A History of the Nonjurors

by Thomas Lathbury

A

History of the Nonjurors:

THEIR CONTROVERSIES AND WRITINGS;

WITH REMARKS ON SOME OF THE RUBRICS

IN THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER.

 

BY

THOMAS LATHBURY, M.A.

AUTHOR OF "A HISTORY OF THE CONVOCATION", "A HISTORY
OF THE ENGLISH EPISCOPACY FROM 1640
TO 1662," ETC. ETC.

 

 

LONDON

WILLIAM PICKERING

1845

 

 

 

TO

THE MOST REVEREND FATHER IN GOD,

William, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury,

AND PRIMATE OF ALL ENGLAND,

UNDER WHOSE WISE AND GOOD GOVERNMENT,

THROUGH THE GOOD PROVIDENCE OF GOD,

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH

HAS BEEN SUSTAINED AMIDST DIFFICULTIES

UNEXAMPLED IN HER HISTORY IN RECENT TIMES,

 

THIS VOLUME

 

IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY

HIS GRACE’S MOST OBEDIENT

HUMBLE SERVANT

THE AUTHOR.

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS.

 

Page

  (not listed in original)

Preface

 

Chapter I. Introductory Remarks. Causes of the Schism. Proceedings of King James. Declaration of Indulgence. Conduct of Dissenters; of the Clergy. Conduct of the Clergy and Dissenters contrasted. The Prince of Orange. Invitation to the Prince. The Bishop of London. The Fabrication of Speke. The Prince undertakes the Administration. Views of Parties. The Convention. Discussions. Settlement of the Crown. The Question of a Regency considered. The Views and Conduct of the Prince of Orange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1

 

Chapter II. The Oath of Allegiance. Arguments respecting it. Death of Bishop Lake. His Confession. Death of Bishop Thomas. Various Views of the Oath. Kettlewell. Difficulties of the Case. Latitudinarian Principles of the Time. Sancroft's Commission. Form of Prayer for King William. A new Liturgy. The Bishops clear themselves. Plans suggested for preventing the Schism. Some comply after the Battle of the Boyne. Burnet's Influence. His Conduct examined. Sancroft. Trial of Lord Preston and Mr. Ashton. Charge against Bishop Turner. Prayers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

44

 

Chapter III. The Deprivations. Numbers. Sancroft's Retirement. Hickes's Protest. Dodwell's Letter to Tillotson. Beveridge and others refuse to accept the Vacant Sees. Kidder's Scruples. Stillingfleet's Letter. Forgery by Young and Blackhead. The Deprived Bishops separate from the Church. Sancroft delegates his Powers to Lloyd. Hickes and Wagstaffe consecrated. Death of Sancroft. His Character and Sufferings. The Nonjurors' Defence of their Proceedings. Some object to a Separation. The Difficulties of their Case. Severity of the Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

83

 

Chapter IV. Controversies. Collier. Controversy respecting the Oath. Sherlock. Some Compliers retract. Controversy respecting the Deprivations. Stillingfleet. Grascome. Williams. Sharpe. Hickes. Hill's Soloman and Abiathar. Answered by Grascome. The earlier Writings of some of the Compliers contrasted with their Productions subsequent to the Revolution. Bisby's Unity of Priesthood. Hody and the Baroccian MS. Dodwell. He engages in the Controversy with Hody. Kettlewell's Views of the Separation. Stillingfleet on the Oath of Allegiance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

112

 

Chapter V. Tillotson's Death. Hickes's Remarks on Burnet and Tillotson. Attacks on the Archbishop. On Burnet. Fund for the Relief of the Nonjuring Clergy. Proceedings of the Government. Circumstances of the deprived Bishops. The Absolution of Perkins and Friend by Collier, Cook, and Snatt. Works on the Subject. Sir John Fenwick. Death of Bishop White. The Succession to the Throne. Dodwell and Hody. Death of Bishop Turner. Death of King James. Oath of Abjuration. Death of King William . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

153

 

