PQAT
BX
519911
$77
A.
A
LETTER
FROM THE
Biſhop of Rocheſter,
To the Right Honourable
The Earl of Dorſet and Middleſex,
LORD-CHAMBERLAIN
OF
His MAJESTIES Houſhold.
Concerning his Sitting in the
Late Eccleürftical Commiſtion.
In the Savoy :
Printed by EDW. JONES. MDCLXXXVIII.
BX
5799
577
A4
sel
believe
o
Hist, high
(3)
5 244
bort A
LETTER
From the
Biſhop of ROCHESTER ,
To the Right Honourable
The Earl of Dorſet and Middleſex, &c.
VA
. ܘܒܫ܇ ܀
MY LORD
2762 Think I ſhould be want-
ing to my ſelf at this
time, in my own neceſ-
ſary Vindication, ſhould
I forbear any longer, to
give my Friends a True Account of
my
Behaviour in the late Ecclefiaſtical
Com
A 2
AG
(4)
Commiffion. Though I profefs, what
I ſhall now fay, I only intend as a Rea-
fonable Mitigation of the Offence I
have given, not entirely to Jullifie my
Sitting in that Court for which, I
acknowledge, I have deſervedly in
curr'd the Cenſure of many Good
Men: And I with I may ever be able
to make a fufficient Amends to my
Country for it. pe
Yet thus much, My Lord, I can
juſtly alledge for my felf, That the
Commiſſion was made, and my Name
put into it, altogether without my
Knowledge ; when I hapen’d to be at
Salisbury, holding an Archiepiſcopal
Vification with the Biſhop of Chiche-
fier, and other Commiſſioners : Where,
by God's Bleſſing, we compoſed fe-
veral old Differences and Animolities,
and reſtored Peace and Unity to that
Church.
At
$)
At my return from thence to Lon:
don, I found I was appointed to be
one in a New Commiſſion : But I
could never fee a Copy of it, nor did
I ever hear its Contents, or know the
Powers granted in it, till the time of
its being publicly open'd at Whitehal;
whither I was fent for, on purpoſe, in
halte, that very Morning, from my
Houſe in the Country; being juſt come
home from a Confirmation, and from
paying my Duty to Her Royal High-
meſs the Princeſs of Denmark at Tun_.
bridge
đpon the firſt publithing the
Commiffion, I confeſs, through my
Ignorance in the Laws, I brad little or
no Obje&tion in my Thoughts againſt
the Legality of it; eſpecially when I
conſider’d, That having paſt
the Broads
Seal, it muſt needs, according to my
Appre-
ge..
or
in iny
(6)
Apprehenſion, have been Examin'd
and Approved by the King's Learned
Council in the Law, Men generally
eſteemed of eminent Skill in their Pro-
fellion. Belides, I was farther con
firm'd (though too raſhly I grant)
Error, when I ſaw two Gende.
men of the Long Robe, Perſons of
the greateſt Place and Authority in
Weſtminſter-Hall,
joyned with us; who,
I ſhould have thought, would never
have ventur'd their Fortunes and Re.
putations, by exerciſing a Juriſdiction
that was Illegal.
And I believ'd I had Reaſon to con-
clude, That this very Argument might
prevail alſo with ſome others of the
Temporal Lords, that. fate among us.
Particularly child the Earl of Rocheſter
has often aſſurd me, 'twas That which
induc'd him to accept of the Commiſ .
fon
(7)
vi
fion; and that he did it, as I my ſelf
did, with a purpoſe of doing as much
Good as we were able, and of hindring
as much Evil, as we poſſibly could,
in that Unfortunate Juncture of Af
fairs.
As for my own Paro, I was ſtartled
when I perceived my Lord of Canter-
bury fcrupled to be preſent with us ;
whole Example, 'tis true, I ought ra-
ther to have followed than the great-
eft Lawyers in all Matters of Conſci-
ence. Yet I hope his Grace will ex:
cuſe me, if I declare, that I did not
at firſt know. He made a Matter
of Conſcience of it.. Nor did I un-
derſtand his Grace took Exception at
the Lawfulneſs of the Commiſſion it
felf, till after my Lord of London was
Cited, and had Appear’d, and An-
fwerd,and the unjuſt Sentence was paſt
against him.
For
(8)
*For id was on the very Day the
Commiſſion was open'd, immediate-
ly, as I remember, after it was read,
that my Lord of London was informd
againſ, for not Suſpending Dr. Sharp:
Which, though it exceedingly ſur-
priz'd me at firſt, yet obſerving with
what hear the Proſecution was liketo be
carryed on againſt him, that very Con.
fideration did the more indine me to
Sk and Act there, thac I might be in
fome Capacity of doing Right to his
Lordſhip. And whether I did him
any Service through the whole Proceſs
of his Cauſe, I leave it to my Lord
himſelf to judge. That I gave my
Poſitive Vote for his Acquittal, Both
the Times when his Suſpenſion came
in queſtion, I ſuppoſe I need not tell
the World. Lan
DED.D 101
ri Hav
Having
(9)
apt to
Having thus, in the beginning of
thac Court, and the higheſt Ferment
of it, freely diſcharg'd my Conſci-
ence, by Endeavouring to clear my
Lord of London, I muſt own, I thence-
forth upawares took a Reſolution,
which, how hurtful foever it may now
prove to my ſelf, yet I am ſtill
believe, did the Church of England no
Diſſervice in the Main. My De-
Lign, by continuing longer among
thein, was to make ſure of one Vore ar
leaft, and to do my Part, to the ul-
moſt of my ſmall Intereſt and Ability,
to leſſen the Blow which I fear'd was
coming on the Clergy, ſince it could
nor altogether be avoided.
