Pope himself, who severally determined that the Church of England being established by the laws of the kingdom, he (though a Papist) was under no obligation of conscience to act against it, but obliged to maintain and defend it, as long as those laws are in force: that the late King James put their said determinations into the Doctor's hands: which he read and found to be to the effect aforesaid; that the said late King James also assured him, that he had on all occasions justified the Church of England since the Revolution. That the Doctor returned to London 4th of February, 1693, and was consecrated on the 24th."[1] Such is Lindsay's account of this remarkable circumstance.
The Archbishop died before these consecrations took place. On his retirement to Fresingfield he permitted Nonjurors only to perform divine service in his presence: and of course he did not attend the Parish Church.[2] He died the 24th of November, 1693.[3] When he perceived his end approaching, he expressed his satisfaction at the course which he had adopted, adding, that he should pursue the same were he called again to make his decision. On the 27th of November his body was deposited in the churchyard of Fresingfield, in a spot which had been selected by himself.
In his last moments, he prayed for King James, being unable to renounce his allegiance. "I pray God Almighty for the poor and suffering Church, which is almost destroyed by this new Revolution,
