[391] Johnson’s Lives of the Poets.
[392] Discourse made by the Lord Bishop of Rochester at his Visitation, 1695.
[393] There is a most amusing letter in the Lambeth Library from Dr. Wm. Beau, Bishop of Llandaff, giving particulars of his life—of his service in the army—his promotion in the Church—the poverty of his See—and an interview he had with the Archbishop, at Lambeth, in order to get a better Bishopric. “I was passing through the hall up the stairs, thinking to have found him in the wonted place of reception in the old lodgings; but he no sooner heard of me, than he came himself to direct me, and introduce me into his new ones. When he told me, almost at the first word, that the Bishop of Hereford would die; no, my Lord, said I, for he is newly married. Oh, said he, the sooner for that.”—Gibson Papers, ii. 49.
[394] This is entitled, “A Large Review of the Articles exhibited against the Bishop of St. David’s.” There is a MS. book, containing minutes of the charges, in the Cambridge University Library (MSS. 757). For the trial, see Lord Raymond’s Reports, i. 447; and Howel’s State Trials, xiv. 447. The deed of deprivation is in the Lambeth Library, 951, 6.
[395] In the Cole MSS. (Brit. Mus.), xxx. 149, it is stated that Bishop Watson died June 3rd, 1717, at Great Wilbraham, and was put in the ground the night following in the Chancel, under the south wall, sans service, being excommunicated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose officers’ fees he would not pay. On his coffin was put, T. W. B., St. D. Aged 80, died the 3rd of June, 1717.
[396] Compare for example Sermons iv. and xiv. Works, vol. ii.
[397] My acquaintance with Norris’s writings commenced nearly forty years ago, through a recommendation from that quarter. Dunton speaks of him in extravagant terms.—Life and Errors, ii. 671.
[398] Diary, Nov. 10, 1695.
[399] “I had quite forgot to desire one to preach upon the subject of our Conference. I beseech you try if you can get any of our brethren to give us a quarter of an hour’s discourse upon that subject.—H. London. I preached myself June 23rd, 1689.”—Strype Correspondence, iii. 192.
[400] Strype Correspondence, ii. 52.