accepted thereof at the very first offer of the People Secondly The Exercise of the Kings Prerogative in dispensing with some Lawes on Extraordinary Emergencyes was thought a Burden Intollerable But it hath been no Crime since in the Subject to dispense with all They having got as they thinke what they have long Contended for the Supremacy in their own hands Thirdly The Introducing of Arbitrary Power was the Dread of most men now they are contented to enjoy nothing else Fourthly It was Judged unpardonable Tyranny in our Soveraigne to touch the meanest of his subjects in Point of Property but it is a laudable vertue in the Subject to usurp upon nay dispose of the Crowne Fiftly The English were Overwhelmed with Jealousies of introducing Popery promoting the Intrest of France And all the while have gone the direct way to bring the worst of their Feares on themselves by Driving the King Prince out of the Kingdome Sixtly In a word Sundry other Things which were deemed nnsufferable in a lawfull Prince of Gods Ordaining are now Practised without disgust by an Usurper King of the Peoples making Hee that is not yet perfectly Convinced of the Hypocrisy of these Pretences Procedings which I hope the most Eminent of our Clergy Nobility by this time are seemes to have neither Eyes to see Eares to heare nor Heart nor Head to consider Understand I shall conclude with A Memorable Saying of our Royall Martyr King Charles the 1. on his Observation of a like spirit of Delusion which in his dayes possessed the generality of the People of the same Kingdomes in Dethroning nay Murthering their Lawfull King one of the Best of Princes at his owne doores Soe easy is that Leger de main which serves to delude the Vulgar That the Almighty Wise God who in his just displeasure for our sins ingratitude to Himselfe his Vicegerent hath for the present made the Chutch Monarchy of England A Notable Monument of his Wrath would bring all High Low who have contributed to soe Heinous a Guilt in his due tyme to such a sight sense of their Crimes that they may give to the world an undeniable Demonstration of the Truth of their Repentance labouring with all their Might to redresse the Scandalls they have given by an unparalelled Apostacy from the Principles of our Church an abhorred Defection in point of Loyalty is the hearty humble Prayer of Ever Honour'd and Deare Sir Your Lordships most humble Servant Affectionate Brother DENIS GRANVILLE Rouen Aprill 24. 1689. POSTSCRIPT THat the Printing of this letter with the following Address Queres may not appear to your selfe as I fore-see they will to all Zealous Contrivers Supporters of the Usutpation in England an act of not only deplorable Folly but downe right Frenzy I humbly Crave your permission to insert a few lines by way of Postscript I am not ignorant but that this attempt may render me absolutely incapà ble of all the favour you have shew'd me since my Flight into France in your voluntary kind interposition to secure my Revenu that it must also expose me for a subject of Common Talk Censure thoughout the Nation But since an un blemis'd Loyalty is infinitely mote valuable than the Possessions of this world that I was persvaded that the Course which I did by Gods grace Steer was the most effectual way to secure that the very Reputation whereof I esteem far beyond the Rents I had at Durham Easington Sedgefeild nay moreover since that my past Life last Deportment in England had not been all of a piece if I had not done as I did You will not I trust condemn my Cariage however contrary to the Maxims Temper of the Reigning Generation as unworthy of your House Family What I have done I have perform'd thanks be to the Almighty in the Integrity of my Heart Innocency of my hands the sence Consideration here of the Issue of things exery day more more convincing me that I was in the Right doth afford unspeakable Comfort to my soule My Feeding of some Friends in my voyage from Scotland hither with Expectation of an Inter-view in Kent talk of a Passport the fitst of which I did not intend the last if I could get away without it I did not desire is a crime I do assure my selfe of Gods pardon for of those friends likewise whom I deluded disapointed when God shall be pleas'd to send us a happy meeting As for that more unpardonable sin where with some do reproach me whereof I cannot so well clear my selfe before the World but is the only one thanks be to God that the World can accuse me of I meâ—n my Ignorance Imbecility to fill my Coffers Pockets so ful as some more frugall crafty than my selfe have done in less time with a smaller Estate or Revenu I am like to do a sad Pennance for it here abroad in a Forreigne Kingdome And the Friends Relations I leave at home will not I hope add affliction to affliction if they will not help me with their Purses by loading me with their Censures especially considering two last Acts of mine to demonstrate the sincerity of my Repentance for it First that I did voluntarily diminish my Revenu very considerably by Rent-Charges to satisfy my own just Debts Secondly that I look'd on my long Neglect to practize Frugality as so great a sin that I did as voluntarily put my selfe into a kind of white sheet to atone fot the same by confessing it to God the world in a small Peice I printed in the year 85. This is my Comfort that no person in England is like to loose by me unless by his own proper Choice if one man doth so he must thank himselfe rather than blame me If I suffer Deprivation to his loss he must quarrell with God the King whose Commands have unavoidably oblig'd me to hold fast my Religion Loyalty And if the Sacrificing of both or either of them was in my Judgement too dear a purchace of my Revenu for my selfe no one could reasonably expect that I should undergo it for an other Hoping that these few Hints may give some satisfaction to all but the Malitious Authors of our present Misery I shall not enlarge this Postscript farther than to acknowledge with all thankfullness the kindness which you have shew'd me in procuring A Dispensation for mee notwithstanding I have contradicted your Example which I esteem thegreater Obligation at those friends hands who were instrumentall therein since they did it without my Privity or Motion BY the Publication of the following ADDRESS QUERES it may appear tha the Author is not affraid notwithstanding the Obloquy he did a while undergo in the yeat 88 for his dutifull compliance with the King to owne those notions of Loyalty which he did endeavour
such a hearty application and such plain Reproofs even in the very language of the letters became so necessary that hee could not in good Conscience have wav'd them And therefore he conceiv's that people have the lesse reason to be disturbed thereby Thirdly after the authour had made a considerable progress in printing the letters and other discourses he was forced to undertake a hazardous Journey into England Feb. 1689 whereby hee got a small suply of money to subsist a while abroad without defiling himselfe with any Oath of fidelity to the Prince of Orange tho with much trouble and Danger occasion'd him by an impertinent and malitious Postmaster who discover'd him in Canterbury Which voyage made it absolutely necessary to lay aside till his returne his designe of publishing the papers he had penn'd at his first Coming over unless he would willfully and unavoidably have run his neck into a halter Which all know was the Fate lately of a right honest and loyall man. THIRDLY all sorts of Readers may hereby be informed that these papers are at this time the more hastily published without polishing because the authour hath had this summer after a long intervall some returne of those infirmities that he brought out of England which being seasonable memento's of the mortality of his condition and uncertainty