BOOK IV. cisive measures; and it was received with enthu

Speech of

1701. siastic and unbounded applause. " I promise Energetic myself," said the monarch, "that you are met the King together full of that just sense of the common danger of Europe, and that resentment of the late proceedings of the French king, which has been so fully and universally expressed in the loyal and seasonable addresses of my people*. The eyes of all Europe are upon this parliament, all matters are at a stand till your resolutions are known. Let me conjure you to disappoint the only hopes of our enemies by your unanimity. I have shewn, and will always shew, how desirous I am to be the common father of all my people.

* Many hundred addresses were presented on this occasion from the different towns, cities, and counties of the kingdom, signed by persons of all descriptions, tories as well as whigs, but with varying degrees of zeal. The addressers from Kingston upon Hull, for instance, declare "their detestation of the insolent and treacherous proceedings of that infamous violator of treaties, persecutor of protestants, and oppressor of countries, the French king." On the other hand, the inhabitants of Totness, a borough under the influence of sir Edward Seymour, a principal tory leader, contented themselves with the cold expression, "Touched with the late proceedings of the French king, in relation of his proclamations," &c. The boldness with which Louis was at this crisis treated by the zealots of the whig party provoked hira to say in his haughty style, "I will chastise the insolence of these addressers." King William's speech was printed in different languages, decorated, and hung up by innumerable persons in their dwellings.

Do you in like manner lay aside parties and di- BOOK IV. visions. Let there be no other distinction heard of among us for the future, but of those who are for the protestant religion and the present establishment, and of those who mean a popish prince and a French government. If you do in good earnest, desire to see England holdt he balance of Europe, and to be indeed at the head of the protestant interest, it will appear by your right improving the present opportunity."

The king, the parliament and the nation seemed Zeal and Loyalty of now animated by the same spirit; and at no pe- the Nation. riod of his reign had WILLIAM attained to so great an height of popularity as at the present crisis. At no time had he reached to such a su periority of elevation in the view of the surrounding nations. The addresses of both houses were in the highest strain of whiggism; for the tories in the lower house no longer attempted to stem the torrent, which ran with irresistible violence in favor of a Gallic war. The house of commons even passed an unanimous resolve, that no peace should be made with France, until reparation be made for the late indignity offered by the French king. And 90,000 men were voted for the sea and land service. The peers on their part desired his majesty "to rest assured that no time should be lost, nor any thing wanting which may answer the reasonable expectations of our friends abroad;

BOOK IV. not doubting but to support the reputation of the 1701. English name, when engaged under so great a prince, in the glorious cause of maintaining the liberty of Europe."

Bill to at

taint the

Early in January 1702, a bill of attainder of Pretender. the pretended prince of Wales, now styling himself King of Great Britain, was introduced into the house of commons, and passed with perfect unanimity. But the lords in their great zeal including the queen-regent in the attaint, the commons refused to concur-justly and nobly alleging, in a conference held with their lordships, "that it may be of dangerous consequence to attaint persons by an amendment only, in which case such due consideration cannot be had as the nature of an attainder does require."

Bill of Abjuration.

Another bill followed, after a short interval, for the farther security of his majesty's person, and the succession of the crown in the protestant line-containing an abjuration of the pretended prince of Wales, and an oath to the king as rightful and lawful sovereign. A question arising whether the oath should be compulsive or voluntary; it was thought of sufficient consequence to be the subject of a serious and vehement debate. And the house was on a division so equally balanced, that there appeared a majority of one voice only for making the oath obligatory, the numbers being 188 to 187 voices; and this re

markable division probably gave rise to the po- BOOK IV. pular notion, that the crown was settled on the 1702. house of Hanover by a single vote.

With respect to the great question of the Irish forfeitures, the house did not appear inclined to recede from the system of their predecessors; and the petitions presented to the king against the act of resumption by the city of Dublin and divers counties of Ireland, and laid by his command before the house, were voted to contain scandalous reflections, highly reflecting upon his majesty's honor and both houses of parliament.

The subject of the impeachments voted in the course of the last session was revived with great warmth, but with little expectation, or perhaps desire, of success on the part of the tories, who knew the odium attached to those unpopular prosecutions. And a resolution ultimately passed the house, "that it is the undoubted right of every subject of England under any accusation, either by IMPEACHMENT or otherwise, to be brought to a speedy trial, in order to be acquitted or condemned." This was regarded as a virtual justification of the conduct of the house of lords, and equivalent to an avowal that their lordships had not denied justice in the matter of the impeachments: and thus serenely did this extraordinary and alarming business terminate.

During the whole of the present winter, it had

1702.

BOOK IV. been assiduously reported by those who were near the person of the king, that he was in a fair way of obtaining a complete re-establishment of his health but this was, notwithstanding, a subject of great doubt with many; and it was strongly believed that much pains were taken to conceal the real truth, as the knowledge of it might materially impede the success of the negotiations now depending-it being manifest that the king's great endeavor, from the moment that he apprehended his danger, was to provide such collateral securities for the great projects he had formed as might prevent their coming to an end with him. Alarming On Saturday, February the 21st, he rode as usual tion of the from Kensington to Hampton-court; and passing through the park, his horse suddenly plunging, fell on very level ground; and the king's collarbone was fractured with the violence of the shock. He was immediately carried to Hampton-court, where the fracture was reduced by Ronjat his first surgeon and he thought himself in the evening well enough to be removed to Kensington. No dangerous symptoms appeared for some days, and his active and ardent mind was still employed on the great objects he had in view,

Indisposi

King.

On the 28th of February he sent a royal message to both houses, recommending, in terms the most earnest and energetic, the appointment of commissioners to treat with those already autho