declared their refolution to restore king James; to feize the princess of Orange, dead or alive; and to be ready with thirty thousand men to meet king James when he should land. To this they put the names of Sancroft, Sprat, Marlborough, Salisbury, and others. The copy of Dr. Sprat's name was obtained by a fictitious requeft, to which an answer in his own hand was defired. His hand was copied fo well, that he confeffed it might have deceived himself. Blackhead, who had carried the letter, being sent again with a plausible message, was very curious to fee the house, and particularly importunate to be let into the ftudy; where, as is fuppofed, he defigned to leave the Affociation. This

how

however was denied him, and he dropt it in a flower-pot in the parlour.

Young now laid an information before the Privy Council; and May 7, 1692, the bishop was arrested, and kept at a meffenger's under a ftrict guard eleven days. His houfe was fearched, and directions were given that the flower-pots fhould be infpected. The meffengers however miffed the room in which the paper was left. Blackhead went therefore a third time; and, finding his paper where he had left it, brought it away.

The bishop, having been enlarged, was, on June the 10th and 13th, examined again before the Privy Council, and confronted with his accufers. Young

per

perfifted with the moft obdurate impudence, against the strongest evidence ; but the refolution of Blackhead by degrees gave way. There remained at last no doubt of the bishop's innocence, who, with great prudence and diligence, traced the progrefs, and detected the characters of the two informers, and publifhed an account of his own examination, and deliverance; which made fuch an impreffion upon him, that he commemorated it through life by an yearly day of thanksgiving.

With what hope, or what interest, the villains had contrived an accufation which they must know themselves utterly unable to prove, was never discovered.

After

After this, he paffed his days in the quiet exercise of his function. When the cause of Sacheverell put the publick in commotion, he honeftly appeared among the friends of the church. He lived to his feventy-ninth year, and died May 20, 1713.

mons.

Burnet is not very favourable to his memory; but he and Burnet were old rivals. On fome publick occafion they both preached before the house of comThere prevailed in those days an indecent cuftom: when the preacher touched any favourite topick in a manner that delighted his audience, their approbation was expreffed by a loud. hum, continued in proportion to their zeal or pleasure. When Burnet preach

ed,

ed, part of his congregation bummed fo loudly and fo long, that he sat down to enjoy it, and rubbed his face with his handkerchief. When Sprat preached, he likewife was honoured with the like animating hum; but he ftretched out his hand to the congregation, and cried, "Peace, peace, I pray you, " peace."

This I was told in my youth by an old man, who had been no careless observer of the paffages of those times.

Burnet's fermon, fays Salmon, was

remarkable for fedition, and Sprat's for loyalty. Burnet had the thanks of the houfe; Sprat had no thanks, but a good living from the king; which, he said,