of his life have caused him without any more ado or longer delay thus plainly and honestly to deliver his soule the comfort of which doth to him abundantly ballance the uneasiness of any obloquy which may accrew from the provoked friends of the new government in England where he desires to appeare no more unless it please God to restore his Soveraign as all may be perswaded easily to beleive by his present manner of proceeding Fourthly All those who shall blame the Dean's undertaking may in a word satisfy themselves that hee had never thus exposed himselfe to their censure if hee had beleived that a a Dignified Divine in his circumstances being the onely one here abroad out of the Reach of England and whose Conscience would not permit him to swallow any new dispensatory oathes or distinctions could without the just censure of all right Church of England-men and loyall subjects to King James 2. have remained silent Since hee hath not now those prudentiall considerations that others have to stop his mouth or stay his pen His own person being secure his Revenue lost Whereas honest Divines men in England where hee hopes there be many that never bovved the knee to Baal tho hee be ignorant who they are cannot attempt what hee does without the hazard of their lives or ruine of their familyes And therefore concludes that a weak and bad performance as this of so good spirituall a designe the more incumbent on him would be better than none at all and be gratiously accepted through JESUS-CHRIST by that ALMIGHTY GOD who can make the poorest enterprises in his name successefull to accomplish his will. Fiftly lastly the Dean's innate indignation to many former late preposterous unaccountable procedures in the Subjects of England to wit First the Non-conformity or rather Semi-conformity of the Clergy who did with zeale more than enough sometimes too bitterly inveigh against nonconformists which ingendred that Brood which are the authours of our Misery Secondly their Forvvardness to dispense throughout the Nation with the Church-Discipline as they pleas'd where when there appear'd no necessity nay with the very Rubricks of the Liturgy whereto they had all since the late review given a solemne Assent Consent sadly presaging that in time of distress they would as they have done dispense with the very Doctrine tho they would not allow his Majesty in extraordinary cases à less dispensing Power Thirdly the Pragmaticallness of most Common-Lavvyeâ—s whose duty and intrest it was as well as of the Ecclesiasticks to joyne in the support of the crown of their Soveraign the Fountaine whence all their Law did proceed in endeavouring industriously by all manner of quirks to diminish the King's Prerogative Authority even coining wicked distinctions taking up obsolete lawes to dethrone him when there were enough of such which they would not willingly have reviv'd against the People or themselves nay flying to the Reign of an Usurper for Acts of Paâ—iament to justify and colour over their fullsome proceedings as if a Dispensing power in the People was like to be found more tollerable than in the King or that such a kind of supremacy as the multitude contended for and which must be either in Prince or subject is less liable to Tyranny and other abuses when it is in the subject than in the Soveraign These and the like perversions of Law and Religion did cause the authour professeth is desirous to proclaime so much disgust in his Soule as hurried him over all the difficulties and dangers that he met with in his way to this publication in such a degree that the consideration of his book 's reflecting on the new Government which was designed to edify the people within his own province hath push'd him on instead of deterring him to send it forth into the light committing it and his reputation to the mercy of a Gratious God amidst a crooked and perverse Generation which hee is willing may learne thus much by his boldness or fool-hardiness as it will be possibly termed to wit that God hath given him among a multitude of infirmities the Grace not to be afraid or ashamed to do his duty or discharge his offices faithfully who ever may be rebuked by the doing thereof and that hee is sure hee had done neither if hee had not as hee hath done deliver'd his soule without mincing in such plaine and intelligible language at such a juncture as to allot every thing its right epithet appellation giving the very names of REBELLION USURPATION to what hee was perswaded in his conscience deserv'd such denominations and that are so even REBELLION USURPATION if ever there were such things in the World. Yea such a REBELLION USURPATION that no good Christian can hee is also satisfied in his Conscience joyne in the first or uphold the later and consequently that no body can receive the communion without injury to his soule in the use of those prayers which pray for the maintaining of both since hee that receives the blessed Supper of the Lord in the office of any Church sets his seale to all the corruptions that are crept into that Church and doth in a higher manner profane Gods sacred name by using that holy ordinance to so impious an end as to beg of God by vertue of his saviours body and blood the distruction of his lawfull Prince than hee that barely swears allegiance to an Usurper Which yet by the way who ever does let him understand doth in a manner Abjure his lawfull Soveraign Which is a Case of Conscience that the Authour will in Gods name now venture here publickly to decide as hee hath long since don to some in private and put his name to the decision what ever comes of it since no body else hath done so for the sake of those many thousands of soules under his authority in the Jurisdictons belonging to the Archdeacon Deane of Durham whereof none can deny but that hee hath a Call from God to take care And consequently to undertake this difficult province since no body else doâ—â— Who if they are not satisfied with his Judgement in this particular which as poor as they may esteeme it will yet hee trusts in reference hereto be found Orthodox ought to consult as it concernes them some abler Casuist without being scared as heretofore in some other cases with frightfull consequences administred by the Universality of the DEFECTION such like considerations to wit Empty Churches thin Altars For if it be a wholesom truth which is recomended by the Authour to their thoughts it cannot he is sure in the conclusion produce ill effects to be repented of And he begs pardon if he cannot prevaile with himselfe to judge the last recited effects to be ill as matters go things stand For hee makes no doubt but that the Churches in England must become Empty the Altars thin c. before his Soveraign is like to return to Whitehall Introduction Fidelis vox est non desperati non eiulautis Luther Plangiâ— affectus sed fides exultat id Natural Quest l. 2. c. 37. Cum crescerit Gratiae time â—uÌ„ abierit time eum revertetur time S. Bern. Lib. Cur bonis viris mala accidunt c. 4. Ps 66. v. 12. Applicaâ—ion A cessation granted in order to treat * Nâ— Dec. 11. 1688. * Gandelop Introduction D B. Dr. Hen. Hamond * The crovvn offer'd to the Prince of Orange on Ashvvensday * Cromvell declar'd Protector on Ashvvensday 16â—3 * Prince of Orange's Declaration * Preachers in the Cathedrall Church of Durham as vvel as elsevvhere began to Caution their hearers against implicite Obedience vvhereby they did at that time meane all Complianâ—s vvith K. I. Iames. 2. * Bishop Cosins * Bp. Gunning Bp. Cosins * Cornvval * Kilkhampton * The-Granvilles * Sedgefield * Note That the Dearn's injoyning here in some other places things vvhich vvere before expressly commanded by the Church vvas to declare that the judged them of such moment as that he vvould never dispense vvith the non performance of them in his ovvn Parishes hovvever others did too frèqnently elsvvhere * As people grevv more fond to hear Sermons than to amend their lives Homilies vvere morâ— frequent * This practice changed into a monthly Sacrament at the Combustions in the yeare 1679. * Mr. Ashton
