matical Church, whose Bishops set themselves up in opposition to those orthodox fathers, who were unlawfully and invalidly deprived by the Prince of Orange: I declare that I renounce that communion, and that I die a dutiful and faithful member of the Nonjuring Church, which has kept itself free from rebellion and schism: and I desire the Clergy, and all members of the Revolution Church, to consider what bottom they stand upon, when their succession is grounded upon an unlawful and invalid deprivation of Catholic Bishops: the only foundation of which deprivation is a pretended Act of Parliament." He added: "the Revolution, instead of keeping out Popery, has let in Atheism." Mr. Hall, another sufferer, though not a clergyman, made a similar declaration. "I declare that I die a true and sincere member of the Church of England: but not of the Revolution schismatical Church, whose Bishops have so shamefully given up the rights of the Church, by submitting to the unlawful, invalid, lay-deprivations of the Prince of Orange. The community I die in, is that of the true Catholic Nonjuring Church of England."[1]
The case of Shephard, a youth only eighteen years of age, excited much attention, and led many persons to think, that unnecessary severity was exercised by the government. At almost any other period, the
- ↑ See A Collection of Dying Speeches of those People called Traytors, executed in this reign. From Colonel Henry Oxburgh to the late Mr. James Shepheard. To which is added, some of the Speeches left by the like sort of People executed in Former Times. By comparing which, it will appear that it has been the practice of most times for men to justify their own conduct on all occasions, even to the last. 8vo. 1718. Calamy's Life, vol. ii. 357, 358.
