[1] At the time he held property at Williamstrop (or Williamstrip), Coln St. Aldwyns, Gloucestershire, or the neighbouring parish of Quenington, and was usually described as of the latter place.
He first appeared in debate in February 1673, when he attacked Lord-chancellor Shaftesbury's practice of issuing writs for by-elections during the recess without the speaker's warrant.
Subsequently, he opposed the Declaration of Indulgence, Charles II of England's measure of religious toleration, wishing disabilities for Catholics and dissenters to continue.
In the new session in October, Powle led the attack on the proposed marriage between the Duke of York and the Princess Mary of Modena, and the king at once directed a prorogation.
Powle advised the withholding of supply till the grievances connected with Catholic favourites and a standing army were redressed, and he led the attack on the king's 'villainous councillors,’ assailing in particular Anglesey and Lauderdale.
When the Commons sent an address to the king dictating such an alliance on 4 February 1678, Charles indignantly summoned them to the banqueting-room at Whitehall Palace.
"Lyttleton and Powle," says Gilbert Burnet,[2] "led the matters of the House of Commons with the greatest dexterity and care".
Meanwhile, Paul Barillon, the French ambassador, who wanted to ruin Danby, had entered into correspondence with Powle and other leaders of the opposition.
Powle at once arraigned the conduct of the chief justice, William Scroggs, who had discharged the grand jury before they were able to consider Shaftesbury's indictment of the Duke of York.
In the renewed debates on the Exclusion Bill Powle held back to keep relations open with the king, but in the proceedings of December 1680 against Lord Stafford, he took a vehement part.
He bluntly asserted that "the wish of the prince is sufficient warrant for our assembling"; and on the following morning he read addresses to William, praying that he would assume the administration and call a convention.
[1] Powle then devoted himself to his duties as master of the rolls, and successfully claimed, in accordance with precedent, a writ of summons to attend parliament as an assistant to the House of Lords.
He spoke in the upper house in favour of the Abjuration Bill on 24 April 1690, but wished the oath imposed sparingly and only on office-holders.
He died intestate on 21 November 1692, and was buried within the communion-rails of Quenington church, Gloucestershire, where a monument was erected to his memory.
Other portions were dispersed, and were for a time in the possession of Lord Somers, Sir Joseph Jekyll, and Philip, earl Hardwicke.