of the royal unction, he was led to notice the extraordinary effects ascribed to it by certain writers: and that the obnoxious note was inserted in order to shew, that the supposed sanative virtue in the royal touch, was erroneously ascribed to the anointing. In consequence of this note, the History did not then meet with that approval which it so well merited. The Author died in the year 1754, at Caldecot House, near Abingdon, Berks.[1]
Among the last race of the Nonjurors there were many quiet and peaceable men, whose names are now forgotten. Of this character was the Rev. William Andrews, a native of Croscombe, in the county of Somerset. He was one of those conscientious men, who, though he had taken the Oath of Allegiance, could not take the Oath of Abjuration. When, therefore, the latter Oath was imposed, after the accession of the House of Hanover, being then in Deacon's orders, he on principle declined to proceed to the order of Priesthood, as well as to the degree of M.A. and subsequently, when preferment was offered him, he refused to accept it on the same ground. In the year 1744, having devoted himself, like so many of the Nonjurors, to the pursuit of literature, he published in two volumes a translation of Pascall's Provincial Letters; but so great was his modesty, that his initials only, W. A. are appended to the Preface. He resided, during many years, at Wedmore, in the county of Somerset, where he fitted up a study over the Church Porch, in which his books
- ↑ Nichols, ii. 471—506. It is to be regretted, that the government deemed it necessary to press the Abjuration Oath, since in all probability Law and Carte and others would not have been Nonjurors, but for that measure: while many who had stood out would probably have complied.
