CHARLES II. 22.)

culties produced such obstructions to the bill, cthat it avas carried only by two voices in thehouse of peers. All the popish lords, headed bythe earl of Bristol, voted against it. It was sentdown to the house of commons , where it waslikely to undergo a scrutinv still more severe.

Bu r a quarrel, which ensued between the twohouses , prevented the pasting of every bill ,projected during the present sestion. One Dr.Shirley, being cast in a lawsuit before chanceryagainst Sir John Fag, a member of the houseof commons, preferred a petition of appeal tothe house of peers. The Lords received it, andsummoned Fag to appear before them. He corm-■ plained to the lower house, who espoused hiscause. They not only maintained, that no mem-ber of their house could be summoned beforethe peers:-They also asserted, that the upperhouse could receive no appeals from any courtof equity; a pretension, which extremely retrench-. ed the jurisdicton of the peers, and whichwas contrary to the practice that had prevailedduring this whole century. The commons sendShirley to prison; the lords assert their powers.Conferences are tried; but no accommodationensues. Four lawyers are sent to the Towerby the commons, for transgressing the ordersof the house , and pleading in this causebefore the peers. The peers denominate thusarbitrary commitment a breach of the greatcharter, and order the lieutenant of the Towerto release the prisoners: He declines obedience:

2 3

H A P.I.XVI.1675.