the author of "Vitæ Quorundam eruditissimorum et illustrium Virorum. 4to. 1707." This is a useful work, containing the lives of several men of great eminence in the Church.[1] He suffered much for his principles, and died in great poverty.
Not long before the close of Queen Anne's reign died Henry Compton, Bishop of London, who, perhaps, next to Burnet and Tillotson, was more obnoxious to the Nonjurors than any other prelate. His solemn denial, that he had not concurred in the invitation to the Prince of Orange, is a stain upon his memory, a blot upon his integrity. But notwithstanding his conduct at the Revolution, he was not advanced in the Church, though the see of Canterbury was twice vacant during his life. He was Bishop of London before the Revolution, and he continued Bishop of London till his death. A glowing character was given of him by his chaplain in a sermon before the Lord Mayor at St. Paul's. The author says, that at the Revolution "he was called peculiarly The Protestant Bishop." He adds, what will scarcely be admitted now, "and indeed he was the ornament and security of the Protestant Cause." This writer talks of jealousies against him and insinuations, which prevented his advancement.[2]
- ↑ Biog. Brit. Art. Smith. Nichols, i. 15, 16. In these works a list of his various publications is given. Hearne, writing to Dodwell, says, "this great man died a true confessor of this distressed and afflicted Church, and the public has received a great loss by his fall." Aubrey's Letters, i. 203.
- ↑ A Sermon preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and Aldermen at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, July 26th 1713, on occasion of the much lamented death of the Right Hon. and Right Rev. Henry late Lord Bishop of London. By Thomas Gooch, D. D. lately one of his Lordship's domestic chaplains, 8vo. London, 1713.
