The Bishop of Rochester's second letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's household
         Sprat, Thomas, 1635-1713.
      
       
         
           1689
        
      
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             The Bishop of Rochester's second letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's household
             Sprat, Thomas, 1635-1713.
          
           [3], 64 p.
           
             Printed by Edward Jones,
             [London] In the Savoy :
             1689.
          
           
             Concerns the sitting in of the Ecclesiastical commission.--Cf. BM.
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Great Britain -- History -- Charles II, 1660-1685.
           Great Britain -- History -- James II, 1685-1688.
        
      
    
     
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           Imprimatur
           .
        
         
           
             W.
             CANT
             .
          
           
             
               March
               27
               ,
               1689
               :
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           THE
           Bishop
           of
           Rochester's
           SECOND
           LETTER
           To
           the
           Right
           Honourable
           The
           Earl
           of
           Dorset
           and
           Middlesex
           ,
           LORD-CHAMBERLAIN
           OF
           His
           MAJESTY's
           Houshold
           .
        
         
           
             In
             the
          
           Savoy
           :
           Printed
           by
           
             Edward
             Iones
          
           ,
           MDCLXXXIX
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         
         
           THE
           Bishop
           of
           Rochester's
           SECOND
           LETTER
           To
           the
           Rig
           ht
           Honourable
           The
           Earl
           of
           Dorset
           and
           
             Middlesex
             ,
             &c.
          
           
        
         
           
             MY
             LORD
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Cannot
           in
           Good
           Manners
           make
           my
           Address
           to
           your
           Lordship
           in
           another
           Letter
           ,
           without
           premising
           my
           most
           Humble
           Thanks
           for
           your
           favourable
           Acceptance
           of
           the
           former
           ;
           and
           for
           your
           kind
           Recommendation
           of
           my
           Plea
           ,
           to
           Men
           of
           Honour
           and
           Goodness
           ,
           by
           the
           Powerful
           Authority
           of
           your
           Approving
           it
           .
        
         
         
           And
           now
           ,
           My
           Lord
           ,
           since
           you
           have
           in
           so
           generous
           a
           Manner
           ,
           admitted
           me
           once
           to
           be
           your
           Client
           ,
           I
           am
           come
           again
           to
           put
           my
           whole
           Cause
           into
           your
           Hands
           .
           For
           it
           was
           my
           Chance
           ,
           I
           know
           not
           how
           ,
           to
           have
           such
           a
           share
           in
           One
           or
           Two
           other
           Public
           Affairs
           of
           the
           late
           Times
           ,
           as
           obliges
           me
           to
           make
           a
           Second
           Defence
           .
           Though
           I
           have
           always
           thought
           ,
           that
           ,
           next
           to
           the
           committing
           Offences
           ,
           nothing
           can
           be
           more
           Greivous
           to
           an
           Ingenuous
           Mind
           ,
           than
           to
           be
           put
           upon
           the
           necessity
           of
           making
           Apologies
           .
        
         
           However
           ,
           upon
           the
           Encouragement
           your
           Lordship
           has
           given
           Me
           ,
           I
           take
           the
           boldness
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           Matters
           about
           which
           I
           trouble
           you
           this
           once
           more
           ,
           I
           trust
           ,
           I
           have
           good
           Ground
           for
           an
           honest
           and
           open
           Vindication
           of
           my self
           .
           The
           One
           was
           ,
           
           My
           Part
           in
           King
           Charles
           the
           Second's
           Declaration
           ,
           touching
           the
           Conspiracy
           ;
           the
           other
           was
           ,
           My
           acting
           in
           the
           Commission
           for
           the
           Diocese
           of
           London
           ,
           during
           the
           Suspension
           of
           my
           Lord
           Bishop
           .
        
         
           But
           then
           my
           Lord
           ,
           after
           my
           Apology
           ,
           I
           shall
           crave
           leave
           to
           add
           that
           which
           needs
           None
           ,
           I
           mean
           an
           Account
           of
           what
           past
           between
           King
           Iames
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           a
           little
           before
           the
           late
           wonderful
           Revolution
           ;
           which
           tho'
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           it
           are
           not
           so
           generally
           known
           as
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           ,
           yet
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           had
           a
           very
           considerable
           effect
           for
           the
           benefit
           both
           of
           Church
           and
           State
           ,
           in
           that
           Critical
           time
           .
           And
           therein
           I
           may
           presume
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           I
           had
           some
           part
           :
           So
           that
           when
           I
           come
           to
           that
           ,
           perhaps
           I
           shall
           be
           able
           to
           Speak
           more
           freely
           ,
           and
           shall
           venture
           to
           insist
           
           upon
           it
           ,
           as
           a
           manifest
           proof
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           the
           Bishops
           had
           then
           as
           difficult
           a
           Post
           to
           Maintain
           ,
           and
           Maintain'd
           it
           as
           firmly
           ,
           as
           any
           other
           Order
           of
           Men
           in
           the
           Kingdom
           could
           do
           Theirs
           ,
           for
           preserving
           the
           Liberties
           and
           Properties
           of
           the
           Subject
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           as
           for
           the
           Book
           of
           the
           Conspiracy
           ,
           't
           is
           true
           ,
           I
           have
           often
           heard
           ,
           that
           some
           Noble
           and
           Eminent
           Persons
           ,
           whose
           Kindred
           or
           Friends
           were
           unhappily
           concern'd
           in
           the
           Subject
           of
           that
           History
           ,
           had
           entertain'd
           a
           prejudice
           against
           me
           thereupon
           .
           But
           to
           them
           I
           shall
           make
           this
           equitable
           Request
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           suspend
           any
           farther
           Censure
           of
           me
           for
           what
           I
           did
           write
           ,
           till
           they
           shall
           be
           fairly
           informed
           how
           much
           there
           is
           that
           I
           have
           not
           written
           .
        
         
         
           I
           will
           not
           deny
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           at
           the
           Request
           ,
           or
           rather
           the
           Command
           ,
           of
           King
           Charles
           the
           Second
           ,
           that
           I
           drew
           up
           a
           Relation
           of
           that
           Plot
           :
           And
           ,
           to
           that
           end
           ,
           I
           had
           free
           liberty
           to
           consult
           the
           Paper-Office
           and
           Council-Books
           ,
           whence
           I
           was
           plentifully
           furnish'd
           with
           such
           Authentic
           Materials
           ,
           either
           of
           Papers
           Printed
           by
           Authority
           ,
           or
           of
           Sworn
           Depositions
           and
           Confessions
           ,
           as
           have
           been
           always
           thought
           the
           best
           Ground
           for
           an
           Historian
           to
           work
           upon
           .
        
         
           But
           now
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           I
           can
           still
           allege
           ,
           That
           tho'
           a
           vast
           heap
           of
           such
           Matter
           was
           immediately
           supplied
           to
           my
           hands
           ;
           and
           tho'
           I
           often
           received
           earnest
           Messages
           ,
           and
           some
           Sharp
           words
           from
           that
           gentle
           King
           to
           quicken
           my
           Slowness
           ,
           yet
           more
           than
           twelve
           Months
           had
           past
           ,
           before
           I
           could
           be
           brought
           
           to
           put
           Pen
           to
           Paper
           ;
           out
           of
           my
           Natural
           Aversion
           to
           any
           Business
           ,
           that
           might
           reflect
           severely
           upon
           any
           Man
           ;
           my
           own
           Inclination
           rather
           leading
           me
           to
           the
           other
           Extream
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           Rather
           to
           Commend
           too
           much
           what
           in
           the
           least
           seems
           Well-done
           ,
           than
           to
           Aggravate
           what
           is
           Ill-done
           by
           others
           .
        
         
           However
           ,
           upon
           King
           
           Charles's
           frequent
           Commands
           ,
           and
           continued
           Importunity
           ,
           I
           did
           at
           length
           obey
           ;
           and
           the
           rather
           ,
           because
           I
           had
           formerly
           somewhat
           incurr'd
           that
           King
           's
           and
           his
           Brother's
           Displeasure
           ,
           by
           my
           declining
           to
           write
           against
           the
           States
           of
           Holland
           ,
           during
           the
           time
           of
           the
           First
           and
           Second
           
           Dutch-Wars
           .
        
         
           Being
           thus
           over-persuaded
           ,
           I
           made
           my
           Collections
           ,
           and
           Presented
           them
           to
           that
           King
           :
           Which
           his
           Majesty
           having
           himself
           perused
           ,
           was
           pleased
           
           to
           direct
           me
           to
           put
           them
           into
           the
           Hands
           of
           the
           Lord
           Keeper
           North
           ,
           who
           carefully
           Read
           and
           Corrected
           what
           I
           had
           done
           ,
           and
           added
           divers
           matters
           of
           Fact
           ,
           which
           had
           escaped
           my
           Observation
           .
        
         
           Thus
           the
           Work
           stood
           in
           Preparation
           for
           the
           Press
           ,
           when
           the
           deplorable
           Death
           of
           that
           King
           hapned
           .
           And
           shortly
           after
           ,
           King
           Iames
           the
           Second
           calling
           for
           the
           Papers
           ,
           and
           having
           read
           them
           ,
           and
           Altered
           divers
           Passages
           ,
           caused
           them
           to
           be
           printed
           by
           his
           own
           Authority
           ,
           as
           is
           to
           be
           seen
           before
           the
           Book
           .
        
