History of the Reformation of the Church of England wrote by Gilbert Burnet, D.D.,’ which unquestionably exposes a number of considerable mistakes, brought forth a bitter rejoinder in the same year from Burnet (concerned chiefly with faults of copyists, for which Wharton was not responsible), and probably prevented any further favour from Burnet's royal friends. Considerable extracts from it are reprinted in Pocock's edition of Burnet's ‘History’ (see pref. vol. vii. pp. 157 sqq.). Sancroft retained his confidence in Wharton to the end, received several visits from him, on his deathbed promised him all his manuscripts, and especially entrusted him with the publication of the ‘History,’ ‘Diary,’ and other remains of Archbishop Laud; these appeared as the ‘History of the Troubles and Tryal of … Dr. Will. Laud …’ London, 1695, fol. A second volume of ‘Remains’ was published in 1700 (London, fol.), after Henry Wharton's death, by his father.
During these years he had not in the slightest degree remitted his incessant literary labours. In 1692 he published anonymously ‘A Defence of Pluralities or holding two Benefices with Cure of Souls as now practised in the Church of England,’ London, 8vo (directed against some contemplated legislation). This was republished in 1703 ‘with material additions and authorities by the author's own hand after strict review and deliberate perusal.’ In 1693 he published Bede's commentaries on Genesis (an editio princeps), with Aldhelm's ‘Praise of Virginity’ (London, 4to), and contributed to Strype's ‘Cranmer’ (see Appendix, pp. 253–64, ed. 1693).
In April 1694 he settled at Chartham, and was clearly to some extent a disappointed man. He wrote to Dr. Barker, Tillotson's chaplain, in 1692 of his ‘vast labour’ at the Lambeth manuscripts and Sancroft's designs for publication, adding that all were ‘now frustrated, and all my zeal for the public service must be employed in teaching a few plough-joggers who look upon what I say to concern them but little.’ In the autumn of 1694 signs of consumption appeared, and, after an unavailing visit to Bath (visiting Oxford on the way, Reliquiæ Hearnianæ, p. 694), he died on 5 March 1694–5.
He was buried on 8 March with much pomp in Westminster Abbey, where his monument remains between the third and fourth pillars from the cloister gates westward (see Dart, Westmonasterium, ii. 95 sq.; the monument is engraved, p. 92). Tillotson, many bishops, and ‘vast numbers of the clergy were present at his funeral,’ and the choir sang anthems specially composed by Purcell. His portrait, painted by H. Tilson, is engraved by R. White as frontispiece to the edition of his sermons, 1728. He was ‘of a middle stature, of a brown complexion, and of grave and comely countenance.’ Originally strong and vigorous, he injured his constitution by the severity of his studies, ‘that no art or skill of the most experienced physicians could restore it.’
The Leipzig ‘Acta Eruditorum,’ 1696, contained a eulogy of him. In his will he left a bequest for beautifying the parish church of Worstead, which now brings in about 17l. per annum.
Of Wharton's personal character two views have been held. Some, especially staunch Jacobites like Hearne, have regarded him as ‘wanting in integrity,’ and as avaricious alike of literary fame and personal preferment. But the best men of the day had the most confidence in him, and Sancroft's continued affection is a testimony to his goodness. His personal purity, in spite of many temptations, and his regular habits of devotion are especially noted.
The greatness of the services which Wharton rendered to learning can be best estimated by quotations from the judgment of great scholars. Browne Willis, in the dedication of his ‘Mitred Abbies’ (1718), says of him: ‘Without the perusal of the published books and manuscripts of that very extraordinary person (whose unprecedented industry will for ever be admired by all who impartially consider his uncommon performances, beyond what were achieved by any one of his years) it would have been almost impossible to have drawn up this account of monasteries and conventual churches.’ And the testimony of Bishop Stubbs is no less eloquent: ‘This wonderful man died in 1695, at the age of thirty, having done for the elucidation of English church history (itself but one of the branches of study in which he was the most eminent scholar of his time) more than any one before or since’ (Registrum Sacrum Anglicanum, ed. 1897, p. vi). It must be added, however, that ‘he wrote and printed in too great a hurry, which hath rendered his works [occasionally] incorrect.’ Wharton's manuscript collections were enormous, the most notable being a catalogue of the Lambeth manuscripts (afterwards purchased by Archbishop Tenison, and placed in the archiepiscopal library), and materials for a critical edition of Benedictus Abbas, Nicholas Trivet, and several other mediæval chroniclers, and ‘vast collections out of ancient and modern records relating to
