Page:VCH London 1.djvu/435

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY thought he would escape with a fine."^ He appeared before the com- missioners in August,"*^ and pleaded the illegality of the court and his inability to suspend except by a judicial act. The hearing was very super- ficial, and on 6 September sentence of suspension during the king's pleasure was passed without more ado, the diocese being put into commission under the Bishops of Rochester, Peterborough, and Durham. ^^'^ Even in the court indignation was expressed,'^* while with the Londoners Compton became the hero of the hour,"' and a war of pamphlets followed his sentence. His wishes were now more eagerly obeyed by the body of his clergy than they had been before his suspension,"^ and so great was the feeling aroused that even Bishop Sprat of Rochester opposed James in his attempt to coerce the lord mayor's chaplain."^ The difficulties at Cambridge and at Oxford prevented the Ecclesiastical Commission from taking much further action in London, though it is said that several ministers were silenced."^ James next granted dispensations to the City companies, relieving their members from the oaths and test, and so bringing in many Nonconformists,"^ with whom also he filled the vacancies caused by his removal of six aldermen. ^"° He succeeded so well that most of the livery companies sent him addresses of thanks ^^^ when he issued his first Declaration of Indulgence in April 1687.'"^ Next year he issued a second declaration, which was ordered to be read on 20 May 1688 in all churches in London and West- minster, and within a radius of 10 miles.^"^ Bancroft and the most influential London clergy determined on opposition, and were strengthened in their action by the knowledge that the country clergy would follow those of London. ^^* During the suspension of Bishop Compton, Dr. Turner, Bishop of Ely, twice gathered his friends, including Thomas Sherlock, master of the Temple, Simon Patrick, vicar of St. Paul's Covent Garden, and Dr. Tenison, vicar of St. Martin's in the Fields, at Ely House to discuss the position.'"' On I 3 May twenty London clergy met, and Patrick and Tenison and others were commissioned to interview all the beneficed clergy in the City,'^° reporting at the next meeting that nearly seventy had promised not to read the Declaration, and though their attitude was already known at Lambeth,'" a list of the names was transmitted to Sancroft. A final consultation was held on Thursday the 17th, and on Friday, observed by the clergy as a day of fasting and prayer, the Seven Bishops presented their petition, which was also signed by Sherlock, Tenison, Grove, rector of St. Andrew Undershaft, Tillotson, prebendary of St. Paul's, Patrick, and Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Paul's.'-* The petition was printed and circulated within a few hours of its presentation, and on Sunday 20 May curiosity sent crowds to church. The Declaration was read by only four City clergymen ; '*^ the most important '" ElHs Corresp. i, no. 55. "' j1 Tint Narrative of all the Proceedings against the Lord Bishop oj Land. (B.M. Pressmark, 694, m, 4, no. 4) ; Jn Exact Account, Sec. "' Kennett, op. cit. iii, 460. "* MSS. of Earl of Verulam (Hist. MSS. Com.), 90. '" Ellis Corresp. i, no. I. '" Burnet, Hist, of my own Time (ed. 1823), iii, 105. '" The Bishop of Rochester's Second Letter to the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex, 1 3 ; Sharpe, Lond. and the Kingdom, ii, 519-25. '" Evelyn, Diary, 25 June 1686. '" Sharpe, loc. cit. "" Ellis Corrisp. i, no. 122. '" Sharpe, loc. cit. '" Evelyn, Diary, 10 Apr. 1687. "' Ibid. 18 M,iy 1688. '** Kettlewcll, Co/n//<'<7/ /rc/i/, i, 90. "^ Patrick, ^a/o^'or. 131. "Mbid. 132. '" Hyde Corresp. ii, 172. "' Patrick, op. cit. 1 3 3-4 ; Collectanea Curiosa, i, 335. '" Hyde Corresp. ii, 173.