         
           But
           now
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           I
           can
           truly
           declare
           ,
           that
           during
           my
           composing
           those
           Collections
           ,
           I
           earnestly
           requested
           King
           Charles
           the
           Second
           ,
           (
           and
           your
           Lordship
           knows
           as
           well
           as
           any
           Man
           ,
           how
           agreeable
           such
           a
           Request
           was
           
           to
           the
           Benign
           Temper
           of
           that
           King
           )
           I
           requested
           him
           I
           say
           ,
           that
           few
           or
           no
           Names
           of
           Persons
           should
           be
           mentioned
           ,
           whatever
           probable
           suggestions
           might
           be
           against
           them
           ,
           but
           only
           such
           ,
           upon
           whom
           public
           Judgment
           had
           passed
           ,
           which
           it
           could
           be
           to
           no
           purpose
           for
           me
           to
           conceal
           ,
        
         
           I
           could
           indeed
           have
           wish'd
           ,
           that
           my
           Lord
           
           Russel's
           ,
           and
           some
           other
           Names
           of
           Persons
           of
           Honour
           ,
           might
           have
           been
           of
           the
           Number
           to
           be
           omitted
           ,
           upon
           that
           very
           account
           .
           But
           't
           was
           none
           of
           my
           fault
           that
           they
           were
           not
           .
           I
           could
           not
           hinder
           ,
           nor
           did
           I
           in
           the
           least
           contribute
           to
           their
           Fall.
           Nay
           ,
           I
           lamented
           it
           ;
           especially
           my
           Lord
           
           Russel's
           ,
           after
           I
           was
           fully
           convinc'd
           by
           Discourse
           with
           the
           Reverend
           Dean
           of
           Canterbury
           ,
           of
           that
           Noble
           Gentleman's
           great
           Probity
           ,
           and
           Constant
           Abhorrence
           
           of
           Falshood
           .
           But
           that
           was
           a
           good
           while
           after
           .
           All
           that
           I
           did
           ,
           was
           the
           Publishing
           ,
           or
           rather
           indeed
           the
           putting
           together
           methodically
           ,
           what
           before
           was
           sufficiently
           published
           in
           printed
           Papers
           that
           were
           Licensed
           :
           And
           out
           of
           them
           ,
           to
           draw
           the
           Substance
           of
           a
           Declaration
           of
           State
           ,
           in
           Vindication
           of
           that
           ,
           which
           the
           Authority
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           called
           The
           Public
           Justice
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           .
        
         
           But
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           to
           return
           to
           what
           I
           was
           saying
           ,
           King
           Charles
           having
           granted
           my
           desire
           of
           Concealing
           divers
           Names
           ;
           according
           to
           this
           Allowance
           I
           proceeded
           ;
           leaving
           out
           some
           ,
           and
           abbreviating
           others
           ;
           endeavouring
           all
           along
           to
           spare
           Parties
           and
           Families
           ,
           and
           particular
           Persons
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           would
           be
           allowed
           .
           All
           which
           may
           be
           demonstrated
           from
           the
           Copies
           
           of
           the
           Depositions
           ,
           as
           they
           went
           out
           of
           my
           hands
           ,
           where
           there
           were
           several
           Names
           visibly
           marked
           by
           my
           own
           Pen
           ,
           to
           be
           passed
           by
           in
           the
           Publication
           .
           So
           that
           if
           some
           Indifferent
           Man
           should
           now
           compare
           the
           Informations
           as
           they
           are
           in
           Print
           ,
           with
           the
           Originals
           in
           the
           Secretary's
           ,
           or
           the
           Paper-Office
           ,
           he
           would
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           be
           apter
           to
           suspect
           Me
           of
           Connivance
           ;
           than
           of
           Calumny
           on
           that
           side
           .
        
         
           If
           I
           have
           now
           given
           your
           Lordship
           any
           satisfaction
           touching
           my
           fair
           Dealing
           in
           My
           Part
           of
           that
           Book
           ,
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           what
           follows
           will
           give
           you
           more
           ;
           when
           I
           shall
           assure
           you
           of
           my
           having
           refused
           to
           Write
           a
           Continuation
           of
           the
           same
           History
           .
           For
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           it
           was
           some
           time
           after
           the
           Duke
           of
           
           Monmouth's
           Overthrow
           and
           Execution
           ,
           that
           King
           Iames
           the
           Second
           
           required
           me
           to
           undertake
           such
           another
           Task
           ,
           and
           presently
           to
           set
           about
           a
           Second
           Part.
           To
           that
           purpose
           His
           Majesty
           gave
           me
           a
           sight
           of
           multitudes
           of
           Original
           Letters
           and
           Papers
           ,
           together
           with
           the
           Confessions
           of
           several
           Persons
           then
           taken
           in
           England
           and
           Scotland
           ;
           who
           did
           indeed
           seem
           all
           to
           outvy
           one
           another
           ,
           who
           should
           reveal
           most
           ,
           both
           of
           Men
           and
           Things
           relating
           to
           the
           old
           Conspiracy
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           to
           the
           Duke
           of
           
           Monmouth's
           ,
           and
           the
           Earl
           of
           
           Argyle's
           Invasion
           .
        
         
           But
           finding
           the
           Innocence
           of
           divers
           Persons
           of
           Worth
           and
           Honour
           ,
           touched
           in
           those
           Papers
           ,
           and
           by
           that
           time
           beginning
           vehemently
           to
           suspect
           things
           were
           running
           apace
           towards
           the
           endangering
           of
           our
           Laws
           and
           Religion
           ,
           I
           must
           say
           ,
           I
           never
           could
           be
           induced
           by
           all
           his
           Majesties
           reiterated
           
           Commands
           ,
           to
           go
           on
           with
           that
           Work.
           Instead
           of
           that
           ,
           tho'
           I
           had
           all
           the
           Materials
           for
           such
           a
           Narrative
           within
           my
           Power
           ,
           for
           above
           three
           Years
           ,
           and
           might
           easily
           have
           finished
           it
           in
           a
           Month
           or
           Six
           Weeks
           space
           ,
           yet
           I
           chose
           rather
           to
           Suppress
           and
           Silence
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           I
           could
           ,
           all
           that
           New
           Evidence
           ;
           which
           ,
           if
           openly
           produced
           ,
           would
           have
           blemished
           the
           Reputation
           of
           some
           Honourable
           Persons
           .
        
         
           Give
           me
           leave
           ,
           My
           Lord
           ,
           only
           to
           add
           ,
           That
           I
           am
           confident
           ,
           there
           are
           several
           Original
           Papers
           still
           in
           being
           ,
           which
           would
           be
           more
           than
           enough
           to
           convince
           all
           impartial
           Men
           ,
           how
           Moderate
           and
           Tender
           I
           was
           in
           that
           Cause
           .
        
         
           Next
           ,
           My
           Lord
           ,
           having
           mentioned
           my
           being
           concerned
           in
           the
           Commission
           for
           the
           Diocese
           of
           London
           in
           
           that
           I
           had
           the
           good
           Fortune
           to
           be
           join'd
           with
           an
           excellent
           Person
           ,
           my
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Peterborough
           .
           And
           we
           can
           both
           truly
           say
           ,
           that
           as
           we
           enter'd
           into
           that
           Commission
           with
           my
           Lord
           of
           
           London's
           Good
           Will
           ,
           so
           we
           acted
           nothing
           in
           it
           ,
           without
           the
           greatest
           Respect
           to
           his
           Interest
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           well
           known
           we
           continued
           all
           his
           Officers
           in
           the
           full
           Profits
           and
           Privileges
           of
           their
           Places
           .
           We
           faithfully
           maintained
           the
           Rights
           of
           his
           Bishoprick
           ,
           and
           once
           in
           the
           Kings
           own
           Presence
           ,
           against
           his
           Majesties
           express
           Inclinations
           ,
           in
           a
           Business
           of
           no
           less
           Concernment
           than
           my
           Lord
           Mayor's
           Chapel
           .
           We
           never
           Invaded
           any
           of
           my
           Lord
           Bishops
           Preserments
           that
           fell
           void
           in
           that
           Interval
           ;
           We
           dipos'd
           of
           none
           but
           according
           to
           his
           own
           Directions
           .
           We
           used
           his
           Clergy
           with
           
           the
           same
           affectionate
           Care
           and
           Brotherly
           Love
           ,
           as
           He
           himself
           had
           done
           ;
           Who
           was
           on
           that
           Account
           ,
           as
           Dear
           to
           them
           ,
           as
           any
           Bishop
           in
           Christendom
           was
           to
           his
           Diocese
           .
        
         
           And
           we
           Appeal
           to
           them
           ,
           whether
           we
           might
           not
           rather
           expect
           their
           Kindness
           and
           Thanks
           ,
           than
           suspect
           their
           Ill-will
           for
           all
           our
           Transactions
           with
           them
           .
           Nor
           can
           this
           be
           thought
           a
           vain
           Boast
           to
           any
           Man
           ,
           who
           shall
           seriously
           reflect
           on
           the
           terrible
           Aspect
           of
           Things
           from
           Court
           upon
           the
           
           London-Clergy
           ,
           during
           the
           whole
           time
           of
           our
           exercising
           that
           Jurisdiction
           .
           The
           Remembrance
           whereof
           ,
           makes
           me
           not
           doubt
           to
           affirm
           ,
           that
           if
           my
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Peterborough
           and
           I
           ,
           had
           not
           then
           stood
           in
           the
           Gap
           ,
           but
           some
           other
           Persons
           ,
           who
           were
           prepared
           to
           be
           thrust
           in
           ,
           upon
           our
           leaving
           that
           Commission
           ,
           had
           got
           
           it
           absolutely
           into
           their
           Power
           ,
           't
           is
           possible
           the
           most
           Learned
           and
           Pious
           Clergy
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           had
           been
           somewhat
           otherwise
           imployed
           than
           they
           were
           ;
           and
           had
           been
           too
           much
           taken
           up
           in
           defending
           themselves
           from
           the
           violent
           Persecutions
           of
           the
           Popish
           Party
           ,
           to
           have
           leisure
           to
           confute
           and
           triumph
           over
           the
           Popish
           Cause
           ;
           as
           they
           entirely
           did
           in
           their
           admirable
           Writings
           ,
           to
           the
           Glory
           and
           Establishment
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           My
           Lord
           ,
           to
           the
           truth
           of
           what
           I
           have
           here
           said
           concerning
           the
           Commission
           of
           London
           ,
           I
           have
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Peterborough
           ready
           to
           attest
           .
           I
           should
           indeed
           be
           glad
           I
           could
           claim
           as
           just
           a
           share
           in
           another
           of
           his
           Lordships
           Meritorious
           Services
           to
           the
           Public
           ,
           as
           I
           may
           do
           in
           this
           .
           But
           in
           that
           I
           cannot
           ,
           for
           't
           is
           Evident
           the
           Seven
           
           Bishops
           ,
           whereof
           he
           was
           One
           ,
           had
           such
           an
           opportunity
           put
           into
           their
           Hands
           by
           God's
           Providence
           ,
           for
           the
           overthrow
           of
           Popery
           and
           Arbitrary
           Power
           ,
           by
           Their
           Sufferings
           for
           delivering
           their
           Sense
           of
           King
           Iames
           the
           Second's
           Declaration
           ,
           as
           't
           is
           likely
           never
           any
           of
           the
           Episcopal
           Order
           had
           before
           ,
           and
           't
           is
           to
           be
           hop'd
           ,
           will
           never
           have
           again
           .
        
