The leaders of the country party, nothing disheartened, retreated a little, made another stand, and proposed the sum of seven hundred thousand pounds.

The committee divided again, and the courtiers were beaten by two hundred and twelve votes to one hundred and seventy.

[24] On the following day the Commons went in procession to Whitehall with their address on the subject of the test.

The King received them on his throne.

The address was drawn up in respectful and affectionate language; for the great majority of those who had voted for it were zealously and even superstitiously loyal, and had readily agreed to insert some complimentary phrases, and to omit every word which the courtiers thought offensive.