in their Misfortunes and thereby to demonstrate that my poor distressed Mother in the greatest and most generall defection as this seemes to be that ever vvas among any King of Englands subjects vvill never vvant some to bear testimony to the truth of her Doctrine vvho according to the Exemple of Christ and his Apostles doth maintaine the practice of Allegiance and intire submission and subjection to all Lavvfull supreme povvers deputed by God as his Vice-Gerents to Governe the vvorld Hovv great a contradiction hereof soever the last years transactions in England have proved vvhich hath given the greatest vvound that vvas ever yet given to our Church the Doctrine of Non-resistance Remaines on such authentick Record in the Church of Englands Printed Homilies against Rebellion vvhich I have in some sort Epitomised in the conclusion of my discourse that your Majesty as vvell as the King vvil I hope bee pleased to continue your Charitie to our Ecclesiastick Constitution vvith liberty to its members to Exercise their Religion and thinke no vvorse of the Parent for the disobedience of the Children but render that Iustice to the Church of England vvhich is due to all Churches to vvit to bee Iudged by her Doctrine Discipline and Order vvhich I am sure never did carry a long vvith them any Rebellion and not by the practice or Conversation of its Members VVhereby if the vvhole Christian Church vvas to bee Iudged it vvould in many things appeare more vile then some parts of the vvorld overrun vvith Turcisme and Paganisme Offerring to God my most fervent devotions for the preservation and Restoration of the King the Life and Happinesse of the Prince and out of Gratitude to Heaven in a most particular manner for your Majesty vvho have been Instrumentall to the Greatest blessing vvhich hath been these many yeares conferred on the Kingdom in bearing and bringing forth an Heir male for the support of the Monarchy I do vvith all humility implore yours together vvith his Majesties Patronage as vvell as beg Pardon for this Presumption and vvith the most profound respect imaginable subscribe my selfe YOUR MAJESTIES MOST DUTIFULL EVER FAITHFUL SERVANT SUBIECT DENIS GRANVILLE A DISCOURSE CONCERNINC CHRISTIAN RESIGNATION AND RESOLUTION WITH SOME LOYALL REFLECTIONS ON THE DUTCH INVASION Preached in the Cathedrall Church of Durham on the 1. Wensday in Advent the sunday follovving being the 5. 9. of December 1688. By DENIS GRANVILLE D. D. Deane Archdeacon of Durham novv in Exile Chaplaine in Ordinary to his Majestie TWO SERMONS CONCERNING CHRISTIAN RESOLUTION And Humble Submission to the VVill of God in Tymes of Distresse on the Holy Patriarch Iacobs Farevvell VVords to his sons at Parting IF I BE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN I AM BEREAVED Gen. ch 43. v. 14. FOR the better Understanding of the Story it Will be requisire to reade the precedent Words from the 11. verse to the text v. 11. If it must be so novv do this take of the best fruites of the Land in your Vessels and carry dovvn the man a Present a little balme a little honey spices mirrhe nuts almonds v. 12. And take double money in your hands and the money vvhich vvas brought againe in the mouth of your sacks carry it againe in your hand peradventure it vvas an Oversight v. 13. Take also your Brother and arise go againe unto the man. v. 14. And God Almicghty give you Mercy before the Man that hee may send avvay your other Brother Benjamin IF I BE BEREAVED OF MY CHILDREN I AM BEREAVED THe Approaching Holy Feast of CHRISTS NATIVITY or Coming in the Flesh doth Every yeare require a Solemne preparatory time of Devotion And that it may not want such due respect the Church takes care in its preceding Exercises Every Sunday service during ADVENT hath an Eye to that pious End purpose In pursuance whereof wee have in this Cathedrall revived an Antient Religious Custome Two dayes of every week throughout this season to wit wednesdays fridays are Sermon Dayes dedicated to Prayer Fasting to accompany those Exercises of Repentance which are allwayes thought a necessary part of out Preparation But Gods Impending Iudgements for our sins which at this time threaten Bloud Confusion do summon us to add to those exercises and by some voluntary impositions of Dayly Devotion Mortification to turne this Advent in to A little Lent giving up our selves wholy to the Exercise of Piety Prayer beseeching God that hee will not Enter into Iudgement vvith us and for our provocations give us up as a Prey unto our Enimies making us a scorne derision to them that are round about us It is lawfull nay Religious by Devout Prayer to Use Violence to the Kingdom of Heaven and if wee did in this our Distresse betake our selves to so sure a Refuge making use of the Holy Weapons of the Antient Christians PRAYERS TEARES crowding up to the horns of the Altar rendring all our Devotions more prevalent by the vveekly Reception of the Lords Supper wee that meet in Gods House if we came with that spirit Which wee ought might do our King and Country better service than those who fight for him in the Field What hath been said I premise in regard to the present Season of ADVENT and the Ensuing Feastivall of CHRISTMAS by reason my text doth not respect Either of them so particularly as the Storme Danger Which is imminent doth loudly call for the Holy Resolution asvvell as submission of Pious Jacob. And having so done I shall before I enter on the Words Move you to Pray according to the Canonicall Exhortation of the Church Yee shall pray for the Holy Catholieck Church of Christ that is for the vvhole Congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the VVorld more espetially for the Churches of Great Britaine Ireland And here in I am to require you more particularly to pray for our Dread Soudraigne Lord Iames by the Grace of God King of England c. Yee shall likevvise pray for our Gratious Queen Mary Katherine the Queen dovvager his Royall Higness the Prince of VVales c. Concluding your Devotions allwayes with the Lords Prayer Our Father c. THe PATRIARCHS were now returned from their first journey Sermon I into Egypt and as they little thought from full-filling their Brother Iosephs dreame They had Bovved to him whom they thought they had Robbed of all Honour and been Fed by him whom they once conspired to Starve So inviolable is Gods purpose in things to man impossible OLD JACOB here at first with greatest Joy wellcomes home his weary sons but excesse of gladnesse is commonly attended on with Greife the end of Ioy is Mourning Whiles hee is yet congratulating their good successe in their Journey the sad newes of Simeons Imprisonment silenceth his mirth Which Greife too is attended on by a greater the necessity of his Deare Benjamins going into Egypt Crosses in