         
           This
           however
           I
           will
           say
           ,
           I
           had
           certainly
           added
           my self
           to
           their
           Number
           ,
           if
           I
           had
           then
           understood
           the
           Question
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           I
           did
           afterwards
           upon
           their
           Tryal
           ,
           where
           I
           was
           present
           in
           order
           to
           be
           a
           Witness
           in
           their
           behalf
           ,
           at
           the
           same
           time
           your
           Lordship
           and
           many
           other
           Noble
           Lords
           were
           there
           ,
           to
           give
           Countenance
           to
           so
           Good
           a
           Cause
           .
        
         
         
           There
           it
           was
           ,
           My
           Lord
           ,
           that
           I
           was
           first
           convinced
           of
           the
           false
           Foundations
           and
           mischievous
           Consequences
           of
           such
           a
           Dispensing
           Power
           ,
           as
           that
           on
           which
           the
           Declaration
           was
           grounded
           .
           So
           that
           I
           have
           ever
           since
           been
           perswaded
           ,
           that
           from
           that
           Petition
           of
           those
           Bishops
           ,
           so
           defended
           by
           the
           invincible
           Arguments
           of
           their
           Learned
           Council
           on
           that
           Day
           ;
           and
           so
           justified
           by
           the
           honest
           Verdict
           of
           their
           Undaunted
           Jury
           on
           the
           next
           Day
           ;
           from
           thence
           I
           say
           ,
           we
           may
           date
           the
           first
           great
           successful
           step
           ,
           that
           was
           made
           towards
           the
           rescuing
           of
           our
           Laws
           and
           Religion
           .
        
         
           For
           my
           Part
           I
           must
           own
           ,
           I
           was
           so
           fully
           satisfied
           by
           the
           excellent
           ●leadings
           of
           those
           great
           Lawyers
           at
           that
           Tryal
           ,
           that
           I
           confess
           I
           never
           had
           till
           
           then
           so
           clear
           a
           Notion
           ,
           what
           unalterable
           Bounds
           the
           Law
           has
           fix'd
           between
           the
           Just
           Prerogatives
           of
           the
           Crown
           ,
           and
           the
           Legal
           Rights
           of
           the
           Subject
           .
           And
           therefore
           from
           that
           very
           Day
           I
           hasten'd
           to
           make
           what
           Reparations
           I
           could
           for
           the
           Errors
           occasion'd
           by
           my
           former
           Ignorance
           ;
           and
           to
           act
           for
           the
           future
           ,
           what
           I
           always
           intended
           ,
           as
           became
           a
           true
           English
           Man.
           
        
         
           Nor
           was
           it
           long
           after
           ,
           that
           I
           met
           with
           a
           Signal
           Opportunity
           to
           put
           this
           my
           Purpose
           in
           practice
           .
           For
           perceiving
           the
           Rage
           of
           the
           Popish
           Party
           against
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           was
           rather
           heightned
           than
           abated
           ,
           by
           my
           Lords
           the
           Bishops
           being
           acquitted
           ;
           and
           fearing
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           Commission
           was
           next
           to
           be
           Employed
           ,
           to
           wreak
           the
           Papists
           Revenge
           on
           the
           
             Orthodox
             
             Clergy
          
           ,
           when
           Westminster-Hall
           could
           not
           do
           it
           ;
           I
           presently
           resolv'd
           to
           Desert
           that
           Commission
           ;
           from
           whence
           I
           had
           often
           before
           Laboured
           and
           Intreated
           in
           vain
           to
           be
           fairly
           Dismiss'd
           :
           And
           immediately
           I
           sent
           the
           Commissioners
           the
           following
           Letter
           ;
           whereof
           Your
           Lordship
           may
           remember
           I
           then
           presented
           you
           with
           a
           Copy
           :
           as
           knowing
           how
           much
           You
           would
           be
           pleased
           ,
           with
           my
           other
           Friends
           ,
           at
           my
           forsaking
           that
           Board
           upon
           any
           Terms
           .
        
         
           
             
             
               To
               the
               Right
               Honourable
               My
               LORDS
               ,
               His
               Majesties
               Commissioners
               for
               Ecclesiastical
               Affairs
               ,
               &c.
               
            
             
               
                 MY
                 LORDS
                 ,
              
            
             
               I
               Most
               humbly
               intreat
               your
               Lordships
               favourable
               Interpretation
               of
               what
               I
               now
               write
               ,
               That
               since
               your
               Lordships
               are
               resolved
               to
               proceed
               against
               those
               ,
               who
               have
               not
               comply'd
               with
               the
               King's
               Commands
               in
               Reading
               His
               Declaration
               ,
               it
               is
               absolutely
               impossible
               for
               me
               to
               serve
               His
               Majesty
               any
               longer
               in
               this
               Commission
               .
               I
               beg
               leave
               to
               tell
               your
               Lordships
               ,
               that
               thô
               I
               my self
               did
               submit
               in
               that
               particular
               ,
               yet
               I
               will
               never
               be
               any
               ways
               instrumental
               
               in
               Punishing
               those
               my
               Brethren
               who
               did
               not
               .
               For
               as
               I
               call
               God
               to
               witness
               ,
               That
               what
               I
               did
               ,
               was
               merely
               upon
               a
               Principle
               of
               Conscience
               ;
               so
               I
               am
               fully
               satisfied
               ,
               that
               their
               Forbearance
               was
               upon
               the
               same
               Principle
               .
               I
               have
               no
               reason
               to
               think
               otherwise
               of
               the
               whole
               Body
               of
               our
               Clergy
               ,
               who
               ,
               upon
               all
               occasions
               ,
               have
               signaliz'd
               their
               Loyalty
               to
               the
               Crown
               ,
               and
               their
               Zealous
               Affections
               to
               His
               Present
               Majesty's
               Person
               in
               the
               worst
               of
               Times
               .
               Now
               ,
               my
               Lords
               ,
               the
               Safety
               of
               the
               whole
               Church
               of
               England
               seeming
               to
               be
               exceedingly
               concern'd
               in
               this
               Prosecution
               ,
               I
               must
               declare
               ,
               That
               I
               cannot
               ,
               with
               a
               safe
               Conscience
               ,
               Sit
               as
               Iudge
               in
               this
               Cause
               ,
               upon
               so
               many
               Pious
               and
               Excellent
               Men
               :
               With
               whom
               ,
               if
               it
               be
               God's
               Will
               ,
               it
               rather
               becomes
               me
               to
               suffer
               ,
               than
               to
               be
               in
               the
               lest
               Accessary
               to
               their
               Suffering
               .
               I
               therefore
               earnestly
               request
               Your
               Lordships
               
               to
               intercede
               with
               the
               King
               ,
               that
               I
               may
               be
               graciously
               dismiss'd
               any
               farther
               Attendance
               at
               Your
               Board
               ,
               and
               to
               Assure
               His
               Majesty
               ,
               That
               I
               am
               still
               ready
               to
               Sacrifice
               whatever
               I
               have
               to
               His
               Service
               ,
               but
               my
               Conscience
               and
               Religion
               .
            
             
               
                 MY
                 LORDS
                 ,
              
               
                 I
                 am
                 Your
                 Lordships
                 Most
                 Faithful
                 ,
                 Humble
                 ,
                 and
                 Obedient
                 Servant
                 ,
                 
                   Tho.
                   Roffen
                
                 .
              
               
                 Bromley
                 ,
                 
                   Aug.
                   15.
                   1688.
                   
                
              
            
          
        
         
           Your
           Lordship
           ,
           seeing
           what
           I
           have
           said
           in
           this
           Letter
           ,
           concerning
           my
           Submitting
           in
           that
           business
           of
           the
           Declaration
           ,
           upon
           a
           Principle
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           as
           I
           then
           thought
           ,
           You
           may
           expect
           my
           Reason
           for
           doing
           so
           .
        
         
         
           I
           must
           frankly
           confess
           ,
           I
           had
           then
           a
           Doubt
           in
           my
           Mind
           ,
           arising
           from
           a
           Rubrick
           in
           the
           Common-Prayer
           ,
           (
           which
           is
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           any
           other
           ,
           a
           Law
           of
           the
           Land
           )
           whether
           a
           Bishop
           could
           lawfully
           deny
           the
           Reading
           of
           whatever
           the
           King
           should
           Ordain
           to
           be
           Read
           in
           Churches
           .
           And
           't
           was
           merely
           upon
           that
           Mistaken
           Scruple
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           I
           was
           induced
           not
           to
           Oppose
           that
           Command
           of
           the
           King
           in
           Council
           :
           I
           say
           ,
           not
           to
           Oppose
           it
           :
           Farther
           than
           that
           ,
           I
           still
           say
           ,
           I
           went
           not
           in
           that
           Business
           .
           For
           it
           is
           most
           true
           ,
           That
           the
           Orders
           of
           Council
           ,
           for
           Publishing
           that
           Declaration
           in
           Churches
           ,
           were
           dispersed
           through
           the
           Places
           of
           my
           Jurisdiction
           immediately
           from
           the
           Kings
           Printing-house
           ,
           without
           my
           Injunction
           ,
           or
           so
           much
           as
           my
           Knowledge
           .
        
