Charles Fox (1660–1713)

[4] ‘His modesty made him backward in attempting set speeches’, but as a committeeman he was moderately active in James II's Parliament, with seven committees, including those to examine the disbandment accounts, to estimate the yield of a tax on new buildings, and to reform the bankruptcy law.

He was much disturbed by the employment of Roman Catholic officers in the army, and was advised by his friends to absent himself from Parliament in order not to displease the King by voting to discuss grievances before supply.

But, the day being come on which the question was to be put, he found such a concern growing upon him for the cause of the Church ... that, moved by the impulse of his conscience, he could not be easy till he went to the Speaker's chamber.

But hearing the debates arising in the House, he could no longer contain himself, but went into it, even after the question was put (a thing that was unusual, but then allowed), and carried it ... by his single vote; for which he was reprimanded by King James, and dismissed from his valuable employments.

But Fox was allowed to kiss the King's hand in the following January, and in 1688 the royal electoral agents, who correctly expected him to be re-elected, hoped that he might ‘go right’ on James's ecclesiastical policy.

When the naval victuallers were ordered into custody on 23 November he came forward as security for Sir Richard Haddock, and on 5 December he was teller for the successful motion for their release on bail.

A member of the committee on the bill for restoring corporations, he acted as teller for disabling James II's regulators when the measure reached the floor of the House.