Note 684 — Chapter XI · (continued 2)

This is asserted by Burnet, and seems to be acknowledged by the Duke of York. The court endeavoured to mitigate the effect of the bill brought into the Commons, in consequence of Coventry's injury; and so far succeeded, that instead of a partial measure of protection for the members of the House of Commons, as originally designed (which seemed, I suppose, to carry too marked a reference to the particular transaction), it was turned into a general act, making it a capital felony to wound with intention to maim or disfigure. But the name of the Coventry act has always clung to this statute. Parl. Hist. 461.