England."[1] The judge, and probably many other persons, were fearful lest it should appear, that the great mass of the people of England were well affected towards the Church. But what a picture of oppression is presented to our view in this letter. The Bishop of London is even complained of for an act of charity towards the Church.
It should be mentioned, that Mr. Wilson, the Incumbent of Chiselhurst, died within forty-eight hours after his return from the Sessions, at which the parties were bound over to appear at the Assizes: and his death was caused by the fatigue of that journey. This year, 1718, was, it has been said, "remarkable for the severity of the ministry, and the Parliament through them, in punishing the authors of obnoxious publications."[2] Mr. Hendley did not very long survive: so that no further proceedings were adopted in this extraordinary case.
The harsh proceedings of the government have been alluded to in the previous pages: but perhaps the period of Hendley's trial was the time of the greatest severity. Nothing could have been more severe than their conduct towards Matthews, a
- ↑ State Trials, Vol. x. App. 91.
- ↑ Noble, iii. 142. Mr. Hendley published the Sermon, which he had preached at Chiselhurst, on occasion of the collection, with the following title: "The Rich Man's Proper Barns, a Srmon preached at the Parish Church of Chiselhurst in the county of Kent; on Sunday, August 24, 1718. For the benefit of the Charity Children belonging to St. Ann's, within Aldersgate, London. By W. Hendley, Curate and Lecturer of St. Mary at Islington, and Chaplain to the Right Honourable Charles, Lord Fitzwalter. 8vo. London, 1720." He states, that he published it because the people generally "imagined it to be upon the account of what was contained in my Sermon, that the prosecution was at first begun, and afterwards carried on against me."
