WILLIAM AND JIAKY.

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members of the Lower House, among whom were many dis- chap.tinguished scholars and preachers, seem to have been not veryunequally divided.

During the summer of 1689 several high ecclesiastical Eccio-dignities became vacant, and were bestowed on divines who prefer-were sitting in the Jerusalem Chamber. It has already been U^wed.mentioned that Thomas, Bishop of Worcester, died just beforethe day fixed for taking the oaths. Lake, Bishop of Chichester,lived just long enough to refuse them, and with his last breathdeclared that he would maintain even at the stake the doctrineof indefeasible hereditary right. The see of Chichester wasfilled by Patrick, that of Worcester by Stillingfleet; and thedeanery of Saint Paul’s which Stillingfleet quitted was given toTillotson. That Tillotson was not raised to the episcopalbench excited some surprise. But in truth it was because thegovernment held his services in the highest estimation that hewas suffered to remain a little longer a simple presbyter. Themost important office in the Convocation was that of Prolocutorof the Lower House. The Prolocutor was to be chosen by themembers: and the only moderate man who had a chance ofbeing chosen was Tillotson. It had in fact been already de-termined that he should be the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

When he went to kiss hands for his new deanery he warmlythanked the King. “ Your Majesty has now set me at ease forthe remainder of my life.” “No such thing, Doctor, I assureyou,” said William. He then plainly intimated that, wheneverSancroft should cease to fill the highest ecclesiastical station,Tillotson would succeed to it. Tillotson stood aghast; for hisnature was quiet and unambitious: he was beginning to feel theinfirmities of old age: he cared little for money: of wordly >advantages those which he most valued were an honest fame

name that I perceive in the list of proctors chosen by the parochial clergyis that of Dr. John Mill, .the editor of the Greek Testament.