Chapter VI. Anne's Accession. State of Parties. Death of Kidder. Dodwell's Case in View. Controversy. Dodwell's Parsenesis. His further Prospect, &c. Its Arguments. Death of Bishop Frampton. Death of Bishop Lloyd. Applications to Ken. His Reply. Wishes the Schism closed. Dodweil, Nelson, and Brooksby, return to the National Church. Hickes's Views. Letters of Nelson and Brooksby. Dodwell's Case in Fact. Arguments. Dodwell's Death. Replies to Dodwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

188

 

Chapter VII. Separation continued. Death of Ken. Wagstaffe's Death. New Consecrations. Controversies. Higden. Bedford. Sacheverel. Death of Queen Anne and Accession of George I. The Whigs. Death of Nelson and others. Death of Compton. Lockhart's Memoirs. Death and Character of Hickes. Bonwicke. Brett joins the Nonjurors. Is consecrated a Bishop. The Rebellion. Sufferings of the Nonjurors. Welton's Conduct. Question how far the Nonjurors implicated. Writings. Bennet's Nonjurors' Separation. Hoadley's Preservative. Hickes's Catholic Church. Marshall's Defence. Earbury. Internal Disputes on the Usages. New Communion Office. Collier's Works in Defence of the Usages. Spinkes's Works in Opposition. Leslie's Views. Brett's Works. Collier's Desertion Discussed. Separation of Nonjurors into two Communions. Various Works. Campbell's Middle State. Sclater and King. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

223

 

Chapter VIII. Case of Mr. Hendley. His Trial. Conduct of the Judge. The Sufferings of the Clergy. The Nonjurors' Correspondence with the Greek Church in the East. The contemplated Union. Its Failure. Arsenius Archbishop of Thebais. Charge of Popery refuted by this Correspondence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

304

 

Chapter IX. The Nonjurors divided into two Communions. Both ordain Bishops. Death of Collier; of Spinkes; of Leslie; of Lawrence Howell. The Succession continued. The Divisions on Usages cease. Communion Office generally adopted. Blackburn and Law. Orme. Jenkin. Death of Gandy; of Samuel Parker. Account of Hearne. Harte. Controversies. Waterland and Smith. Nonjurors again divided. Lawrence a Bishop of the Separatists. His Works on Lay-Baptism. Death of Brett; of Baker. The Rebellion, 1745. Sufferings of the Nonjurors. Deacon. His Works. Blackburn's Death. George Smith's Death. Lindsay. His Works. Controversies. William Law. Carte, the Historian. The Pretender. Question respecting his Religious Views. His Death. Gordon, the last Bishop of the regular Body. The Line ceases. Bishops of the Separatists' Line. Extinction of this Line, and of the Party in England. Services rendered by the Nonjurors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

362

 

Chapter X. Scottish Bishops in 1688. Bishop Rose and King William. Causes of the Abolition of Episcopacy. The Convention. Oath of Allegiance. Sufferings of the Clergy from the Rabble: from the Presbyterians. The Assurance. State of the Episcopal Clergy who complied. Conduct of the Presbyterians. Queen Anne's Accession. Condition of the Clergy bettered. Attempt at a Toleration. Grame's Case. Union. Greenshields's Case. Hostility to the Liturgy. A Toleration. Introduction of Liturgy. Rebellion in 1715. Severe Laws against the Clergy. The Appeal of the Clergy. Divisions on the Usages. Discussions. Relaxation of Penal Laws. Rebellion of 1745. Severe Measures. George III. Communion Office. Condition of Clergy improved. Consecration of Bishop Seabury. Bishops and Clergy comply in 1788 on the Death of Charles Edward. Penal Laws Repealed. Opposition to Communion Office from English Clergymen. Its unreasonable Character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

412

 

Chapter XI. Offices of Nonjurors. Communion Office. Deacon's Collection. Its Departures from the Book of Common Prayer. Differences between the Separatists and the Regular Body. Reflections. Neglect of certain Rubrics traced to the Latitudinarian Spirit at the Revolution, and to the Practices of the Nonjurors. The Rubrics Considered. Obedience in General. Lessons. Mutilations. Omissions. Neglected Rubrics. Surplice. Prayer for Church Militant. Offertory. Conduct of the Objectors to the Rubrics. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

492