         
         
           And
           after
           they
           were
           sent
           abroad
           ,
           thô
           I
           did
           not
           ,
           't
           is
           true
           ,
           Revoke
           them
           ,
           as
           not
           being
           then
           well
           determined
           in
           the
           Case
           ,
           yet
           I
           no
           where
           insisted
           to
           have
           them
           obeyed
           .
           Nay
           ,
           both
           in
           my
           own
           Diocese
           of
           Rochester
           ,
           and
           in
           that
           of
           London
           ,
           where
           I
           had
           then
           very
           unwillingly
           some
           Inspection
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           one
           Clergy-man
           can
           upbraid
           me
           ,
           for
           Urging
           any
           Man
           to
           Read
           ,
           or
           Reproving
           any
           for
           not
           Reading
           the
           Declaration
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           shall
           be
           objected
           ,
           that
           I
           permitted
           it
           to
           be
           Read
           in
           Westminster-Abby
           ,
           I
           desire
           it
           may
           be
           also
           consider'd
           ,
           what
           dreadful
           Apprehensions
           this
           Royal
           Church
           and
           School
           were
           then
           under
           ,
           from
           our
           Neighbours
           the
           Jesuits
           at
           Court
           ;
           who
           lay
           in
           wait
           to
           take
           any
           Advantage
           ,
           whereby
           they
           might
           stir
           up
           the
           King
           to
           Ruin
           us
           .
           
           Besides
           that
           a
           Quo-Warranto
           was
           then
           actually
           Issued
           out
           against
           us
           ,
           and
           we
           were
           every
           Day
           threatned
           ,
           that
           as
           we
           were
           the
           nearest
           ,
           so
           we
           should
           fall
           the
           first
           Prey
           ,
           into
           the
           Hands
           of
           the
           Popish
           Priests
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           go
           on
           ,
           I
           need
           not
           Remind
           your
           Lordship
           ,
           what
           Wrath
           and
           Indignation
           this
           Letter
           to
           the
           Commissioners
           produced
           against
           me
           ,
           from
           the
           Jesuited
           Party
           at
           Court
           :
           For
           which
           yet
           I
           esteemed
           my self
           abundantly
           Recompensed
           by
           the
           Peace
           it
           gave
           me
           in
           my
           own
           Mind
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           I
           may
           say
           ,
           by
           the
           good
           Will
           it
           Revived
           towards
           me
           in
           the
           Hearts
           of
           Good
           Men
           ;
           especially
           of
           my
           Lord
           Archbishop
           and
           the
           other
           persecuted
           Bishops
           ,
           with
           whom
           I
           ever
           
           after
           acted
           in
           perfect
           Conjunction
           for
           the
           Public
           Good.
           
        
         
           That
           ,
           My
           Lord
           ,
           is
           the
           last
           particular
           whereof
           I
           promised
           to
           give
           your
           Lordship
           and
           Account
           .
           And
           I
           come
           to
           it
           more
           chearfully
           than
           I
           did
           to
           the
           rest
           ,
           because
           this
           is
           the
           only
           matter
           of
           all
           I
           undertook
           to
           Speak
           of
           ,
           wherein
           I
           am
           not
           Conscious
           to
           my self
           ,
           that
           I
           need
           any
           Excuse
           .
        
         
           It
           was
           therefore
           some
           time
           after
           the
           Tryal
           of
           the
           Seven
           Bishops
           ,
           and
           after
           my
           leaving
           the
           Commission
           ,
           when
           upon
           the
           Kings
           sudden
           return
           from
           Windsor
           ,
           and
           the
           first
           Alarm
           given
           of
           the
           Preparations
           in
           Holland
           ,
           my
           Lord
           of
           Canterbury
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           his
           Suffragan
           Bishops
           ,
           whereof
           I
           had
           the
           Honour
           to
           be
           One
           ,
           were
           
           sent
           for
           by
           express
           Letters
           dated
           September
           the
           24th
           ,
           to
           attend
           his
           Majesty
           at
           Whitehall
           .
           Accordingly
           all
           of
           us
           that
           were
           in
           Town
           ,
           except
           my
           Lord
           Archbishop
           ,
           who
           was
           then
           very
           ill
           ,
           waited
           on
           the
           King
           the
           Friday
           following
           being
           the
           Day
           appointed
           .
           But
           little
           or
           nothing
           passing
           betwixt
           his
           Majesty
           and
           us
           ,
           at
           our
           first
           Attendance
           ,
           beyond
           general
           Expressions
           of
           his
           Favour
           ,
           and
           our
           Duty
           ,
           we
           intreated
           my
           Lord
           of
           Canterbury
           ,
           to
           procure
           for
           us
           a
           Second
           ,
           and
           more
           particular
           Audience
           ;
           wherein
           we
           might
           all
           deliver
           our
           plain
           and
           sincere
           Sense
           of
           Things
           ,
           as
           we
           saw
           the
           dangerous
           Condition
           of
           the
           Church
           and
           State
           then
           required
           from
           Men
           of
           our
           Character
           .
           And
           on
           the
           Sunday
           after
           ,
           
           my
           Lord
           Archbishop
           ,
           obtain'd
           of
           the
           King
           that
           we
           should
           be
           admitted
           to
           a
           full
           Liberty
           of
           Speech
           with
           him
           the
           next
           Tuesday
           Morning
           .
        
         
           All
           Monday
           we
           spent
           at
           Lambeth
           ,
           in
           preparing
           the
           Humble
           Advice
           we
           thought
           fit
           to
           offer
           the
           next
           Day
           .
           But
           the
           King
           being
           otherwise
           accidentally
           diverted
           on
           Tuesday
           Morning
           ,
           our
           Attendance
           on
           him
           was
           put
           off
           till
           Wednesday
           .
           Whereas
           had
           we
           been
           admitted
           to
           his
           Majesty
           that
           Tuesday
           ,
           we
           could
           not
           have
           failed
           of
           getting
           some
           Credit
           to
           our selves
           ,
           and
           to
           the
           Church
           ,
           for
           having
           Requested
           him
           to
           Restore
           the
           Charter
           of
           London
           among
           other
           Charters
           .
           For
           from
           the
           very
           beginning
           of
           our
           Consultations
           ,
           we
           had
           fixed
           upon
           that
           to
           be
           One
           of
           our
           Principal
           Petitions
           .
           
           Whereof
           his
           Majesty
           perhaps
           having
           had
           some
           private
           Intimation
           ;
           thought
           so
           more
           for
           his
           Service
           to
           prevent
           us
           ,
           by
           making
           it
           an
           Act
           of
           his
           own
           Grace
           .
           This
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           very
           Tuesday
           in
           the
           Evening
           ,
           he
           first
           declared
           publicly
           in
           the
           Council
           ,
           to
           divers
           eminent
           Citizens
           ,
           his
           purpose
           to
           restore
           the
           City
           Charter
           .
           So
           that
           when
           we
           came
           the
           next
           Day
           ,
           we
           found
           nothing
           left
           for
           us
           to
           do
           towards
           that
           great
           Affair
           ,
           but
           only
           to
           turn
           our
           intended
           Request
           into
           Thanks
           ,
           as
           we
           did
           .
        
         
           However
           ,
           on
           Wednesday
           Morning
           ,
           we
           had
           our
           Second
           Audience
           ,
           when
           my
           Lord
           of
           Canterbury
           deliver'd
           our
           Free
           and
           Honest
           Advice
           ,
           with
           such
           a
           becoming
           Meekness
           ,
           Gravity
           ,
           and
           Courage
           as
           indeed
           was
           Admirable
           .
        
         
         
           Now
           because
           there
           has
           been
           hitherto
           only
           an
           imperfect
           Relation
           Printed
           of
           what
           passed
           at
           that
           Meeting
           ,
           I
           think
           it
           may
           not
           be
           unacceptable
           to
           the
           Public
           ,
           to
           give
           here
           an
           exact
           Account
           of
           our
           whole
           Proceedings
           with
           the
           King
           in
           that
           Affair
           ;
           as
           it
           was
           drawn
           up
           by
           my
           Lord
           Archbishop
           himself
           .
           And
           it
           had
           been
           Happy
           ,
           if
           all
           Addresses
           to
           his
           Majesty
           had
           been
           alike
           Faithful
           to
           the
           King
           's
           and
           the
           Kingdom
           's
           Interest
           .
        
         
           
             
             
               For
               his
               Grace
               the
               L
               d
               Archbishop
               of
               Canterbury
               ,
            
             
               
                 MY
                 LORD
                 ,
              
            
             
               THE
               King
               thinking
               it
               requisite
               to
               speak
               with
               Your
               Grace
               ,
               and
               several
               others
               of
               the
               Bishops
               ,
               who
               are
               within
               a
               convenient
               distance
               of
               this
               place
               ;
               His
               Majesty
               commands
               me
               to
               acquaint
               you
               ,
               that
               he
               would
               have
               you
               attend
               him
               upon
               Friday
               next
               ,
               at
               Ten
               in
               the
               Morning
               .
            
             
               
                 MY
                 LORD
                 ,
              
               
                 I
                 am
                 Your
                 most
                 Faithful
                 ,
                 
                   &c.
                   Sunderland
                
                 P.
                 
              
               
                 Whitehall
                 ,
                 
                   Sep.
                   24.
                   1688.
                   
                
              
            
          
        
         
         
           
             Letters
             to
             the
             same
             purpose
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             same
             Date
             ,
             (
             or
             about
             that
             time
             )
             were
             sent
             to
             the
             Bishops
             of
          
           London
           ,
           Winchester
           ,
           Ely
           ,
           Chichester
           ,
           Rochester
           ,
           Bath
           and
           Wells
           ,
           Peterborough
           ,
           and
           Bristol
           ;
           
             all
             which
          
           (
           but
           London
           and
           Bristol
           )
           
             came
             to
             Town
          
           ;
           
             and
             all
             ,
             but
             the
             Archbishop
             ,
             waited
             on
             the
             King
             at
             the
             time
             appointed
             .
             The
             next
             day
             the
             Bishop
             of
          
           Winchester
           
             went
             out
             of
             Town
             ,
             and
             the
             day
             after
             that
             ,
             the
             Archbishop
             waited
             upon
             the
             King
             ,
             alone
             ,
             and
             by
             His
             Appointment
             ,
             on
          
           Wednesday
           ,
           Octob.
           3.
           
             all
             ,
             who
             remained
             in
             Town
             ,
             went
             together
             to
             His
             Majesty
             ,
             to
             whom
             (
             in
             the
             Name
             of
             the
             rest
             )
             the
             Archbishop
             spake
             ,
             as
             followeth
             .
          
