before we came into the Court, for fear I should be seen by Sir G.
Carteret with him, which of late I have been forced to avoid to remove
suspicion. I to St. James's, and there discoursed a while with Mr.
Coventry, between whom and myself there is very good understanding and
friendship, and so to Westminster Hall, and being in the Parliament lobby,
I there saw my Lord of Bristoll come to the Commons House to give his
answer to their question, about some words he should tell the King that
were spoke by Sir Richard Temple, a member of their House. A chair was
set at the bar of the House for him, which he used but little, but made an
harangue of half an hour bareheaded, the House covered. His speech being
done, he came out and withdrew into a little room till the House had
concluded of an answer to his speech; which they staying long upon, I went
away. And by and by out comes Sir W. Batten; and he told me that his
Lordship had made a long and a comedian-like speech, and delivered with
such action as was not becoming his Lordship. He confesses he did tell
the King such a thing of Sir Richard Temple, but that upon his honour they
were not spoke by Sir Richard, he having taken a liberty of enlarging to
the King upon the discourse which had been between Sir Richard and himself
lately; and so took upon himself the whole blame, and desired their
pardon, it being not to do any wrong to their fellow-member, but out of
zeal to the King. He told them, among many other things, that as to his
religion he was a Roman Catholique, but such a one as thought no man to
have right to the Crown of England but the Prince that hath it; and such a
one as, if the King should desire his counsel as to his own, he would not
advise him to another religion than the old true reformed religion of this
country, it being the properest of this kingdom as it now stands; and
concluded with a submission to what the House shall do with him, saying,
that whatever they shall do, says he, "thanks be to God, this head, this
heart, and this sword (pointing to them all), will find me a being in any
place in Europe." The House hath hereupon voted clearly Sir Richard