Rebellious Age. Indeed I am so farre from being ashamed that I am tempted to a little kind of Pride to thinke I brought this some other like Points to discussion last summer the General Eviction whereof however they vere despised Opposed would have stopt Multitudes from running with full Career to put their Necks by the Expulsion of their owne undoubted Gratious Soveraigne under the Yoke of Afforreign Power And it may not bee Alltogether unworthy of their Thoughts who were so angry with them made so much Noise about them whether their Anger did not proceed from the serviceablenesse of my Doctrine to the Kings Interest which they were about to destroy those propositious which I asserted striking at the very Root of the Controversy betwixt the King Subjects of England that is whether the supremacy should bee in the King or in the People A Galled Horse Pardon the similitude shewes where he is sore by his unwillingness to bee handled And the Serpent directs where a man should strike by defending his Head. But how greatly soever I was hereby Exposed to censure made the Talke scoff of some Divines others over their Cups of Coffee upon the Interception of a letter to my Ever honored Freind ***** and other treacherous publication of some Queries which were canvassed up and down about a yeare agoe under the name of the Dean sometimes falsely under the name of the Bishop of Durham I am very well pleased and greatly comforted thad I had then somuch honesty courage as notwith standing great Opposition Powerful Examples perswasions to the contrary to assert the Prerogative of my King to make an Attempt towards the Conviction of Others committed to my Charge Which were the Only persons for whom those Queries were first designed being certain propositions of the verity of which I made no doubt containing the Reasons of my forwad Compliance with his Majestie which I drew into Queries for the Private Consideration of some young Divines I had under my Roof requiring them effectually to answer them in writing with reasonnings which would Beare the Eye or to comply as I had done with the King. Which Honest loyall Queries tho Good sense I am sure when they were first stole out of my study at Durham being after passing through divers hands I know not how disguised and by some stiled the nonsensical Queries of the Deane of Durham I shall crave leave also to publish in the postcript of this letter giving you no more trouble till then about them or my own Justification But craving pardon for so long a Digression returne proceed in my intended narration of some farther transactions relating to his Majesties service mine own Escape out of England in order to repaire to him Notwithstanding then all that I had done recited in the beginning of this letter upon the first Allarum of the Prince of Oranges designe to invade England tho I had God bee thanked honestly discharged a Good Conscience in Opposing by my Words Actions to the uttermost of my Power the then Growing Rebellion as I had all along the Increase of that Temper which was at that time Burst out into A Dreadfull flame whereto I discerned my selfe too weake to make any farther Opposition many of my owne Brethren Deserting nay opposing mee I say notwithstanding all this I could not satisfy my selfe without sending away a faithfull servant to his Majestie Expresse vvith an account of that County together vvith A Duplicate of those papers before mentiond vvhich vvere intercepted letting the King understand that I despaired as things vvent and so did those fevv loyall frainds vvho Concurred vvith mee of doing his Majestie any further service in that Place Having done all that lay in my Povver in all my Capacities by my most vigorous Endeavours tovvatds the Support of the Crovvne the Church of England and seeing my selfe absolutely uncapable to Act further for his Majestie as I had done to discharge my Conscience there in soe Metamorphosed a Place I resolved after earnest prayer to God to direct mee to preserve my Innocency by fflight since I could not doe it by sitting still staying in Durham if I should escape the Jaole vvhich I had litle Reason to hope after an honest Loyall activity vvhich God had given mee the Grace to practice especially during the Yeare past therefore bethought my selfe of flying avvay secretly to the King to Ovvne his Cause vvhen I could not othervvise serve him Commending my Charge fflock both in Durham Elsvvhere in the Bishoprick to Gods Wise Gratious Protection signifying my mind by letter to my Deputies both in Durham the Country Hoping to Edifye them more by such Expression of my Loyalty Religion in adhering to my Soveraigne vvhen the Defection began to bee generall than I vvas like to doe by svch Sermons or Example as the nevv Authority vvould permitt mee to give them And accordingly on the 11. of Dec. at midnight by the helpe of tvvo faithfull servants vvhich I did dare trust I got my horses prepared and vvas conducted by one of them that night to Heâ—cam vvhere I procured an honest Guide to Carlisle the nearest of the Kings Garnisons the most Considerable Place as I conceived vvhich then held out for the King Hull being reduced the vveek before I had no sooner got to Carlisle vvhere I vvas very kindly received by Mr. Hovvard the Governour Coll Purcell Capt Hern others Officers there but the very day after being Saturday the Post brought in the Dismall Nevves of the defeat of some of his Majesties Troopes at Reading others deserting in such sort that hee vvas forced to vvithdravv out of the Kingdome together vvith some intimations to the Governour that it vvas to no purpose for him to hold out the Place but that hee being a Roman Catholick it vvould bee most prudent not displeasing to his Majesty for him toretire leave the Government to the old Governour tovvit Sr. Christopher Musgrave vvho came into the Tovvne on Saturday night Enter'd on the Government appearing in the Governours seat on Sunday the 15. in the Cathedrall This Direfull Catastrophe vvhich did both astonish and afflict mee to see our Soveraigne a Gratious Prince treated with somuch brutality betrayed by those hee thought his best freinds deserted by his Nearest Relations forbidden his ovvne Palace forced out of his Kingdome did Immediately vvithout much consideration incline mee to leave it allso to manâ—fest my Just Indignation against Rebellion treachery vvhich had then spread themselves allmost over the vvhole Nation And did resolve accordingly to hasten into France to share vvith my Soveraigne in his Misfortunes In order vvhereunto after I had visited the Bishop of Carlisle at Rose Castle craved his Benediction deposited vvith his Lordship some solemne assurances of Living Dying in the right Church of England Religion I departed from
to proceed in imitation of their Loyalty and according to their examples in all times of Warre Trouble heretofore to stick close to the Crown Not one of them that I could ever Read or heare of having been in the least manner dipt in Rebellion or sided with any Usurper Indeed their Fidelity to their Soueraigne for which your House God bee Praised hath been ever noted none Sir hath better copied out then your selfe whose Name is on that account already Recorded in our English Chronicle The Secrecy Successefulnesse of that Negotiation of yours in your Master the late Kings behalfe with General Monk will not easily bee forgotten among loyall men And I must confesse to all the world that that notable Example Pattern which you have set all your House by your services endeavours in the Worst of Tymes for King Charles the 2. hath had great force on mee been mighty prevalent in inspiring mee with some more than ordinary Resolution for his Royall Brother his lawfull successour and our vndoubted Soueraigne at my first Entrance on my Deanery which did oblige mee to Appeare Act in à more Pnblick Poste than before And doth still animate mee wherefore whatever measures you are pleased to take at present I hope Sir you will not blame mee in my present zeale endeavours Since which time I can say it without Boasting tho if I did Boast a litle this Conjuncture my Circustances would Beare it that I have never strayed in my affection from his Majestie nor failed in paying him all the Honour Duty Respect which I should have renderd to my deceased Master of ever Blessed Memory had the Naiion been longer blest with his Reigne But instead thereof I do not Blush to let all the world know that I have been somewhat more Officious and thought it Every ones Duty so to be in his Service than I had been in his Brothers in consideration of a Roman Catholick Kings Grace