that clause and then with the statute.[***] After all this
discourse, more worthy of a Turkish divan than of an English house of
commons, according to our present idea of this assembly, the queen, who
perceived how odious monopolies had become, and what heats were likely
to arise, sent for the speaker, and desired him to acquaint the house,
that she would immediately cancel the most grievous and oppressive of
these patents.[****] [38]

The house was struck with astonishment, and admiration and gratitude, at
this extraordinary instance of the queen's goodness and condescension.
A member said, with tears in his eyes, that if a sentence of everlasting
happiness had been pronounced in his favor, he could not have felt more
joy than that with which he was at present over whelmed.[v] Another
observed, that this message from the sacred person of the queen was a
kind of gospel or glad tidings, and ought to be received as such, and be
written in the tablets of their hearts.[v*] And it was further remarked,
that in the same manner as the Deity would not give his glory to
another, so the queen herself was the only agent in their present
prosperity and happiness.[v**] The house voted, that the speaker, with
a committee, should ask permission to wait on her majesty, and return
thanks to her for her gracious concessions to her people.

When the speaker, with the other members, was introduced to the queen,
they all flung themselves on their knees, and remained in that posture
a considerable time, till she thought proper to express her desire that
they should rise.[v***]

* D'Ewes, p. 649.

** D'Ewes, p. 649.

*** D'Ewes, p. 640, 646.

**** See note LL, at the end of the volume.

v D'Ewes, p. 654.

v* D'Ewes, p. 656.

v** D'Ewes, p. 657.

v*** We learn from Hentzner's Travels, that no one spoke to
Queen Elizabeth without kneeling; though now and then she
raised some with waving her hand. Nay, wherever she turned
her eye, every one fell on his knees. Her successor first
allowed his courtiers to omit this ceremony; and as he
exerted not the power, so he relinquished the appearance of
despotism. Even when Queen Elizabeth was absent, those who
covered her table, though persons of quality, neither
approached it nor retired from it without kneeling, and that
often three times.

The speaker displayed the gratitude of the commons, because