bar, had parted from him on the sad morning of the execution with
close embraces and with many bitter tears, nay, had offered to
manage an escape at the hazard of his own life.28 This great
nobleman now proposed that a day should be fixed for considering
the royal speech. It was contended, on the other side, that the
Lords, by voting thanks for the speech, had precluded themselves
from complaining of it. But this objection was treated with
contempt by Halifax. "Such thanks," he said with the sarcastic
pleasantry in which he excelled, "imply no approbation. We are
thankful whenever our gracious Sovereign deigns to speak to us.
Especially thankful are we when, as on the present occasion, he
speaks out, and gives us fair warning of what we are to
suffer."29 Doctor Henry Compton, Bishop of London, spoke strongly
for the motion. Though not gifted with eminent abilities, nor
deeply versed in the learning of his profession, he was always
heard by the House with respect; for he was one of the few
clergymen who could, in that age, boast of noble blood. His own
loyalty, and the loyalty of his family, had been signally proved.
His father, the second Earl of Northampton, had fought bravely
for King Charles the First, and, surrounded by the parliamentary
soldiers, had fallen, sword in hand, refusing to give or take
quarter. The Bishop himself, before he was ordained, had borne
arms in the Guards; and, though he generally did his best to
preserve the gravity and sobriety befitting a prelate, some
flashes of his military spirit would, to the last, occasionally
break forth. He had been entrusted with the religious education
of the two Princesses, and had acquitted himself of that
important duty in a manner which had satisfied all good
Protestants, and had secured to him considerable influence over
the minds of his pupils, especially of the Lady Anne.30 He now