Goodness towards us of the Church of England in reference to the free exercise of our Religion Hee granting us the liberty of A Religion contrary to his ovn and making it his Care at his first Appearence in Councell to secure to his Protestant Subjects of the Ch. of England so unvaluable à Blessing neither of which if hee had done could wee have told how to helpe our selves or been absolved from our Obedience which my litle Divinity hath euer told mee I hope euer will is as due to à Roman Cath. Soueraigne as to a Protestant one The Consideration where of hath by the Blessing of God kept mee Vntainted Vnstained throughout the whole transactions of the last 5. yeares I meane from the 6. of Feb. 84. when his Majestie mounted the Throne to the 10. of Dec. 88. when the same Sacred Majestie was disgracefully Driven to the Everlasting Reproach of the English Nation from his own Palace of Whitehall No Feares or Iealousies of Religion Liberties or Lavves dîd ever tempt mee I Blesse God to any undue courses of Resistance Opposition or somuch as Unseemly Capitulation with Gods Vicegerent to preserve them Tho I love them all soe well Dearely that I can bee contented to dye for them in any Place or Manner vnlesse it bee with à sword in my hand lifted vp against my Prince And I dare Challenge not only my Censurers but all the World a state of Hostility will admit of such language to discover any One Act of mine whereby I have sided with or abetted their Enimies in any Endeavours to destroy or Weaken them that I have I say ever either in the capacity of a Private Minister or Publick Magistrate Ecclesiasticall or Civill in the West my first or North of England my last station ceased to practise and Exact a strict Conformity to the Rules of our Religion or to promote an Impartiall Execution of law as long as the lawes were in Force both against Recusant Dissenter Or that lastly I did ever Countenance such Omission of Duty in Others Clergy or layety under my Authority All Places wherein I have Resided will I make no question testifye for mee that I have been how weake unsuccessefull soever zealous diligent faithfull in these particulars And did never in any Revolution Put on the Vizard of A TRIMMER having had allwayes from my Cradle a certaine Antipathy against such Indifferency Hyppocrisy Neutrality as doe constitute that Amphibious Creature which by the assistance of Neighbours which it is hard to tell whether they live more vpon the land or in the water hath given a kind of Mortall Wound to the Church Monarehy of England By such Principles Practices I have God bee thanked demonstrated my selfe A legitimate son of my ever Honoured Deare Father Sir Bevill Granville whom I may I hope in à letter to à Brother bee permitted for my Consolation in so melancholyck a state of Affaires a litle to Glory in sinee his Valour Loyalty sealed at Lansdown with his Bloud is set aboue the spleen censure of the most Malitious Tongues Forasmuch as the University of Oxford one of the most famous Universityes in the VVorld hath vouchsafed to celebrate them whith an Epicedium of their choicest VVits A respect which hath not as the Ingenious Reprinter of the late Edition of those Poems doth in his dedicatory Epistle well note been vsually paid to any but the Royal Family And in the same Temper much heightned strengthend by the serious frequent pervsall of those Iugenious Verses which bring dayly to my consideration my loyall Fathers Example which I carry constantly about mee both to inspire conduct mee I hope by Gods Grace to Breathe out my soule without making any difference in Matter of Obedience betwixt à Papist a Protestant Prince A Christian or à Heathen I am without any scruple assured so is all the World that my Soueraigne King Iames the 2. is a lawfull King hath an undoubted Title which is all a good subject ought to enquire into If soe I am as much assured that noe Power vpon Earth can absolve mee from my sworne Obedience to him what ever wee are told to the contrary in certaine Enquiries into the Measures of Submission to Supreme Authority the Grounds vpon vvhich it may bee lavvfull or necessary as ◠the Title phraseth it for subjects to defend their Religion liberties lavves I wish the Doctor had been pleased to speake out plainly according to his thoughts and I am perswaded hee would haue sayd The Grounds vvhereon it is Lavvfull to Rebell But I shall give you noe more Trouble by way of Information concerning my selfe I shall rather crave liberty to convey to my Younger Relations since they are numerous by your favour and meanes is you please some wholesome Advice for their Edification to establish those who are not Tainted and to restore those who are with the false
in the same page all sins by all names that sins may bee named by all meanes that sins may bee committed do vvholly upon heaps follovv Rebellion pag. 361. Pestilence Famine VVar declared in scripture to be the greatest of VVordly Plagues Miseries yea all the Miseries vvhich these Plagues have in them do alltogethor follovv Rebellion the fore-quoted pag. Of all vvars Civil VVar wee are there minded is the vvorst But Rebellion far more abominable than any Civill VVar pag. 362. Moreover that Rebells are Commonly punished vvith Remarkable shamefull Deaths that they do very seldom repent the greatest of Punishments wee are assured by the very same Homily pag. 363. As also that Heaven is the Place of good obedient subjects as Hell the Prison Dungeon of Rebells against God their Prince Our Church in that very page terming every obedient Realme the Figure of Heaven a Rebellious one the similitude of Hell. I thinke I need not produce any more quotations or arguments out of this Repository of our Church to convince you that Rebellion is the most abhorred sin and that it can never prove a soveraigne salve whoever are the Authours or supporters of it for the King Church or Kingdome But that I may have a sufficient foundation for a pathetick disswasion from this sin it will bee requisite to informe you fully in right Church-of-England-Loyalty And it can bee no other that is taken word for word out of these her own authorized Sermons which will bee most effectually done by satisfying you in a particular manner what the Church of England esteemes to be Rebellion First to vvithstand or use any force or violence to Lavvfull Soveraigns the they be never so vvicked and do never so much abuse their Povver is Rebellious If you will not give mee credit I 'le tell you the very page where you may finde it Even in the Homily of Obedience Part. the second pag. the 66 the last Edit in the yeare 1676. Where you are also minded and I desire you to take good notice thereof that the Amalâ—kite vvho Killed King Saul tho it vvas done by Sauls ovvn consent comand 2 Kings 1 vvas put to Death Secondly wee are informed that not only open Rebellion or dovvn right Resistance of the Lords anointed but any kind of Insurrection or COMMOTION or Murmuring one of our moderne vertues is condemned as an intollerable VVickednesse in a vvell governed Kingdome p. 67 of the same Hom. Where you see by the way how much this Ages and that Ages Protestants differ in their Sentiments of Loyalty Thirdly in case of unlavvfull or sinfull Commands our Mother the Church of England amidst all the unjust Reproaches cast on her is so far from approving any Violent vvithstanding or Rebelling against lavvfull Rulers that it will not allow of any sort of sedition or Tumults either by Force of Armes or Othervvise against the King himselfe or any of his officers But layes before the Rebells Eye Gods remarkable Judgements on Corah Dathan Abiram and on others for provoking God in the like kinde and lesse provocations than most of us have been guilty of tho through the mercy of God a Gratious King wee have hitherto escapd unpunish'd The fore-mentiond