        
         
           
             
               
                 
                 
                   May
                   it
                   please
                   Your
                   Sacred
                   Majesty
                   ,
                
                 
                   WHen
                   I
                   had
                   lately
                   the
                   Honour
                   to
                   wait
                   upon
                   you
                   ,
                   you
                   were
                   pleased
                   briefly
                   to
                   acquaint
                   me
                   with
                   what
                   had
                   pass'd
                   two
                   days
                   before
                   ,
                   between
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   and
                   these
                   my
                   Reverend
                   Brethren
                   :
                   By
                   which
                   ,
                   and
                   by
                   the
                   Account
                   which
                   they
                   themselves
                   gave
                   me
                   ,
                   I
                   perceived
                   ,
                   that
                   in
                   truth
                   there
                   pass'd
                   nothing
                   ,
                   but
                   in
                   very
                   general
                   Terms
                   ,
                   and
                   Expressions
                   of
                   Your
                   Majesty's
                   Gracious
                   and
                   Favourable
                   Inclinations
                   to
                   the
                   Church
                   of
                   England
                   ,
                   and
                   of
                   our
                   Reciprocal
                   Duty
                   and
                   Loyalty
                   to
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   :
                   Both
                   which
                   were
                   sufficiently
                   understood
                   and
                   declared
                   before
                   ;
                   
                   and
                   (
                   as
                   one
                   of
                   my
                   Brethren
                   then
                   told
                   you
                   )
                   would
                   have
                   been
                   
                   in
                   the
                   same
                   State
                   ,
                   if
                   the
                   Bishops
                   had
                   not
                   stirr'd
                   one
                   foot
                   out
                   of
                   their
                   Dioceses
                   .
                   Sir
                   ,
                   I
                   found
                   it
                   griev'd
                   my
                   Lords
                   the
                   Bishops
                   to
                   have
                   come
                   so
                   far
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   have
                   done
                   so
                   little
                   ,
                   and
                   I
                   am
                   assured
                   ,
                   they
                   came
                   then
                   prepared
                   to
                   have
                   given
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   some
                   more
                   particular
                   Instances
                   of
                   their
                   Duty
                   and
                   Zeal
                   for
                   your
                   Service
                   ;
                   had
                   they
                   not
                   apprehended
                   from
                   some
                   Words
                   ,
                   which
                   fell
                   from
                   your
                   Majesty
                   ,
                   that
                   you
                   were
                   not
                   then
                   at
                   leisure
                   to
                   receive
                   them
                   .
                   It
                   was
                   for
                   this
                   reason
                   ,
                   that
                   I
                   then
                   besought
                   your
                   Majesty
                   to
                   Command
                   us
                   once
                   more
                   to
                   Attend
                   you
                   All
                   together
                   ;
                   which
                   your
                   Majesty
                   was
                   pleased
                   Graciously
                   to
                   Allow
                   and
                   Encourage
                   .
                   We
                   are
                   therefore
                   here
                   now
                   before
                   you
                   ,
                   with
                   all
                   Humility
                   ,
                   to
                   beg
                   your
                   Permission
                   ,
                   that
                   we
                   may
                   suggest
                   to
                   your
                   Majesty
                   such
                   Advices
                   ,
                   as
                   we
                   think
                   
                   proper
                   at
                   this
                   Season
                   ,
                   and
                   conducing
                   to
                   your
                   Service
                   ,
                   and
                   so
                   leave
                   them
                   to
                   your
                   Princely
                   Consideration
                   .
                   
                     Which
                     the
                     King
                     being
                     pleased
                     graciously
                     to
                     permit
                     ,
                     the
                     Archbishop
                     proceeded
                     ,
                     as
                     followeth
                     .
                  
                   Our
                   First
                   humble
                   Advice
                   is
                   ;
                
                 
                   I.
                   That
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   to
                   put
                   the
                   Management
                   of
                   your
                   Government
                   ,
                   in
                   the
                   several
                   Counties
                   ,
                   into
                   the
                   Hands
                   of
                   such
                   of
                   the
                   Nobility
                   and
                   Gentry
                   there
                   ,
                   as
                   are
                   legally
                   qualified
                   for
                   it
                   .
                
                 
                   II.
                   That
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   to
                   Annul
                   your
                   Commission
                   for
                   Ecclesiastical
                   Affairs
                   ;
                   and
                   that
                   no
                   such
                   Court
                   ,
                   as
                   that
                   Commission
                   sets
                   up
                   ,
                   may
                   be
                   Erected
                   for
                   the
                   future
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   III.
                   That
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   ,
                   That
                   no
                   Dispensation
                   may
                   be
                   granted
                   ,
                   or
                   continued
                   ;
                   by
                   Virtue
                   whereof
                   ,
                   any
                   person
                   ,
                   not
                   duly
                   Qualified
                   by
                   Law
                   ,
                   hath
                   been
                   ,
                   or
                   may
                   be
                   ,
                   put
                   into
                   any
                   Place
                   ,
                   Office
                   ,
                   or
                   Preferment
                   ,
                   in
                   Church
                   or
                   State
                   ,
                   or
                   in
                   the
                   Universities
                   ,
                   or
                   continued
                   in
                   the
                   same
                   ;
                   especially
                   such
                   ,
                   as
                   have
                   Cure
                   of
                   Souls
                   annext
                   to
                   them
                   :
                   And
                   in
                   particular
                   ,
                   that
                   you
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   to
                   restore
                   the
                   President
                   and
                   Fellows
                   of
                   St.
                   
                     Mary
                     Magdalen
                     College
                  
                   in
                   Oxford
                   .
                
                 
                   IV.
                   That
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   to
                   set
                   aside
                   all
                   Licenses
                   or
                   Faculties
                   already
                   granted
                   ;
                   by
                   which
                   ,
                   any
                   Persons
                   of
                   the
                   Romish
                   Communion
                   may
                   pretend
                   to
                   be
                   enabled
                   to
                   teach
                   Public
                   Schools
                   ;
                   and
                   that
                   no
                   such
                   be
                   granted
                   for
                   the
                   future
                   .
                
                 
                 
                   V.
                   That
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   to
                   desist
                   from
                   the
                   Exercise
                   of
                   such
                   a
                   Dispensing
                   Power
                   ,
                   as
                   hath
                   of
                   late
                   been
                   used
                   ;
                   and
                   to
                   permit
                   that
                   Point
                   to
                   be
                   freely
                   and
                   calmly
                   Debated
                   and
                   Argued
                   ,
                   and
                   finally
                   setled
                   in
                   Parliament
                   .
                
                 
                   VI.
                   That
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   to
                   inhibit
                   the
                   Four
                   Foreign
                   Bishops
                   ,
                   who
                   style
                   themselves
                   
                     Vicars
                     Apostolical
                  
                   ,
                   from
                   farther
                   Invading
                   the
                   Ecclesiastical
                   Iurisdiction
                   ,
                   which
                   is
                   by
                   Law
                   vested
                   in
                   the
                   Bishops
                   of
                   this
                   Church
                   .
                
                 
                   VII
                   .
                   That
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   to
                   fill
                   the
                   Vacant
                   Bishopricks
                   ,
                   and
                   other
                   Ecclesiastical
                   Promotions
                   ,
                   within
                   your
                   Gift
                   ,
                   both
                   in
                   England
                   
                   and
                   Ireland
                   ,
                   with
                   Men
                   of
                   Learning
                   and
                   Piety
                   :
                   And
                   in
                   particular
                   ,
                   (
                   which
                   I
                   must
                   own
                   to
                   be
                   my
                   peculiar
                   Boldness
                   ,
                   for
                   't
                   is
                   done
                   without
                   the
                   privity
                   of
                   my
                   Brethren
                   :
                   )
                   That
                   you
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   forthwith
                   to
                   fill
                   the
                   Archiepiscopal
                   Chair
                   of
                   York
                   ,
                   (
                   which
                   hath
                   so
                   long
                   stood
                   Empty
                   ,
                   and
                   upon
                   which
                   a
                   whole
                   Province
                   depends
                   )
                   with
                   some
                   very
                   Worthy
                   Person
                   :
                   For
                   which
                   (
                   pardon
                   me
                   ,
                   Sir
                   ,
                   if
                   I
                   am
                   bold
                   to
                   say
                   )
                   you
                   have
                   here
                   now
                   before
                   you
                   a
                   very
                   fair
                   Choice
                   .
                
                 
                   VIII
                   .
                   That
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   to
                   supersede
                   all
                   farther
                   Prosecution
                   of
                   
                     Quo
                     Warranto's
                  
                   against
                   Corporations
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   Restore
                   to
                   them
                   their
                   Ancient
                   Charters
                   ,
                   Privileges
                   ,
                   and
                   Franchises
                   ;
                   as
                   we
                   hear
                   God
                   hath
                   
                   put
                   it
                   into
                   Your
                   Majesties
                   Heart
                   to
                   do
                   for
                   the
                   City
                   of
                   London
                   ;
                   which
                   we
                   intended
                   to
                   have
                   made
                   ,
                   otherwise
                   ,
                   one
                   of
                   our
                   Principal
                   Requests
                   .
                
                 
                   IX
                   .
                   That
                   if
                   it
                   so
                   please
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   ,
                   Writs
                   may
                   be
                   issued
                   out
                   with
                   convenient
                   speed
                   for
                   the
                   Calling
                   of
                   a
                   Free
                   and
                   Regular
                   Parliament
                   ,
                   in
                   which
                   ,
                   the
                   Church
                   of
                   England
                   may
                   be
                   Secured
                   according
                   to
                   the
                   Acts
                   of
                   Uniformity
                   ;
                   Provision
                   may
                   be
                   made
                   for
                   a
                   due
                   
                     Liberty
                     of
                     Conscience
                  
                   ,
                   and
                   for
                   securing
                   the
                   Liberties
                   and
                   Properties
                   of
                   all
                   Your
                   Subjects
                   ;
                   and
                   a
                   mutual
                   Confidence
                   ,
                   and
                   good
                   Understanding
                   ,
                   may
                   be
                   Established
                   between
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   ,
                   and
                   all
                   Your
                   People
                   .
                
