the orator said, looked to the most Christian King for support
against a heretical nation. It was remarked that the members of
the House of Commons showed particular anxiety to procure copies
of this harangue, and that it was read by all Englishmen with
indignation and alarm.14 James was desirous to counteract the
impression which these things had made, and was also at that
moment by no means unwilling to let all Europe see that he was
not the slave of France. He therefore declared publicly that he
disapproved of the manner in which the Huguenots had been
treated, granted to the exiles some relief from his privy purse,
and, by letters under his great seal, invited his subjects to
imitate his liberality. In a very few months it became clear that
all this compassion was feigned for the purpose of cajoling his
Parliament, that he regarded the refugees with mortal hatred, and
that he regretted nothing so much as his own inability to do what
Lewis had done.

On the ninth of November the Houses met. The Commons were
summoned to the bar of the Lords; and the King spoke from the
throne. His speech had been composed by himself. He congratulated
his loving subjects on the suppression of the rebellion in the
West: but he added that the speed with which that rebellion had
risen to a formidable height, and the length of time during which
it had continued to rage, must convince all men how little
dependence could be placed on the militia. He had, therefore,
made additions to the regular army. The charge of that army would
henceforth be more than double of what it had been; and he
trusted that the Commons would grant him the means of defraying
the increased expense. He then informed his hearers that he had
employed some officers who had not taken the test; but he knew