Corah Dathan Abiram vvere svvallovved up alive for but Grudging against Gods Magistrates Others vvere utterly Consumed by a sudden Fire sent from God for their VVicked Murmuring Others vvere suddenly stricken vvith a foul leprosy for but frovvard behaviour not to mention some stung to death with strange fiery serpents and 14700 at one tyme killed vvith the Plague whereof you are minded in the Conclusion of the same Homily as you are in Other places of scripture of 24000 70000 also slaine by the same Judgement of God for the very same sin That very sin of Rebellion that truly Diabolick sin which many present pretenders to Loyalty nourish in their Bosomes who have invited the SWORD into the Land thereby Conjured up a Devill which God knowes when they will bee able to Conjure dovvn againe I shall say no more to rectify your Notions Concerning Loyalty Rebellion than that our mother the Church of England now sadly Wounded by her own Children who is Exceeding averse to this Hellish crime doth in these her orthodox Pious Composers the standard of our Sermons divinity Condemne it as disloyall Rebellious not only to depose destroy or oppose the King but to put him in feare to Terrify or disturb his sacred Person or Mind valuable as the scripture tells us above ten thousand of his subjects And hovv any of those vvho either ioine vvith his Enimies or sit still vvhen their Soveraigne needs their assistance or somuch as mutter against him can purge themselves from this last mentioned Guilt if the Contrivers and Mannagers of the Invasion have furnished them vvith distinctions to cleare themselves of the former I shal never bee able to comprehend or Understand Having novv by Gods assistance shevvn you the necessity of Christian submission Resolution Resignation to the VVill of God and the manner hovv vvee are to Exercise those necessary usefull Graces and also made some seasonable Reflections on Gods Iudgements at this time hanging over our Heads vvhich do lovvdy call for the Practise of the fore-said Duties vvithout vvhich t is impossible for us to be so truly Penitent as to appease Gods vvrath Laying also before you the Hainous Guilt odiousnesse of the sin of Rebellion and according to the Doctrine in the Words of the Church of England endeavoured to informe you vvhat the Church vvhich can better Judge than our Private Heads doth esteeme to bee Rebellion Rebellious to fortifie you against the Odd Notions Hodge-Podge-Divinity of such Divines as are more able to write the History of the Reformation than willing to Practise the Reformed Religion of the Church of England the Glory whereof is the Bearing Faith true Allegiance to their lawfull Soveraigne Give mee leave as well as I am able to dissvvade you from that abominable sin and all approaches tovvards it vvhich is so dreadfull in its consequences and destructive to Monarchy and Episcopacy being fostered as the Darling of Presbitery a Common vvealth and probably by none more than our Neighbouring One vvho Upholds her unnaturall Invasion by tempting Subjects to â—ight against their Lavvful Soveraigne BRETHREN I am not so old as to have forgot nor so young but that I do Well Remember the spetious holy Pretences of 41 vvhich vvere made use of to Ruine both Church State. Neither vvould I bee thought so stupid as not to feare suspect but that the same Traine of Designes Intrieguts and Mathinations may have the same dismallâ— effects The Generality of People vvere even then in the dayes of King Charles I. as much afraid of Popery as vvee are at present tho hee shevved himselfe to bee one of the most Pious men
and truest Protestant Princes on the Face of the vvhole Earth They then dreaded TYRANNY ARBITRARY POWER as they pretended tho they lived under a Meek Gratious Prince vvhose Clemency proved his Ruine They Loudly Exclaimed against EVILL COUNCELLOURS but vvere not satisfied till they vvere flesh'd vvith the Bloud of LAUD and STRAFFORD and had over-throwne under that populour colour disguise the most Considerable Pillars of Church and State. They complained of Greivances with no lesse noise in those dayes than Male-Contents in these and also Unmannerly press'd for Condescentions but when they had Extorted them from that Good Prince who was tender of his People even to Excesse they were not contented till hee had condescended his Royall Head to the Block and that by one fatall Blow three Kingdoms were involved in Bloud Confusion Gods-solemne VVorship Service turned quite of doores the Fathers and dignified Clergy of the Church aswell as the right-Loyall Nobility Gentry of the Land Vilely trampelled on by the Meanest of the Vulgar and at last the Crovvne Church-Revenue the Purchase cheifly armed at seiz'd on imployed to maintaine support FANATICISME USURPATION Why Rebellion Sedition or any rude Treatment of Majesty should novv portend better in 88 than it did 48 yeares ago I cannot discover And that Rebells Traytors sted into the Lovv-Countryes should bee purified by the Air Conversation of Holland I can as little Conceive No more can I conceit how the inticing and ensnaring away of the Kings subjects as at present to fight against their Liege Lord Soveraigne nay to deliver him up into the hands of his Enimies should be a specimen infallible Mark of kindnesse to the Church of-England-Protestant-Religion Which will not permit upon any pretences vvhatsoever to take up Arms against a Lavvful King nor assist aid or abet those vvho doe no not somuch as to vvish ill to the Lords Anointed in the very Bottome of our Hearts For the Love of God Brethren let us leave those fond immaginations discourses and practices vvhich have set the vvhole Land into a Combustion let us bee ashamed of those Vnreasonable Delusions Methods of Delivery vvhich bring those very Feares or vvorse Evills on us vvhich vvee endeavour to Avoid Such Infatuation is a sad Prognostication Quos perdere vult Iupiter hos dementat Wee have in this Iuncture I confesse just ground of Feare Ieasousy I vvho have hitherto Opposed Feares Iealousies do novv advise the preaching on those Topieks to vvitt That they vvho dare unjustly to invade us intend if they can pretend vvhat they please to Conquer us and in plaine termes in the conclusion to enslave us I dare not in such a Time of difficulty but declare clearely my Mind Conscience If the Trumpet novv should give an uncertaine Sound it might bee of lamentable consequence I never did yet I thanke God nor ever vvill play my Game so as if I intended only to save my Stake It is your infelicity Dear Beloved Brethren at this instant to have no Person in Circumstances Superiour to mee in the Country to give you right measures VVhich vvhen I have honestly and faithfully done as I have endeavoured this day if you vvill not take them the Guilt must lye at your ovvn doors I never yet vvas nor ever shall be I trust ashamed in the Pulpit to ovvn my duty to my Soveraigne And if I should be silent novv vvhen there is more need than ever for Preachers faithfully to Open their Mouthes to prevent the Seducing of VVell-Meaning People I should conclude myselfe accessary to the Rebellion The God of Heaven by his Holy Spirit the most Infallible Guide direct us all into the faithfull discharge of our respective duties to our Sovereign from which vve can never deviate I am sure vvithout deviating from the Church of England To God the Father c. FINIS THE CHEIFEST MATTERS CONTAINED IN SUNDRY DISCOURSES MADE TO THE CLERGY OF THE ARCHDEACONRY of DURHAM SINCE HIS MAJESTIES COMING TO THE CROVVN Summed up and seasonably brought againe to their vievv in a Loyall Farevvell-Visitation-Speech on the 15. of November last 88. being ten dayes after the Landing of the Prince of Orange By DENIS GRANVILLE D. D. Deane Archdeacon of Durham novv in Exile Chaplaine in Ordinary to his Majesty Printed at Roüen by