of France, from coming upon us, and prevailing over us: the persecution of our Protestant brethren there being fresh in our memories."[1]
The Bishops were now freed from the charge of being concerned in the New Liturgy, for no one was rash enough to impute it to them after their solemn denial.
After the Archbishop's suspension, Tillotson, in conjunction with the Chapter of Canterbury, was appointed to exercise Archiepiscopal jurisdiction. So strange was this proceeding considered, that even the Bishop of London had his doubts respecting its legality. On the other hand, Stillingfleet, who generally entertained latitudinarian notions on such subjects, contended that it was perfectly legal. His arguments were submitted at length in a letter to the Bishop of London, who probably was not unwilling to be convinced.[2]
- ↑ Kettlewell, 105—08. D'Oyley, i. 452—56. Ralph, ii. 231. So great was the enmity of some persons towards the suspended Bishops, that they resorted to the grossest abuse. In a Pamphlet entitled "A Midnight Touch at an unlicensed Pamphlet, called &c." we met with the following passages: "We do justly term and esteem him who abdicated the throne, no other than the late king: yet we find in the paper this day published, five Clergymen, in defiance of an Act of Parliament, calling themselves, W. Cant, W. Norwich, F. Ely, T. Bath and Wells, T. Peterborough." The writer says they ought to have subscribed their names only with the addition "Late Bishops, if they pleased." Then we read: "It is certain that there is a third plot, as that there is a new Liturgy: and that there is a Lambeth Club, the paper now published confesses: but whether holy or not, I know not; and for ought I know the inserting that epithet, holy, both to theirs and the Jacobite or Devil Tavern Club, may be a good reason for saying it is abusive." The scurrilous writer ventures to charge the Bishops with having persecuted English Protestants, and with wishing for the power to do so again.
- ↑ Birch, 154, 155. Stillingfleet's Misc. Discourses, 234—42.
