King I suppose) "Le Roy le veult," and that he reads. And to others he
reads, "Soit fait comme vous desirez." And to the Subsidys, as well that
for the Commons, I mean the layety, as for the Clergy, the King writes,
"Le Roy remerciant les Seigneurs, &c., Prelats, &c., accepte leur
benevolences." The Speaker's speech was far from any oratory, but was as
plain (though good matter) as any thing could be, and void of elocution.
After the bills passed, the King, sitting on his throne, with his speech
writ in a paper which he held in his lap, and scarce looked off of it, I
thought, all the time he made his speech to them, giving them thanks for
their subsidys, of which, had he not need, he would not have asked or
received them; and that need, not from any extravagancys of his, he was
sure, in any thing, but the disorders of the times compelling him to be at
greater charge than he hoped for the future, by their care in their
country, he should be: and that for his family expenses and others, he
would labour however to retrench in many things convenient, and would have
all others to do so too. He desired that nothing of old faults should be
remembered, or severity for the same used to any in the country, it being
his desire to have all forgot as well as forgiven. But, however, to use
all care in suppressing any tumults, &c.; assuring them that the restless
spirits of his and their adversaries have great expectations of something
to be done this summer. And promised that though the Acts about
Conventicles and Papists were not ripe for passing this Session, yet he
would take care himself that neither of them should in this intervall be
encouraged to the endangering of the peace; and that at their next meeting
he would himself prepare two bills for them concerning them. So he
concluded, that for the better proceeding of justice he did think fit to
make this a Session, and to prorogue them to the 16th of March next. His
speech was very plain, nothing at all of spirit in it, nor spoke with any;
but rather on the contrary imperfectly, repeating many times his words
though he read all which I was sorry to see, it having not been hard for