And I was the more perſuaded to
take this Courſe, not only becauſe the
Legality or Illegality of the Commiſ-
fion feem'd at firſt rather a Moot-cale,
B
than
(10)
than a determin'd Point either way;
divers of the Principal Lawyers, as I
was told, being divided in their Opi-
nions concerning it ; but alſo becauſe
I ſaw, ſome other Perſons were
ready to fill my Chair there, as foon
as it ihould be emptys Men of whole
Principles and Practices I was fo well
aware, that I knew they would not
have the fame regard as my ſelf for the
Churches Preſervation. And perhaps
I might add this further for the Exte-
nuation of my Fault, That I was not
diſcouraged by ſome Grave and Wor-
thy Perſons, for this very purpoſe, to
kecp in ſome longer time. But I for
bear to name them, that I may not in-
volve any Good Man in my Infelicity.
However, upon thefe Motives I
Acted, and, in purſuance of this De-
tign, God knows, I Voted, as long as
I
(1)
I remained at the Board : Where all
my Opinions were fo contrary to the
Humour of the Court, that I often
thought my ſelf to be really in asmuch
Hazard from the Commillion it felf ,
by my not Complying, as any of my
Brethren could be, that were out of
it.
I Appeal to all that were acquainted
with the Tranſactions there, whether
ever I gave my Conſent to any Irre-
gular or Arbitrary Sentence ; whether
I did not conſtantly and firmly Declare
againſt every Extravagant Decree. I
could almott preſume to affirm, That
I was, as far as in me lay, ſome way
or other, a Common Sollicitor, or
Advocate for all that were unjuſtly
Profecuted before them. And I might
exemplifie this beyond all Contradi-
&tion, if I fhould enumerate every
par-
B 2
( 12 )
particular Cauſe, chat came under their
Cognizance. sender their
After my Lord of London was Sen-
tenced, his Lordſhip knows, I was al-
ways upon the Watch ta obftruct all
farther Proceedings againſt him. Nay,
his Lordſhip well remembers, I had
once obtained to have his Suſpenfion
taken off, if he would but have niade
an ordinary Submiſſion
..
Then I was Zealous for Exeter-
College, in their Defence againſt Father
Retre, in a Buſineſs of ſo great Im-
portance, that if the College had been
overcome in the Suit, that whole So-
ciety, muft foon have been abandoned
to Popery.
I did my utmoſt to oppoſe the Vio-
lenc Perſecution upon the whole Uni-
verſity of Cambridge ; when the Vice-
Chancellor was fulpended his Office,
and
( 13 )
:
and his Maſterſhip of Magdalen-College,
becauſe a Popiſh Prieſt, who was one
of the Miſfionaries to pervert the Scho
lars, was denied a. Degree in their
Convocation.
I faithfully Affifted and Served
Chriſt Church in Oxford , when they
were in danger of having new Statutes
Inpoſed upon them, which would In
fallibly have laid open that Royal Col.
lege, to the Ruine of their Good Learn
ing and Religion:
I abſolutely reſiſted all the Altera
tions in the Statutes of Sidney-College,
and all other Changes and Abrogati-
ons of Oaths, that were then made
or deſigned in the Statutes of either
Univerſity, for the advantage of Por
piſh Prieſts and Students, and for the
freer courſe of Mandamus's in thein
Favour.
I
( 14 )
I ever gave my Advice for all ſorts
of Buſineſs, to be return'd into the
common courſe of Juſtice; as that all
Ecclefiaftical Matters ſhould be retor.
red back to the ſeveral Biſhops from
whofe Dioceſes the Complaints were
brought ; and thảr all Informations
againit Colleges and Hoſpitals ſhould
be recommitted to their proper Vili..
..
fors.
I perfifted unmoveable in my Dir
ſent from every Vote that paſſed agamft
Magdalen-College in Oxford; from their
very firſt Citation before that Court,
to the cruel incapacitating of the Pre-
fident and Fellows.
I could mention 'many other Parti-
culars, wherein I fucceſsfully labour'd
to relieve divers of the inferior and
greater Clergy from Oppreſſion ; to
prevent ſome from being call'd before
1
us
( 15 )
us at all; to preſerve others after they
were accuſed by malicious Sycophangs
and Informers,that ſwarm'd then every
where : Some in the Caſe of Tythes ;
ſome for preſfing Churchwardens to
cake Legal (atlıs; ſome for not Read-
ing, ſome for Preaching againſt the
King's Declaration.
