of the religion and liberties of his country. No member who, in that
crisis, did his duty had anything to fear. It might be necessary to
unseat him; but the whole influence of the opposition should be employed
to procure his reelection. [27]

On the same day it became clear that the spirit of opposition had spread
from the Commons to the Lords, and even to the episcopal bench. William
Cavendish, Earl of Devonshire, took the lead in the Upper House; and he
was well qualified to do so. In wealth and influence he was second to
none of the English nobles; and the general voice designated him as the
finest gentleman of his time. His magnificence, his taste, his talents,
his classical learning, his high spirit, the grace and urbanity of his
manners, were admitted by his enemies. His eulogists, unhappily, could
not pretend that his morals had escaped untainted from the widespread
contagion of that age. Though an enemy of Popery and of arbitrary
power, he had been averse to extreme courses, had been willing, when the
Exclusion Bill was lost, to agree to a compromise, and had never
been concerned in the illegal and imprudent schemes which had brought
discredit on the Whig party. But, though regretting part of the conduct
of his friends, he had not, on that account, failed to perform zealously
the most arduous and perilous duties of friendship. He had stood near
Russell at the bar, had parted from him on the sad morning of the
execution with close embraces and with many bitter tears, nay, had
offered to manage an escape at the hazard of his own life. [28] This
great nobleman now proposed that a day should be fixed for considering
the royal speech. It was contended, on the other side, that the
Lords, by voting thanks for the speech, had precluded themselves from
complaining of it. But this objection was treated with contempt by
Halifax. "Such thanks," he said with the sarcastic pleasantry in
which he excelled, "imply no approbation. We are thankful whenever our
gracious Sovereign deigns to speak to us. Especially thankful are we
when, as on the present occasion, he speaks out, and gives us fair
warning of what we are to suffer." [29] Doctor Henry Compton, Bishop of
London, spoke strongly for the motion. Though not gifted with eminent
abilities, nor deeply versed in the learning of his profession, he
was always heard by the House with respect; for he was one of the few
clergymen who could, in that age, boast of noble blood. His own