WILLIAM MACHUEL ruë S. Lo neare the Palace for JOHN BAPTISTE BESONGNE ruë Escuyer at the Royall sun and are to be sold by AUGUSTIN BESONGNE in the Great Hall of the Palace at Paris In the yeare of our Lord God M. DC LXXXIX TO THE READER THE same necessity vvhich drove mee from my Home at the very time vvhich my Soveraigne vvas forced to vvithdravv from his ovvne Palace compells mee to send these as vvell as my other Papers to the Press to shevv the manner hovv I parted vvith my Freinds Flocks in the Bishoprick of Durham and that the last Discharge of my Archidiaconall Office in a Tyme of trouble vvas suitable to my past life Acttings during more than tvventy yeares in a time of Peace Hovv imperfect insufficient soever both have been I never vvanted through Gods Grace Resolution all a long to Oppose the Subjects in croaching on the Prerogative of their King as heartily as I have vvith-stood the Dutch their Invading of the Land. It vvill be no great ground of Admiration then to all vvho throughly knovv mee that at such a Iuncture I did dare speake plaine English to fortify my Brethren against Temptations and encourage them as I have done in their Duty to God the King. And I Blesse Gods most holy name that hee hath been pleased to bestovv on mee for the supply of my manifold Defects allvvayes Christian Confidence in the Pulpit vvho have not injoyed much of it any vvhere else By vvhat God gave mee boldness at that time to speak in the ears of a large Publick Auditory of Clergy Layity not rashly but vvith the most mature consideration that I utter'd any thing in my vvhole life they might perceive I did not intend to stay at Durham if my Soveraigne should bee Banish'd from his Kingdom As by committing the same discourse to the Press after more serious thoughts greater deliberation all men vvill bee easily Convinced that till my Soveraigne be restored vvhich I do heartily pray for I have no thoughts to returne Tho I found it very easy intelligible hovv to behave my selfe under a Roman Catholick Prince in the discharge of all Duties incumbent on mee as a Right Church-of-England-Subject or Christian yet must acknovvledge that I am void of Logick other Learning to supply mee vvith distinctions and furniture necessary to live under an Vsurper And therefore if the Reader discover the vvhole course of my life as vvell as my vvritings destitute of Craft to transforme my selfe into any shape and change vvith the Government let him not be astonish'd or
respects odious infamous had not the boldness to seize on the Crown nor the People of England at that time thô plunged over head ears in Rebellion the Timidity nor Stupidity to offer it to him who without all dispute might then with less sin with more prudence have put it on his Head it having for a while before been deposited and unimploy'd than some body since snatch'd it from the Head of his own Uncle nay Father This is Gentlemen the true real cause of my withdrawing And if You please to be mind full of the criticall time vvhen the manner hovv the cause vvherefore being also so just to your Dean as not to looke barely on his going away but consider it as circumstantiated and allowing me so much Charity who have alwayes exercis'd greater towards my Dependants as to beleive I did at least mean well then and do speak true at present I am willing to beare all other ccnsures you can load me with for this late hazardous undertaking which however it may be mis-understood in England over which as of late there seemes still to hang some notorious cloud mist which strangely obscures mens understanding and deem'd an act of Fear or Folly yet I am God be prais'd fully perswaded that it was the most honest the most couragious thc vvisest Act of my whose Life And do incessantly praise his name that he was pleas'd to endow me with his grace passing by many more capable to do him service at that very time and in such manner as I did to Beare vvittness to the Truth 1 For my Flock had I whose notion both of Religion Loyalty had caus'd me all a long to act at an other rate fail'd by a sordid truely mean compliance I had certainly done them irreparable wrong by thwarting my past Doctrine destroying the example of my whole Life 2. As for my Revenue thô I possess'd the best Deanery and possibly the best Archdeaconry one of the best Livings in England A Faithfull Christian ought not so highly to value them as to put them into the scales with his Conscience And besides I do not forget that I both receiv'd held my Deanery by the King's favour do resolve that without his favour I will never keep it These two particulars granted I leave all men to judge whether it was an unwise act of mine all things consider'd to withdraw vvhen in such manner as I did I do well assure my selfe that it will be esteem'd otherwise by all those that do not deny the truth of this undoubted maxime that Honesty is the best Policy And I do comfort my selfe that my poor exploded Notions of Honesty Religion Loyalty to my King obedience to the Precepts Rules of the Church will yet come in vogue before I leave the World tho I have too much reason to apprehend that unless the change of air preserve me I shall not be a long liv'd man however they be run down rejected in this intoxicated Age which hath in a manner captivated men's Senses as well as their Understandings I that am the Lord be thanked happily deliver'd for a while from the Foggs of my own Country which were sadly increas'd since it's late Alliance Communication with Holland do no more doubt than I cease to pray for the King 's glorious blessed Restauration That joyfull Day in spight of Men Devils will come as soon as the Church and Kingdome are by a profound Humiliation sincere Repentance prepared for so choice a blessing And when it doth come or is nigh approaching it will infallibly open men's eyes cause them clearly to discerne their past egregious folly facility in suffering themselves to be so soon overcome by such deplorable Delusion as not to distinguish betwixt the felicity of living under an undisputable lawfull gratious Prince of the most mercifull and eligible Race and Qualifications bearing the Yoke of an Usurper whose Crown must necessarily be maintain'd as it is gotten by the Sword. And whose Reigne tho it begins in nomine Domini is usher'd in by a shevv of Religion seeming love of Liberty Lavves soon becomes greivous his little finger felt much heavier than the Lawfull Predecessour's Loyns It will not be needfull to pretend to the Spirit of Prophecy for this Discovery the last eight or nine Month's experience doth powerfully evince the Truth of what I affirme There doth seem already to be eyes enough open if their hands were at Liberty and good swords in them in Scotland England too as well as Ireland to deliver those miserable Kingdomes from reall Tyranny Presbitery which are not like to be found much more tollerable for the late injustifiable as well as unintelligible method of Exclusion of Popery pretended Arbitrary Povver All those who were come to could exercise their Understandings from the year 41 to the year 60 cannot forget the unsufferable Slavery which the three Kingdomes underwent upon the unhappy Conjunction of those foremention'd unseparable Twins The horrid Rebellion of those dayes was less odious than the present one which is accompanied with the highest Aggravations less odious I say or at least less unnaturall than that under which the best Subjects Christians in England at present groan in sundry respects had not the former been deeply dyed in the blood of King Charles the Martyr And yet all the Religion great ostentation of Purity of the Gospell wherewith it was introduced at last after a floud of Loyall blood submitted to by an infatuated Generation ended at length in down right Enthusiasme which by breaking of Fences tearing up