On the 19th of January, when Thurloe made a formal disclosure to the House of all the particulars of the plot, a general thanksgiving throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, was ordered, and it was resolved that the whole House should wait upon his Highness "to congratulate with his Highness on this great mercy and deliverance." The interview was on January the 23rd, in the Banqueting House in Whitehall, when Speaker Widdrington made the address for the House, and Cromwell replied in a most affectionate speech (_Speech_ VI.).

The thanksgiving was on Feb.

20; on which day Principal Gillespie of Glasgow and Mr.Warren had the honour of preaching the special sermons before the House in St.Margaret's, Westminster.

The day was wound up by a noble dinner in Whitehall, to which the whole House had been invited by the Protector, followed by a concert, vocal and instrumental, in the part of the Palace called the Cockpit.[1] [Footnote 1: Commons Journals of dates given, and of Feb.

18; Carlyle, III.