[585] The Country party consisted chiefly of Lords Russell and Cavendish, Sir W. Coventry, Colonel Birch, Mr. Powle, and Mr. Littleton. Lee and Garroway were suspected characters. Marvel says:
"Till Lee and Garroway shall bribes reject."
[586] Wilson's Life of Defoe, i. 58.
[587] Parl. Hist., iv. 517–526.
[588] Journals, February 10, 1672/3.
[589] Parl. Hist., iv. 527–533. Colbert, writing to Louis XIV., 9th of March, 1673, says, "The Chancellor, the Treasurer, and the Dukes of Buckingham and Lauderdale are of opinion to maintain this Declaration of the King, their master, in favour of the Nonconformists; and that if the Parliament persist in their remonstrances, as it is not doubted they will, to dissolve it, and call another. They do not even want good reasons to support their opinion. My Lord Arlington, who at present is single in his sentiments, says, that the King his master, ought not to do it."—Dalrymple's Memoirs, iii. 89.
[590] On the 18th of February the House resolved to go into Committee on the following day.
[591] Parl. Hist., iv. 535–542. Kennet, Rapin, Burnet, and Neal give very unsatisfactory accounts of the debate. Burnet's account is inaccurate.
[592] The Commonwealth's-man, Colonel Birch, spoke on the subject, but it does not appear that he advocated any broad measure of religious liberty.
[593] Parl. Hist., iv. 552–553. The Journals under date contain the Resolutions.