Foundations let in a Deluge of all kind of Prophaneness The Priviledges Properties as well as the Liberty of the Subject were got into the hands of such miserable Keepers as kept them all to themselves in such sort as scarce any Person You do well remember could be Master of them or meet with them but at Wallingford House In a word after inexpressible violence Injustice Cutting off sundry Pillars of Church State most those well fix'd Church of England-men Clergy or Layicks who had the valour to withstand the Usurpers of those dayes all matters at last run into Anarchy Confusion And the Babell which had been twenty years in building after a short tottering at the Death of their Cheif Upholder fell crush'd it's selfe with it's own weight and cover'd all their Antimonarchicall machinations with it's Ruines The serious sober review of all past Transactions from the begining of the long great Rebellion home to the Dutch Invasion to witt of the first stupendious wickedness of the Enimies of the King Church of England The wonderfull long suffering of a justly Incens'd God His unconceivable Goodness and Compassion at length in a reall delivery of the Nation our Church from not only the most Arbitrary
power which had been before exercised but from the utmost malice of all it 's worst Adversaries who were watching to devour her The wretched Requitall of God's mercy Love made to Heaven by the most Real I fear none can excuse themselves as well as pretended Friends of Crown Myter in repaying such unexpressible Bounty with Contempt and Ingratitude at last the most deplorable Folly Madness of the People of England in being catch'd by nay running into the very same Snares wherein they had been once before intangled by the Subtilty of the Devil almost to their utter Destruction The recalling to mind thorough Consideration I say of such the like passages should have made us methinks wise enough to have avoided in due season the same Trap which was again laid for us into which we are a second time fallén At least one would guesse or else we are become perfectly stupid insensible should awake every one to look to his After-Game for fear we may be remedilessly depriv'd of the remaining part of our Felicity which is bound up in the life of our distress'd Soveraigne his legitimate Issue by our gratious Queen-Consort who hath evidenced her selfe in these former innumerable Troubles of our afflicted thrice banisht Prince a notable Example of Submission Patience who ought to be for being made by God the happy Instrument of bringing us the Blessing of a hopefull Heir Male for ever Dear to the English Nation all faithfull Subjects to the Crown of England If such extraordinary Dealings of the God of Heaven varied to every man's capacity condition If neither God's speaking by a still voice nor in the VVhirlevvind neither by the Sunshine of mercyes nor the Thunder of his Judgements that dreadfull Clap whereinto the late black Clouds driven into England out of Holland broke very fatally to the unhinging of the whole Fabrick of our Government both in Church State will reclaime us make us sensible of our most real Interest Happyness in a most desireable wéll establisht Monarchy Episcopacy a gratious Prince according to the heart's wish of every right loyall son of the Church of England save that he doth not ptofess our Religion nor reduce us to that intire obedience submission to the King and Church which the wise dispensations of a loving long-suffering God seem above other things by many repeated Summonses loudly to call for there remains nothing but a Fearfull looking for of Iudgement I know no Salve for our sore nor can discover any thing which can mollify such stony hearts or mortify such corrupt natures that have lamentably defeated our heavenly Father in all his methods to do good unto us save us And I who have never been all that know me must confess a man of excessive fear jealousy as to the Publick must sink down into dispaire conclude that the people of England the other Day an object of envy to all the Nations round about us are signally mark'd out for God's displeasure will be made a standing Monument of his Wrath to all succeding Ages But I shall not detaine You longer with Reflections on the State of England It will be a Duty more incumbent on me to consider the Circumstances of Durham therein those of the Cathedrall Church my speciall more particular Charge wherein I have been by the Favour of my King rather than my own merit set to Preside And indeed I cannot thoroughly reflect on that Church Citty wherein I have by God's permission the Kings kindness had the honour for the last 27. years to be dignified without melting into Tears To consider that the Bishoprick Cathedrall Church of Durham which had so well approv'd themselves both to his late present Majesty usually exceeded others in expressions of Loyalty should now lye undistinguishable incorporated into the Mass of Rebellion which the wise just God is pleas'd to permit to oppress the whole Land peirces my very Soule It was one of the most painfull mortifications I ever met with the weeke before my Departure to discerne my selfe deserted by all the Citty-Clergy in my honest zeal for the righteous Cause of my Soveraigne In such sort as not to discover then on the place any one Ecclesiastick neither in the Cathedrall nor any Parochial Church or Chappell with in the Precincts of that Citty who had the courage at that juncture to own openly either in the Pulpit or in his Conversation his oppress'd Prince's Interest and Honour by shewing just Indignation against that Treasonable Attempt which was then insolently made against his Crowne Dignity in reading publickly with great formality the Rebellious paper mention'd in this former letters Tho every man who was not a mere Ideote must comprehend that that very Act countenanced was in effect the pulling up the sluce letting in a Stream of Rebellion to overflow the whole County This was I declare to me a mighty exercise of Patience did among other Pressures which possibly contributed much to my crazy condition last Winter heavily afflict me But when I look farther at this day regard the State Ecclesisiastick of the whole County discover but three of all my Brethren of the Clergy through the whole Bishoprick of Durham as I am made beleive by Report who have had either the Integrity or Courage to stand their Ground against a new unlawfull Oath of Allegiance to a Prince set up by the abhorr'd treachery unheard of Ingratitude of the People Subjects who have no authority in our anciently Hereditary Realm to dispose of the Crown I am above measure astonish'd overwhelmed with greif Which greif is unexpressibly augmented when I consider that the members of that Body or Community whereof I have the honour to be Head have incurr'd the same Guilt And those Eminent Persons which as Salt by their Examples ought to have seasoned the whole Diocess are rendred uncapable to reprove their Inferiours reprehend the sins of the Times Alas if Resistance of the higher powers be by some Moderne Divines Distinctions refin'd into a Vertue is Perjury no sin If the Sacred Authority of our Earthly God the stile in Sripture allow'd to a Lavvfull Soveraigne be fallen into such deplorable contempt among Subjects that there is little Regard given either to their Promises or Commands is the Majesty of the God of Heaven become so mean cheap that men nay Divines dare cancell the Obligation of an Oath And the calling God to witness the truth of what we promise become void of no effect as soon as our Interest tempt us to break it If so then farewell all Religion nay Conversation and Commerce among men If the Bonds of a Sacred Oath are not sufficient to hold men surely nothing can The Evills Mischiefs which must unavoidably attend a sin so universally committed through