It was meant--such at least was the impression at the Dutch embassy--to intimidate Somers.

He was confined by illness.

He had been unable to take any public part in the proceedings of the Lords; and he had privately blamed them for engaging in a conflict in which he justly thought that they could not be victorious.

Nevertheless, the Tory leaders hoped that they might be able to direct against him the whole force of the storm which they had raised.

Seymour, in particular, encouraged by the wild and almost savage temper of his hearers, harangued with rancorous violence against the wisdom and the virtue which presented the strongest contrast to his own turbulence, insolence, faithlessness, and rapacity.