                 
                   X.
                   Above
                   all
                   ,
                   that
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   will
                   be
                   graciously
                   pleased
                   to
                   permit
                   Your
                   
                   Bishops
                   to
                   offer
                   you
                   such
                   Motives
                   and
                   Arguments
                   ,
                   as
                   (
                   we
                   trust
                   )
                   may
                   ,
                   by
                   God's
                   Grace
                   ,
                   be
                   Effectual
                   to
                   persuade
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   to
                   return
                   to
                   the
                   Communion
                   of
                   the
                   Church
                   of
                   England
                   ;
                   into
                   whose
                   most
                   Holy
                   Catholick
                   Faith
                   you
                   were
                   Baptized
                   ,
                   and
                   in
                   which
                   you
                   were
                   Educated
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   which
                   it
                   is
                   our
                   daily
                   earnest
                   Prayer
                   to
                   God
                   ,
                   that
                   you
                   may
                   be
                   Re-united
                   .
                
                 
                   These
                   (
                   Sir
                   )
                   are
                   the
                   Humble
                   Advices
                   ,
                   which
                   ,
                   out
                   of
                   Conscience
                   of
                   the
                   Duty
                   we
                   owe
                   to
                   God
                   ,
                   to
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   ,
                   and
                   to
                   our
                   Country
                   ,
                   we
                   think
                   fit
                   at
                   this
                   time
                   to
                   offer
                   to
                   Your
                   Majesty
                   ,
                   as
                   suitable
                   to
                   the
                   Present
                   State
                   of
                   your
                   Affairs
                   ,
                   and
                   most
                   conducing
                   to
                   your
                   Service
                   ,
                   and
                   so
                   to
                   leave
                   them
                   to
                   your
                   Princely
                   Consideration
                   .
                   
                     And
                     we
                     
                     heartily
                     beseech
                     Almighty
                     God
                     ,
                     in
                     whose
                     Hand
                     the
                     Hearts
                     of
                     all
                     Kings
                     are
                     ,
                     so
                     to
                     Dispose
                     and
                     Govern
                     Yours
                     ,
                     that
                     in
                     all
                     your
                     Thoughts
                     ,
                     Words
                     ,
                     and
                     Works
                     ,
                     you
                     may
                     ever
                     seek
                     his
                     Honour
                     and
                     Glory
                     ,
                     and
                     study
                     to
                     preserve
                     the
                     People
                     committed
                     to
                     your
                     Charge
                     ,
                     in
                     Wealth
                     ,
                     Peace
                     ,
                     and
                     Godliness
                     ;
                     to
                     Your
                     Own
                     both
                     Temporal
                     and
                     Eternal
                     Happiness
                     .
                  
                   Amen
                   .
                
                 
                   
                     
                       We
                       do
                       heartily
                       Concur
                    
                     .
                     H.
                     London
                     .
                     P.
                     Winchester
                     .
                     W.
                     Asaph
                     .
                     W.
                     Cant.
                     Fran.
                     Ely.
                     Io.
                     Cicestr
                     .
                     Tho.
                     Roffen
                     .
                     Tho.
                     Bath
                     and
                     Wells
                     .
                     Tho.
                     Petriburg
                     .
                  
                
              
            
          
        
         
         
           It
           is
           for
           others
           Information
           ,
           not
           for
           yours
           ,
           My
           Lord
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           been
           so
           Punctual
           and
           Minute
           in
           the
           Circumstances
           of
           this
           Business
           ,
           wherewith
           your
           Lordship
           was
           fully
           made
           acquainted
           ,
           just
           after
           the
           very
           time
           ,
           at
           Copthall
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           my
           Lord
           of
           
           London's
           and
           my
           Memory
           could
           Serve
           us
           to
           do
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           one
           thing
           farther
           I
           must
           observe
           as
           very
           Remarkable
           in
           this
           Affair
           ,
           that
           if
           the
           exact
           time
           of
           this
           our
           Address
           to
           King
           Iames
           at
           Whitehall
           ,
           shall
           be
           compar'd
           with
           the
           Day
           of
           the
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           his
           present
           Majesties
           setting
           forth
           his
           First
           Declaration
           in
           Holland
           ,
           they
           will
           both
           be
           found
           to
           bear
           very
           near
           the
           same
           Date
           .
           For
           our
           Address
           here
           ,
           was
           form'd
           at
           Lambeth
           on
           
           
             Monday
             ,
             October
          
           the
           First
           ,
           and
           should
           have
           been
           deliver'd
           on
           Tuesday
           the
           Second
           ,
           and
           was
           actually
           presented
           on
           Wednesday
           the
           Third
           .
           And
           that
           Declaration
           was
           Sign'd
           there
           on
           the
           Tenth
           of
           October
           ,
           which
           ,
           considering
           the
           Two
           Styles
           ,
           makes
           little
           or
           no
           Difference
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           I
           might
           presume
           to
           compare
           Small
           Things
           with
           Great
           ,
           in
           the
           Matter
           of
           them
           as
           well
           as
           in
           the
           Date
           ,
           I
           would
           venture
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           most
           of
           the
           very
           same
           Grievances
           ,
           which
           his
           Highness
           insisted
           on
           in
           his
           Declaration
           ,
           except
           One
           or
           Two
           ,
           that
           were
           too
           high
           for
           us
           Subjects
           to
           meddle
           with
           ,
           were
           so
           early
           represented
           by
           us
           to
           the
           King
           in
           that
           Petition
           ,
           as
           Things
           necessary
           to
           be
           speedily
           Redress'd
           .
        
         
         
           And
           ,
           My
           Lord
           ,
           I
           cannot
           but
           add
           ,
           that
           this
           we
           did
           in
           a
           time
           when
           the
           King
           thought
           of
           nothing
           less
           than
           Victory
           ;
           when
           in
           all
           Humane
           probability
           ,
           he
           was
           the
           strongest
           both
           by
           Sea
           and
           Land
           ;
           when
           as
           yet
           there
           was
           no
           appearance
           of
           such
           a
           Prodigious
           Alienation
           of
           his
           Subjects
           Affections
           ;
           when
           at
           least
           his
           Army
           was
           thought
           to
           be
           still
           firm
           to
           him
           ;
           when
           the
           very
           Winds
           and
           Seas
           seem'd
           hitherto
           as
           much
           on
           his
           Side
           ,
           as
           they
           all
           afterwards
           turn'd
           against
           him
           .
        
         
           After
           that
           ,
           My
           Lord
           ,
           as
           I
           remember
           the
           next
           Solemn
           time
           of
           our
           Waiting
           on
           King
           Iames
           the
           Second
           ,
           was
           occasion'd
           by
           the
           Interception
           of
           the
           Prince
           of
           
           Orange's
           Declaration
           here
           in
           London
           ,
           some
           short
           
           time
           before
           his
           Highness's
           Landing
           ,
           For
           upon
           Reading
           that
           Expression
           in
           it
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Prince
             was
             most
             earnestly
             Invited
             hither
             by
             divers
             Lords
             both
             Spiritual
             and
             Temporal
             ,
             and
             by
             many
             Gentlemen
             and
             Others
             of
             all
             Ranks
             ;
          
           the
           King
           forthwith
           sent
           for
           some
           of
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           who
           were
           nearest
           at
           hand
           ,
           and
           required
           us
           to
           Justifie
           our Selves
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           to
           our
           Part
           in
           that
           Invitation
           .
           To
           this
           end
           ,
           His
           Majesty
           fixed
           a
           Short
           Day
           ,
           whereon
           He
           obliged
           us
           to
           present
           him
           a
           Paper
           under
           our
           Hands
           ,
           signifying
           our
           Abhorrence
           of
           the
           Prince
           of
           
           Orange's
           intended
           Invasion
           .
        
         
           My
           Lord
           ,
           the
           Day
           came
           ;
           and
           great
           Throngs
           there
           were
           at
           Court
           ,
           expecting
           the
           Issue
           of
           that
           Conference
           :
           
           We
           saw
           both
           the
           Friends
           and
           Enemies
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           equally
           impatient
           ,
           to
           know
           what
           we
           would
           do
           in
           that
           difficult
           Moment
           .
           The
           King
           himself
           had
           affirm'd
           to
           us
           ,
           He
           thought
           his
           good
           Success
           exceedingly
           depended
           upon
           our
           Ready
           Compliance
           with
           his
           Command
           of
           Abhorring
           .
           A
           Declaration
           was
           then
           in
           the
           Press
           against
           the
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           the
           present
           King
           ,
           and
           was
           only
           stopp'd
           for
           our
           Paper
           of
           Abhorrence
           to
           be
           inserted
           into
           it
           :
           And
           there
           happen'd
           to
           be
           but
           Four
           of
           our
           Number
           ,
           my
           Lord
           of
           Canterbury
           ,
           my
           Lord
           of
           London
           ,
           my
           Lord
           of
           Peterborough
           ,
           and
           my Self
           ,
           who
           were
           present
           upon
           the
           Place
           to
           endure
           that
           terrible
           Brunt
           .
        
         
         
           In
           short
           ,
           as
           soon
           as
           we
           were
           come
           into
           the
           King's
           Presence
           ,
           His
           Majesty
           with
           great
           Earnestness
           called
           for
           our
           Paper
           ;
           We
           with
           all
           Submission
           intreated
           to
           be
           Excused
           from
           writing
           any
           thing
           of
           that
           Nature
           ,
           and
           from
           making
           a
           particular
           Defence
           to
           a
           general
           Accusation
           ;
           left
           we
           should
           give
           the
           First
           Precedent
           of
           that
           kind
           ,
           against
           the
           Privilege
           of
           Peers
           .
           Besides
           that
           ,
           our
           Profession
           being
           to
           promote
           Peace
           ,
           VVe
           thought
           it
           belong'd
           not
           to
           us
           to
           declare
           VVar
           ,
           especially
           against
           a
           Prince
           so
           nearly
           Ally'd
           to
           the
           Crown
           .
        
         
           But
           the
           King
           still
           more
           Insisted
           ,
           Argued
           ,
           and
           Expostulated
           with
           us
           ;
           insomuch
           ,
           that
           if
           ever
           in
           all
           my
           Life
           I
           saw
           him
           more
           than
           ordinary
           vehement
           in
           Speech
           ,
           and
           transported
           
           in
           his
           Expressions
           ,
           it
           was
           at
           that
           time
           .
        
