[159] Articles were exhibited against them “too scandalous to be repeated.” Burnet’s Own Time, i. 696; D’Oyley’s Life of Sancroft, i. 237. Sancroft consecrated these two worthless men at Lambeth Palace, the 17th October, 1686, from fear of a premunire.
[160] Clarendon’s Correspondence, i. 258.
[161] “At Tonbridge Wells, this last summer, some company of condition, dining with Dr. Sherlock, amongst others the Doctor himself, talking of the great changes that had been in men and things these late years, even in his time, who was not old. Saith Mrs. Sherlock, his wife (who is a very brisk, sharp gentlewoman), ‘a greater instance thereof cannot be given, than yourself Doctor, for I have known you set up for a Sectary, a Presbyterian, a Papist, a Church of England man, but you never nickt your time right, nor turned seasonably, but when those respective interests were falling, and what you will turn to next, no man living knows. If ever I become a Papist, call me a knave,’ whereupon the company smiled.”—Entring Book, 1686, August 9, Morice MSS.
[162] Printed in State Trials, iv. 243.
[163] See Evelyn’s Diary, December 29, 1686.
[164] The last of these facts comes to light in the State Papers, Dom. 1687, August 21.
[165] Mackintosh’s Hist. of Revolution, 207.
[166] Ibid., 209. Mackintosh cites proofs from letters written by the King, the Queen, the Nuncio, and the French Minister.
In the Entring Book, Morice MSS., it is remarked, under date 1686, November 7—“The King told the Archbishop of York he depended upon his vote to take off the Test, and other penal laws from the Papists, for he remembered his lordship was against the making of the Test. The Archbishop answered, he hoped His Majesty would excuse him in that, and leave him to give his vote according to his judgment. It was true he was against the imposing of the Test, but the case was altered; for then the Papists’ interest was so little, that he thought it not (as others did) then necessary, but now the Papists’ interest did so preponderate, that he thought it necessary to keep it on.”
[167] Dalrymple’s Memoirs, ii. 175.