It had been expected that, according to the practice usual on such occasions, the people would be exhorted to liberality from the pulpits.

But James was determined not to tolerate declamations against his religion and his ally.

The Archbishop of Canterbury was therefore commanded to inform the clergy that they must merely read the brief, and must not presume to preach on the sufferings of the French Protestants.

[76] Nevertheless the contributions were so large that, after all deductions, the sum of forty thousand pounds was paid into the Chamber of London.

Perhaps none of the munificent subscriptions of our own age has borne so great a proportion to the means of the nation.