Hickes drew up a Protest against his ejectment and affixed it to the Cathedral Church of Worcester, of which he was dean. It was addressed to the Sub-Dean and Prebendaries. Mr. Talbot had been appointed by the government: and against this appointment Hickes protested as illegal. He, therefore, after asserting his own claims, called upon the Sub-Dean to support him in the maintenance of his rights. The Instrument, which is preserved in the Life of Kettlewell, was dated the 2nd of May 1691.[1]
Before Tillotson's consecration, Dodwell endeavoured to dissuade him from accepting the Archbishopric. For this purpose, he addressed him in a letter, in which he beseeches him not to be the aggressor in the new schism, "in erecting another altar against the hitherto acknowledged altar of your deprived Fathers and brethren. If their places be not vacant, the new consecrations must, by the nature of the spiritual monarchy, be null, and invalid, and schismatical."[2] It appears, that some reluctance to succeed Sancroft was manifested by Tillotson, which Dodwell endeavoured to strengthen. It is, however, probable, that his Erastian notions of ecclesiastical matters led him to think, that he was serving the Church by accepting the dignity, and that Sancroft was justly deprived for refusing the Oath.
Beveridge was nominated to the see of Bath and Wells: but this eminent man, though he had taken
- ↑ Kettlewell. Appendix. A pamphlet was published on the subject, under the following title: "Passive Obedience in Actual Resistance: or Remarks upon a Paper fixed up in the Cathedral Church of Worcester, by Dr. Hickes, with Reflections on the present behaviour of the rest of the family." It is scurrilous and abusive; and, therefore, entitled to no consideration.
- ↑ Birch, 268, 269.
