Church of England might be conducted, the King again consulted the Jesuits, and refused the request. Dr. Granville, who had quitted the Deanery of Durham, was even obliged to leave St. Germains, in consequence of the insults to which he was subjected.[1] None of his Protestant followers were trusted. Colonel Cannan refusing to join the Church of Rome was reduced to a very small allowance. Being sick, he received the Sacrament of Dr. Granville, but some priests actually thrust a wafer down his throat after he became insensible, and published that he died a member of the Church of Rome.[2] It seems that the priests, and no doubt the King approved, endeavoured to bring over every Protestant to their own Church.[3]
The new government, as it appears to me, acted in some cases with unnecessary severity against those, who were suspected of favouring King James. Generally the Nonjurors remained quiet, though of course their affections were with the exiled monarch. There were, however, exceptions; but the evidence in some cases would not in our day be sufficient for conviction of a crime, to which the forfeiture of life is attached. Mr. Ashton's case was alluded to in the previous chapter: and it appears to me that Mr. Anderton, who was arraigned in June 1693, was convicted on evidence, which, in the present day, would not be deemed sufficient. He was indicted for printing two Pamphlets, entitled "Remarks upon the Present Confederacy and Late Revolution in England," and "A French Conquest neither desirable