaded in bar of their impeachment.
[720] The impeachment was carried by 179 to 116, Dec. 19. A motion (Dec. 21) to leave out the word traitorously was lost by 179 to 141.
[721] Lords' Journals, Dec. 26, 1678. Eighteen peers entered their protests; Halifax, Essex, Shaftesbury, etc.
[722] State Trials, vi. 351 et post; Hatsell's Precedents, iv. 176.
[723] Lords' Journals, April 16.
[724] "The lord privy seal, Anglesea, in a conference between the two houses," said, "that, in the transaction of this affair, were two great points gained by this House of Commons: the first was, that impeachments made by the Commons in one parliament continued from session to session, and parliament to parliament, notwithstanding prorogations or dissolutions: the other point was, that in cases of impeachments, upon special matter shown, if the modesty of the party directs him not to withdraw, the Lords admit that of right they ought to order him to withdraw, and that afterwards he ought to be committed. But he understood that the Lords did not intend to extend the points of withdrawing and committing to general impeachments without special matter alleged; else they did not know how many might be picked out of their house on a sudden."
Shaftesbury said, indecently enough, that they were as willing to be rid of the Earl of Danby as the Commons; and cavilled at the distinction between general and special impeachments. Commons' Journals, April 12, 1679. On the impeachment of Scroggs for treason, in the next parliament, it was moved to commit him; but the previous question was carried, and he was admitted to bail; doubtless because no sufficient matter was alleged. Twenty peers protested. Lords' Journals, Jan. 7, 1681.