an address, scarcely less
adulatory than the chancellor's speech.

"May it please your sacred majesty--Your majesty's gracious and kind
remembrance of the services done by this, your ancient kingdom, to the
late king your brother, of ever glorious memory, shall rather raise in
us ardent desires to exceed whatever we have done formerly, than make
us consider them as deserving the esteem your majesty is pleased to
express of them in your letter to us dated the twenty-eighth of March.
The death of that our excellent monarch is lamented by us to all the
degrees of grief that are consistent with our great joy for the
succession of your sacred majesty, who has not only continued, but
secured the happiness which his wisdom, his justice, and clemency
procured to us: and having the honour to be the first parliament which
meets by your royal authority, of which we are very sensible, your
majesty may be confident that we will offer such laws as may best
secure your majesty's sacred person, the royal family and government,
and be so exemplary loyal, as to raise your honour and greatness to
the utmost of our power, which we shall ever esteem both our duty and
interest. Nor shall we leave anything undone for extirpating all
fanaticism, but especially those fanatical murderers and assassins,
and for detecting and punishing the late conspirators, whose
pernicious and execrable designs did so much tend to subvert your
majesty's government, and ruin us and all your majesty's faithful
subjects. We can assure your majesty, that the subjects of this your
majesty's ancient kingdom are so desirous to exceed all their
predecessors in extraordinary marks of affection and obedience to your
majesty, that (God be praised) the only way to be popular with us is
to be eminently loyal. Your majesty's care of us, when you took us to
be your special charge, your wisdom in extinguishing the seeds of
rebellion and faction amongst us, your justice, which was so great as
to be for ever exemplary, but above all, your majesty's free and
cheerful securing to us our religion, when your were the late king's,
your royal brother's commissioner, now again renewed, when you are our
sovereign, are what your subjects here can never forget, and therefore
your majesty may expect that we will think your commands sacred as
your person, and that your inclination will pre