He came, he told them, to ask for their advice and assistance.

He congratulated them on the victory of La Hogue.

He acknowledged with much concern that the operations of the allies had been less successful by land than by sea; but he warmly declared that, both by land and by sea, the valour of his English subjects had been preeminently conspicuous.

The distress of his people, he said, was his own; his interest was inseparable from theirs; it was painful to him to call on them to make sacrifices; but from sacrifices which were necessary to the safety of the English nation and of the Protestant religion no good Englishman and no good Protestant would shrink.

[344] The Commons thanked the King in cordial terms for his gracious speech.
[345] But the Lords were in a bad humour.