Life of Thomas Ken. CHAPTER XVIL The Bishops are released from the Tre-Tie Tru HE ill-judged, and tyrannical meature gal aft, drawn up ved to be taken privileges CHAPTER XXIII.—1694 to 1699.—Ken's humane disposition— Circular letter of the deprived Bishops, recommending a Charitable Fund for the relief of the Non-juring Clergy- Character and Death of Kettlewell-Ken fummoned before Page his B Life of Thomas Ken. CHAPTER XVII. The Bishops are releafed from the Tower-Their Trial for a Seditious Libel, and Acquittal-The Joy of the People-The Bishops encourage their flocks to remain firm to the Church of England. HE ill-judged, and tyrannical measure of fending the Archbishop and Bishops to the Tower roufed the nation, almost as one man, to a fenfe of the danger which now threatened their common liberties: even the Diffenters perceived that the King's real object was the establishment of Popery. How indeed could they expect a permanent indulgence for themselves, when a humble petition from the Bishops, praying to be excufed from an illegal act, drawn up with such secrecy that no copy was allowed to be taken in any but the Archbishop's own writing, and delivered into the King's hand, in the royal closet at night, and on their knees, was denounced as the publication of a feditious libel? What fecurity could there be for others, if, in the perfons of thefe Prelates, the privileges of Peers, and the fanctity of the highest ecclefiaftical * order, were publicly violated? James expresses great bitterness towards the Diffenters for fo foon turning against him after the Declaration of Indulgence: he calls them "Vipers whom he had gather'd from the dunghill, where the lawes had lay'd them, and whom he had cherished in his bofome, till they ftung him. with reproaches, as falfe as they were vilanous and ungrateful." * The other measures of the King, though contrary to the laws, his appointment of a Roman Catholic Council, filling the army with Popish officers, annulling the Charters of corporate cities, establishing the Ecclefiaftical Commiffion, forcibly invading the rights of the Universities, his arbitrary and cruel measures in Ireland, all feemed of minor importance, compared with this laft act of violence against the Bishops,men of fo holy a character, who were now sustaining the part of patient, humble, loyal fufferers in the cause of truth. James and his advisers began seriously to apprehend the confequences of their precipitancy: even Jeffreys affected to deplore the present crifis, charging it on his master's determined will, and expreffing a hope that more moderate counfels would prevail. He fent an obliging meffage to the Bishops in the Tower. Sunderland disclaimed any fhare in the measure. judicial blindness had come over the King. At one moment he seemed willing to change his policy, at another to fear retracing one ftep;-urged onward by the Jefuits, he thought any thing was better than But a * His own Memoirs. Clarke's Life of James II., vol. ii. p. 170. to falter, and fo plunged deeper into the labyrinth, in which he had entangled himself. The Bishops remained a week in the Tower: during that time their friends, and counfel, were actively engaged in preparing for their defence. On the 15th June 15. of June they were brought by water to the Court of King's Bench at Westminster, to plead to a charge of high misdemeanor against the King's authority. The river on both fides was lined with spectators, greeting them with acclamations: and when they landed, the people, making a lane for them to pass through to the Palace Yard, begged their bleffing as before, and thought it a happiness to kifs their hands, or even their robes. The Nuncio, who was a witness of the scene, describes "the immenfe concourse of people who received them on the bank of the river;-the majority in their immediate neighbourhood were on their knees. The Archbishop laid his hands on the heads of fuch as he could reach, exhorting them to continue ftedfast in their faith: they cried aloud that all should kneel, while tears flowed from the eyes of many. Sir James Mackintosh's Hiftory of the Revolution, p. 262. Macaulay defcribes the events of this day in his own forcible and summary manner; "On Friday, the 15th June, the first day of Term, they were brought before the King's Bench. An immense throng awaited their coming. From the landing-place to the Court of Requests they passed through a lane of spectators who blessed and applauded them. Friends,' faid the prisoners, honour the King; and remember us in your prayers.' Thefe humble and pious expreffions moved the hearers, even to tears. When at length the proceffion had made it's way through the crowd into the prefence of the Judges, the Attorney General exhibited the Information which he had been commanded to prepare, and moved that the Defendants might be ordered to plead. The counfel on the other |