LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 385 



they drew up a memorial or petition, which they 

 sent him, setting forth the abolition of episcopacy 

 in the first session of King Williams Parliament 

 in Scotland, and the estabishment of Presbyterian 

 government in the second or next session, and the 

 ejectments of several of the episcopal clergy in all 

 parts of the kingdom consequent upon it, that is, by 

 virtue of the powers granted to Presbyterian ju- 

 dicatories ; and their own apprehensions of greater 

 persecutions still, notivithstanding they had acknow- 

 ledged their Majesties govei^nment, professed their 

 own fidelity, and implored their royal protection, and 

 had likewise received repeated assurances of it from 

 their Majesties. And concluding with these words : 

 — '* Wherefore, in this time of our great dis- 

 tress, our only refuge next to the Divine Pro- 

 vidence and their Majesties' innate goodness and 

 justice, is to have recourse to your Grace and 

 the reverend clergy of the Church of England, 

 to which we are the rather encouraged, from the 

 former experience we have of your religious and 

 charitable concern for this afflicted and distressed 

 Church. We have good ground to believe, that 

 it is far from their Majesties' gracious inclina- 

 tions to allow of any thing that may be grievous 

 or straightening to their loyal subjects; and 

 however our enemies may take occasion to as- 

 perse and misrepresent us, yet we can assure 

 your Grace we are still the same we have 



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