The Bishop of Rochester's second letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's household

The Bishop of Rochester's second letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's household

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THE Bishop of Rochester's SECOND LETTER To the Right Honourable The Earl of Dorset and Middlesex, &c.

THE Bishop of Rochester's SECOND LETTER To the Right Honourable The Earl of Dorset and Middlesex, &c.

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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.

[Page]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, [Page] 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 [Page] 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, 'tis 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.

[Page]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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 'twas 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] it absolutely into their Power, 'tis 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 'tis Evident the Seven [Page] 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 'tis likely never any of the Episcopal Order had before, and 'tis 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.

[Page]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 [Page] 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 [Page]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.

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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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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.

[Page]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 'twas 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.

[Page]And after they were sent abroad, thô I did not, 'tis 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. [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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, [Page] 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. [Page] 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.

[Page]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.

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For his Grace the Ld 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.

[Page] 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.

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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; The Bishop of Bath and Wells. and (as one of my Brethren then told you) would have been [Page] 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 [Page] 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.

[Page] 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.

[Page] 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 [Page] and Ireland, with Men of Learning and Piety: And in particular, (which I must own to be my peculiar Boldness, for 'tis 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page]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.

[Page]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 [Page] 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.

[Page]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 [Page] 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: [Page] 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.

[Page]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 [Page] in his Expressions, it was at that time.

However, we still made good our humble Refusal, in as dutiful Terms as 'twas 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.

[Page]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 [...] [Page] 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 [Page] 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.

[Page]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 [Page] Church of England in general during that Reign; 'twere 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,

[Page]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.

[Page]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 [Page] 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?

[Page]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.

[Page]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. 'Twill 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 [Page] 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, 'twould 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 [Page] 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 'twas 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 [Page] down lower than they expected, before they could resist the Current, or get to Shore. Wherefore, considering all Circumstances, 'twas well so many mistook not the true Interest of the Nation. 'Twas 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?

[Page]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 [Page] 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.

[Page]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.

§

[Page]

[Page]

Imprimatur.

W. CANT.

March 27, 1689:

§

[Page]

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.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

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.

Edition statement

1689

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2003-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A61170

ID [STC]

Wing S5049

ID [STC]

ESTC R15013

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

11924052

ID [OCLC]

ocm 11924052

ID [VID]

50995

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A61170)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 50995)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 515:2)

Source

— 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..

Extent

[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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