But there are Two Eminent Inſtan --
which I cannot omit. The one
That when the Biſhop of Lincoln was
Petition'd againſt by his Arch-Dea
con, and there was, at that time, In
clination enough in the Court to pur-
fue him to Extremity, yet my Lord
Biſhop of Peterburgh, by interceding
for him with the King, and I with
the Cominiffioners, to effectually
wronglit, that the Proſecution againſt
win was diſcountenanced and fell to :
die Ground
ces,
,
( 16 )
The other Inſtance concerns my Lord
of Canterbury; and I am confident his
Grace will readily give me this Teſti-
mony, That I ſerved him honeſtly and
induſtriouſly on fome Occaſions,where-
in he was like to be embroiled with the
Commiſſion ; which muſt inevitably
have ended in his Grace's Suſpenſion at
leaſt,fince he was reſolved whenever he
ſhould be brought before them, what-
ever the I retence had been to deny che
whole Power and Juriſdi&tion of the
Court. **
As for the laſt Scene tranſacted there,
which was in Order to Cenſure the
whole Clergy, for refuſing to Read the
Declaration : In that I hope I need ſay
nothing in my Defence, it being pub-
licly known to the whole Nation, how
I then demean'd
my ſelf ; how I broke
looſe from the Commiſsion in a time,
when
je
on the very
( 17 )
when I was convinced I could do the
Church no farther Service there,and when
the Popiſh Party was in the height of
their Power and Rage. Then it was that
I joyned my ſelf again to the Common In-
tereſt of the honeſt Clergy,juſt when they
were on the
Brink of Deſtruction,
before we ever dream'd of this Glorious
Deliverance.
This is certain, that my leaving and
defying the Commiſfion at that time, did
apparently exaſperate the Popith Priefts,
and the Ring-leaders of the Jeſuitical Fa-
&ion againſt me, to the higheſt Degree
imaginable. Nay, fome Worthy Menn
have made me almoſt fo vain as to fancy,
that my bidding the Commiſsion then
Farewel in fo public and peremptory a
Manner, was no inconſiderable Stroke to-
wards the Diffolution of the Commiſsion
it felf. It is evident, that immediately up-
on the receit of my Letter, wherein I re-
С
nounc'd
%
( 18 )
nounc'd them, they Adjourned in Con-
fulion for Six Months, and ſcarce ever
met afterwards.
Thus far I am ſure, my perpetual Be-
haviour therein,was ſo much all of a piece,
fo directly againſt the Vogue of the Court,
and the Counſels of Popery then prevail-
ing; and the Effects of it did fo viſibly
deſtroy my former Intereſt with the King,
that whereas it is manifeft, I was when
the Commiſsion began, in as fair a pro
bability as any Clergy-Man in England,
to receive great Effects of His Majeſties
Favour ; yet after my Oppoſing my Lord
Bishop of London's Suſpenſion, and my
other Votes Conformable to that, I fell by
Degrees under His fevere Diſpleaſure.
I might add moreover, that it is very
probable, I was at laſt in more imminent
Danger than any of my Brethren; I ſay,
my Lord, than any of my Brethren, the
Seven Petitioning Biſhops, and my Lord
of
( 19 )
16
of London only excepted ; whoſe Merits
and Sufferings in Aflerting our Laws and
Religion, were ſo conſpicuous, and by con-
fequence the Fury of the Papiſts againſt
them fo implacable, that perhaps it would
be Preſuniption in any other Clergy-
Man, much more in Me, to come in
Competition with Them for either of
thoſe Honours:
Upon the whole Matter therefore, tho?
as to the Legal Part of the Commiſsion,
which belongd to Lawyers to judge of,
I was miſtaken, for Acting in it at all :
Yet in the Conſcientious Part, which
properly concern'd me as a Divine, to Act
in it honeſtly and ſincerely, according to
the beſt of my Judgment, in that, if I
ſhall not be thought to deſerve Thanks,
yet I hope I may obtain Pardon from all
Men of Candor and lagenuity.
My Lord, I know your Lordſhip’s Ge-
neroſity and Tender Concern for your
Friends,
( 20 )
Friends, whereof I have had ſo much
Experience, will excuſe me for troubling
you with this my long Confeſsion and
Apology, for my ſhare in the Ecclefia-
ftical Commiſsion. I wholly ſubmit it
to your Lordſhip’s Prudence and Kind.
nels, to make what uſe of it you pleaſe
in my behalf. Only, this 1 will ſay,
That if I had as good a Cauſe for you to
Plead, as I have in your Lordſhip a Pa-
tron to Defend me, I ſhould not have
an Enemy in all England.
My LORD, I am
Your Lordſhip's moft Faithful,
Humble, and Obedient Servant
5.1688.
Tho. Roffen
.
N
S.