         
           However
           ,
           we
           still
           made
           good
           our
           humble
           Refusal
           ,
           in
           as
           dutiful
           Terms
           as
           't
           was
           possible
           :
           Among
           many
           Arguments
           ,
           urging
           chiefly
           ,
           That
           as
           we
           were
           joyn'd
           with
           our
           Brethren
           ,
           the
           other
           Lords
           Spiritual
           ,
           and
           with
           the
           Lords
           Temporal
           ,
           and
           with
           the
           Gentry
           of
           England
           ,
           in
           the
           Accusation
           ;
           so
           we
           beseech'd
           him
           ,
           we
           might
           not
           be
           separated
           from
           them
           in
           our
           Justification
           :
           Concluding
           all
           with
           an
           earnest
           Request
           to
           His
           Majesty
           ,
           that
           He
           would
           be
           pleased
           to
           Condescend
           to
           the
           Calling
           a
           Free
           Parliament
           :
           Wherein
           only
           he
           could
           rightly
           understand
           ,
           what
           was
           the
           General
           Sense
           ,
           and
           True
           Interest
           of
           the
           whole
           Kingdom
           .
        
         
         
           At
           last
           ,
           when
           neither
           the
           King
           would
           bearken
           to
           our
           Zealous
           Motion
           for
           a
           Parliament
           ,
           nor
           we
           could
           be
           prevailed
           on
           ,
           to
           Subscribe
           an
           Abhorrence
           of
           the
           Prince
           of
           
           Orange's
           Design
           ,
           His
           Majesty
           parted
           from
           us
           with
           Indignation
           .
           And
           thereupon
           the
           Jesuited
           Party
           at
           Court
           were
           so
           violently
           enraged
           against
           us
           ,
           that
           ,
           as
           we
           were
           credibly
           informed
           ,
           one
           of
           the
           Chief
           advised
           in
           a
           heat
           ,
           we
           should
           all
           be
           Imprisoned
           ,
           and
           the
           Truth
           should
           be
           extorted
           from
           us
           by
           Violence
           .
        
         
           I
           told
           your
           Lordship
           ,
           the
           Conclusion
           of
           that
           our
           Serious
           De●●●●
           with
           the
           King
           ,
           was
           on
           our
           Side
           〈◊〉
           begging
           him
           to
           call
           a
           Free
           Par●●●ment
           .
           The
           truth
           is
           ,
           a
           Free
           Par●●●ment
           was
           the
           main
           Point
           ,
           and
           t●
           
           last
           Result
           of
           all
           our
           Requests
           to
           His
           Majesty
           ,
           from
           the
           First
           Day
           of
           his
           admitting
           us
           to
           give
           him
           our
           honest
           Advice
           ,
           till
           the
           time
           of
           his
           leaving
           the
           Kingdom
           .
        
         
           I
           need
           not
           put
           your
           Lordship
           in
           mind
           of
           the
           Petition
           we
           presented
           him
           to
           the
           same
           purpose
           ,
           which
           was
           Signed
           by
           divers
           of
           the
           Spiritual
           and
           Temporal
           Lords
           ,
           and
           ,
           among
           others
           ,
           by
           your Self
           ;
           and
           was
           afterwards
           Seconded
           from
           several
           Parts
           of
           the
           Nation
           ;
           especially
           by
           the
           Noblemen
           and
           Gentlemen
           Assembled
           at
           York
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Fleet
           under
           the
           Command
           of
           my
           Lord
           Dartmouth
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Lord
           Bishop
           ,
           and
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           and
           the
           Citizens
           of
           Bristol
           .
           As
           it
           had
           been
           also
           soon
           followed
           by
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           had
           there
           
           been
           time
           enough
           for
           the
           doing
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           having
           mentioned
           that
           Petition
           for
           a
           Free
           aud
           Regular
           Parliament
           ,
           I
           hope
           it
           will
           not
           be
           thought
           Presumption
           in
           me
           ,
           if
           I
           suggest
           ,
           I
           had
           the
           Honour
           to
           have
           it
           Considered
           ,
           Agreed
           on
           ,
           and
           Sign'd
           ,
           at
           my
           house
           at
           Westminster
           :
           And
           that
           I
           was
           one
           of
           the
           Four
           Bishops
           (
           the
           Two
           Archbishops
           and
           my
           Lord
           of
           Ely
           being
           the
           other
           Three
           )
           who
           ventured
           to
           deliver
           it
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           after
           we
           heard
           he
           had
           protested
           he
           would
           take
           it
           highly
           Ill
           of
           any
           Man
           that
           should
           offer
           him
           a
           thing
           of
           that
           Nature
           .
           Nevertheless
           we
           did
           it
           ,
           and
           thought
           our selves
           bound
           in
           Duty
           to
           God
           and
           Man
           so
           to
           do
           .
        
         
         
           Your
           Lordship
           perceives
           ,
           all
           that
           I
           have
           said
           on
           this
           last
           Subject
           ,
           concerns
           only
           some
           few
           Particulars
           that
           pass'd
           in
           Three
           or
           Four
           Conferences
           between
           King
           Iames
           the
           Second
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           the
           Bishops
           ,
           who
           happen'd
           then
           to
           be
           within
           Call.
           Thô
           we
           had
           afterwards
           the
           Concurrence
           of
           our
           Absent
           Brethren
           .
           And
           we
           may
           now
           appeal
           to
           all
           the
           World
           ,
           whether
           we
           did
           not
           Demean
           our Selves
           in
           those
           hazardous
           Occasions
           ,
           with
           that
           Zeal
           against
           Popery
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           Legal
           Establishment
           both
           in
           Church
           and
           State
           ,
           as
           became
           the
           Station
           we
           hold
           in
           Both.
           
        
         
           If
           your
           Lordship's
           Leisure
           would
           permit
           me
           to
           look
           farther
           back
           ,
           and
           to
           recount
           what
           was
           Written
           ,
           Acted
           ,
           or
           Suffered
           ,
           by
           the
           Members
           of
           the
           
           Church
           of
           England
           in
           general
           during
           that
           Reign
           ;
           't
           were
           easie
           to
           recollect
           so
           many
           Memorable
           Instances
           of
           unshaken
           Truth
           and
           Courage
           in
           the
           Nobility
           ,
           Gentry
           ,
           Clergy
           ,
           and
           Commonalty
           of
           our
           Communion
           ,
           in
           maintaining
           our
           Religion
           against
           Rome
           ,
           and
           our
           Laws
           against
           unlimited
           Power
           ,
           as
           might
           well
           furnish
           sufficient
           Materials
           for
           an
           ample
           Relation
           .
        
         
           I
           know
           it
           was
           formerly
           a
           popular
           Objection
           of
           divers
           misguided
           Dissenters
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           that
           our
           Principles
           were
           too
           Monarchical
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           carried
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Obedience
           farther
           than
           might
           be
           consistent
           with
           the
           safety
           of
           a
           Protestant
           Church
           ,
           or
           the
           Privileges
           of
           a
           free-born
           People
           ,
        
         
         
           But
           it
           is
           now
           to
           be
           hoped
           ,
           that
           the
           strongest
           Argument
           of
           all
           others
           ,
           which
           is
           Experience
           from
           undoubted
           Matter
           of
           Fact
           ,
           has
           put
           this
           Objection
           for
           ever
           out
           of
           Countenance
           .
           Since
           it
           is
           undeniable
           ,
           that
           during
           that
           whole
           time
           ,
           when
           our
           Civil
           and
           Spiritual
           Liberties
           were
           in
           so
           much
           Danger
           ,
           the
           greatest
           ,
           and
           most
           considerable
           stop
           ,
           that
           was
           here
           put
           to
           the
           Arts
           of
           Rome
           ,
           and
           Intrigues
           of
           France
           ,
           was
           Put
           by
           the
           steddy
           Resolution
           of
           the
           true
           Sons
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           I
           pretend
           not
           to
           upbraid
           any
           Party
           or
           Sect
           among
           us
           ,
           for
           any
           undue
           Compliance
           in
           that
           Time.
           But
           this
           I
           will
           Assert
           ,
           that
           generally
           Speaking
           ,
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           both
           Laity
           and
           Clergy
           did
           not
           Comply
           .
        
         
         
           Nay
           ,
           it
           were
           Infinite
           to
           reckon
           up
           the
           Examples
           ,
           we
           then
           saw
           every
           Day
           ,
           of
           Men
           of
           all
           Conditions
           ,
           from
           the
           highest
           to
           the
           lowest
           ,
           All
           Members
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ;
           who
           preferred
           the
           saving
           of
           the
           Establisht
           Government
           in
           Church
           and
           State
           ,
           before
           any
           Temptations
           of
           private
           Profit
           or
           Interest
           .
        
         
           Not
           to
           say
           any
           thing
           more
           of
           the
           Learned
           and
           Unanswerable
           Writings
           of
           that
           time
           against
           Popery
           :
           For
           in
           that
           Merit
           ,
           I
           suppose
           none
           of
           any
           other
           Persuation
           will
           enter
           into
           any
           Competition
           with
           the
           Orthodox
           Clergy
           :
           But
           I
           now
           only
           Speak
           of
           those
           many
           Honourable
           Self-Denials
           ,
           which
           the
           Church
           of
           
           England-Men
           then
           Practised
           ,
           for
           the
           
           Sake
           of
           the
           true
           English
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           Reformation
           .
        
         
           What
           Officers
           and
           Commanders
           were
           there
           almost
           in
           the
           whole
           Army
           ,
           besides
           the
           Sons
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           who
           chose
           to
           be
           Discarded
           from
           those
           very
           Troops
           and
           Regiments
           ,
           which
           their
           own
           Interest
           and
           Money
           had
           raised
           ,
           rather
           than
           contribute
           to
           take
           away
           the
           great
           Fences
           of
           our
           Liberty
           and
           Religion
           ?
           What
           Officers
           in
           the
           Courts
           of
           Justice
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           several
           Branches
           of
           the
           Revenue
           ?
           What
           Members
           of
           Boroughs
           ,
           Corporations
           ,
           and
           Cities
           ,
           in
           Comparison
           of
           those
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           endured
           the
           loss
           of
           their
           Places
           of
           Trust
           and
           Profit
           ,
           for
           not
           Consenting
           to
           Abolish
           the
           Tests
           and
           Penal
           Laws
           against
           Papists
           ?
        
