174

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CITAP.

xxiv^

169S.

Littleton

chosen

speaker.

fifth of November, the anniversary both of his birth and ofhis memorable landing. The numerous members of theHouse of Commons who were in town, having their time ontheir hands, formed cabals, and heated themselves and eachother by murmuring at his partiality for the country of hisbirth. He had been off to Holland, they said, at theearliest possible moment. He was now lingering in Hollandtill the latest possible moment. This was not the worst.The twenty ninth of November came: but the King wasnot come. It was necessary that the Lords Justices shouldprorogue the Parliament to the sixth of December. Thedelay was imputed, and justly, to adverse winds. But themalecontents asked, with some reason, whetherIlisMajestyhad not known that there were often gales from the Westin the German Ocean, and whether, when he had madea solemn appointment with the Estates of his Realmfor a particular day, he ought not to have arrangedthings in such a way that nothing short of a miraclecould have prevented him from keeping that appoint-ment.

Thus the ill humour which a large proportion of thenew legislators had brought up from their country seatsbecame more and more acrid every day, till they enteredon their functions. One question was much agitatedduring tins unpleasant interval. Who was to be Speaker?The Junto wished to place Sir Thomas Littleton in thechair. He was one of their ablest, most zealous and moststeadfast friends; and had been, both in the House of