         
         
           What
           eminent
           Nobility
           and
           Gentry
           in
           all
           Counties
           ,
           submitted
           chearfully
           to
           be
           flighted
           ,
           and
           deprived
           of
           all
           Authority
           and
           Power
           among
           their
           Neighbours
           ,
           in
           Peace
           or
           War
           ?
           Were
           they
           not
           generally
           ,
           and
           almost
           to
           a
           Man
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ?
        
         
           Was
           not
           a
           considerable
           Part
           of
           the
           Court
           it self
           turn'd
           out
           ?
           Did
           not
           divers
           Persons
           of
           the
           highest
           Titles
           and
           Dignities
           there
           endure
           to
           lose
           their
           Princes
           Favour
           ,
           upon
           this
           very
           Account
           ?
           Did
           we
           not
           see
           the
           most
           Advantageous
           ,
           and
           most
           Honorable
           Offices
           ,
           the
           very
           White
           Staves
           ,
           and
           the
           greatest
           of
           them
           ,
           not
           valued
           ,
           but
           easily
           parted
           with
           ,
           when
           Religion
           came
           in
           Question
           's
           .
        
         
         
           I
           need
           not
           go
           on
           to
           recite
           more
           particularly
           all
           these
           Things
           ,
           especially
           to
           your
           Lordship
           ,
           who
           were
           your Self
           one
           of
           the
           Noble
           Sufferers
           in
           the
           same
           Cause
           .
           'T
           will
           be
           sufficient
           to
           affirm
           once
           for
           all
           ,
           that
           the
           main
           Body
           of
           those
           ,
           who
           made
           so
           brave
           a
           Stand
           ,
           were
           all
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ;
           and
           the
           Principles
           on
           which
           they
           stood
           ,
           were
           all
           Church
           of
           England
           Principles
           .
        
         
           My
           Lord
           ,
           it
           was
           by
           these
           Persons
           ,
           and
           these
           Principles
           ,
           that
           ●opery
           was
           stopt
           in
           its
           full
           Career
           ;
           by
           these
           it
           was
           then
           hindred
           from
           Conquering
           ,
           and
           put
           into
           a
           Condition
           to
           be
           shortly
           after
           Conquer'd
           it self
           in
           this
           Nation
           .
        
         
           After
           having
           troubled
           your
           Lordship
           so
           long
           with
           my
           own
           Private
           
           Cause
           ,
           and
           having
           said
           something
           too
           ,
           in
           the
           behalf
           of
           what
           is
           much
           more
           dear
           to
           me
           ,
           the
           Public
           ;
           pray
           let
           me
           conclude
           with
           that
           ,
           which
           ,
           in
           this
           Juncture
           of
           Affairs
           ,
           may
           be
           counted
           well
           high
           another
           Public
           Cause
           :
           Let
           me
           Present
           you
           with
           my
           Humbly
           well-meaning
           Opinion
           ,
           what
           Moderation
           is
           to
           be
           shewn
           towards
           those
           ,
           who
           happen'd
           to
           be
           employed
           in
           the
           late
           Times
           .
        
         
           My
           Lord
           ,
           't
           would
           be
           great
           Presumption
           in
           me
           ,
           having
           been
           my self
           too
           far
           engaged
           ,
           to
           offer
           at
           an
           Apology
           for
           other
           Persons
           concern'd
           then
           ,
           either
           with
           me
           in
           the
           Commission
           ,
           or
           in
           any
           other
           Public
           Business
           ;
           particularly
           for
           some
           of
           your
           Lordships
           Acquaintance
           ,
           whose
           Cause
           may
           be
           more
           Defensible
           than
           
           mine
           ;
           and
           I
           am
           sure
           their
           Abilities
           to
           defend
           it
           ,
           are
           much
           greater
           .
           Only
           in
           general
           ,
           I
           will
           take
           the
           freedom
           to
           say
           ,
           That
           I
           make
           no
           Question
           ,
           but
           divers
           Good
           Men
           ,
           who
           were
           then
           in
           Imployments
           ,
           did
           in
           Prudence
           ,
           submit
           to
           some
           things
           in
           Order
           to
           hinder
           Worse
           .
           I
           doubt
           not
           but
           many
           Acted
           then
           not
           to
           Increase
           ,
           but
           to
           Mitigate
           the
           Violence
           of
           those
           Times
           .
           Some
           were
           in
           such
           Stations
           ,
           which
           perhaps
           't
           was
           well
           done
           of
           them
           ,
           not
           suddenly
           to
           Desert
           ,
           lest
           worse
           Men
           should
           come
           in
           ,
           to
           do
           that
           which
           they
           design'd
           to
           prevent
           .
           I
           believe
           ,
           some
           being
           ,
           as
           it
           were
           ,
           in
           the
           middle
           of
           the
           Stream
           ,
           when
           the
           Tide
           turn'd
           so
           Violently
           against
           our
           Establisht
           Church
           and
           Laws
           ,
           were
           driven
           
           down
           lower
           than
           they
           expected
           ,
           before
           they
           could
           resist
           the
           Current
           ,
           or
           get
           to
           Shore
           .
           Wherefore
           ,
           considering
           all
           Circumstances
           ,
           't
           was
           well
           so
           many
           mistook
           not
           the
           true
           Interest
           of
           the
           Nation
           .
           'T
           was
           happy
           so
           many
           preserv'd
           their
           Integrity
           ;
           so
           many
           had
           the
           honest
           Hardiness
           to
           stand
           unmoved
           by
           the
           Importunity
           of
           their
           King
           ,
           whom
           they
           were
           bred
           up
           to
           Honor
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           things
           else
           to
           Obey
           .
        
         
           And
           in
           common
           Sense
           of
           human
           Frailty
           ,
           are
           not
           many
           Infirmities
           at
           such
           a
           time
           as
           that
           ,
           to
           be
           overlook'd
           now
           ,
           by
           wise
           and
           good
           Men
           ?
           Do
           not
           many
           false
           Steps
           so
           made
           ,
           deserve
           to
           be
           pitied
           ?
           May
           it
           not
           be
           thought
           some
           kind
           of
           Merit
           ,
           or
           some
           degree
           of
           Innocence
           at
           least
           ,
           not
           to
           have
           made
           more
           ,
           in
           such
           a
           slippery
           Ground
           as
           we
           then
           trod
           on
           ?
        
         
         
           If
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           every
           Failure
           of
           that
           Time
           ,
           should
           be
           esteemed
           a
           Criminal
           Compliance
           ,
           every
           Compliance
           should
           be
           judg'd
           unpardonable
           ,
           VVho
           then
           ,
           that
           remain'd
           under
           the
           Government
           ,
           can
           be
           counted
           Innocent
           ?
           VVho
           shall
           be
           able
           justly
           to
           throw
           the
           first
           Stone
           ?
           VVhat
           Place
           will
           be
           then
           left
           for
           the
           Offender's
           Hope
           ,
           or
           for
           a
           Prince's
           Forgiveness
           ,
           the
           Noblest
           and
           most
           Divine
           Part
           of
           Power
           ?
        
         
           My
           Lord
           ,
           the
           constant
           Experience
           of
           all
           wise
           Times
           has
           shewed
           ,
           that
           all
           Civil
           Dissentions
           and
           Quarrels
           are
           best
           ended
           by
           the
           largest
           Acts
           of
           Indemnity
           and
           Oblivion
           :
           In
           England
           especially
           ,
           where
           Good
           Nature
           is
           soon
           apt
           to
           have
           Compassion
           upon
           the
           Afflicted
           .
           Here
           perhaps
           scarce
           any
           thing
           can
           be
           more
           dangerous
           to
           the
           
           Party
           that
           is
           uppermost
           ,
           than
           to
           put
           English-men
           upon
           pitying
           those
           that
           suffer
           under
           it
           .
           And
           certainly
           this
           Revolution
           ,
           if
           ever
           any
           ,
           should
           be
           Mild
           in
           the
           Event
           ,
           since
           it
           was
           Bloodless
           in
           the
           whole
           Course
           of
           it
           ,
           in
           a
           time
           ,
           when
           there
           was
           most
           danger
           of
           Effusion
           of
           Blood.
           
        
         
           I
           will
           say
           no
           more
           ,
           my
           Lord
           ,
           but
           this
           ,
           that
           after
           great
           and
           unexpected
           Changes
           ,
           That
           hath
           been
           always
           found
           the
           firmest
           Settlement
           of
           any
           State
           or
           Government
           ,
           where
           the
           Prevailing
           Party
           hath
           look'd
           but
           very
           little
           backward
           ,
           and
           very
           much
           forward
           ;
           where
           Private
           Animosity
           and
           Revenge
           have
           wisely
           given
           way
           to
           the
           greater
           Benefits
           of
           Public
           Pardon
           and
           Indulgence
           .
        
         
         
           Perhaps
           ,
           towards
           the
           Beginning
           of
           great
           Reformations
           ,
           a
           VVarm
           impetuous
           Spirit
           may
           have
           its
           use
           ;
           but
           to
           Compose
           Things
           after
           sudden
           Commotions
           ,
           to
           Calm
           Men's
           Minds
           for
           the
           future
           ,
           to
           Settle
           Affairs
           in
           a
           secure
           and
           lasting
           Peace
           ,
           most
           certainly
           a
           Gentle
           ,
           Generous
           ,
           Charitable
           Temper
           ,
           is
           the
           best
           :
           And
           to
           say
           all
           in
           one
           word
           ,
           Such
           a
           Temper
           as
           is
           your
           Lordships
           .
        
         
           
             MY
             LORD
             ,
          
           
             
               I
               am
               Your
               Lordship's
               Most
               Faithful
               ,
               Humble
               ,
               and
               Obedient
               Servant
               ,
            
             Tho.
             Roffen
             .
          
           
             Westminster
             ,
             
               Mar.
               26.
               1689.
               
            
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A61170-e160
           
             
               The
               Bishop
               of
            
             Bath
             and
             Wells
             .