2 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SANCROFT. 



mind, neither swayed on any occasion by the 

 temptations of interest, nor awed by the frowns 

 of power, and always steadily persevering in 

 that course which he knew to be right. We 

 now behold him impelled by the dictates of 

 the same honest and upright mind to divest 

 himself of rank, wealth, and power, from regard 

 to his sworn allegiance to the very prince which 

 he had resolutely opposed when his sense of 

 duty commanded him ; and voluntarily retiring 

 into the privacy of a humble station. It has 

 ever been deemed a clear proof of true great- 

 ness of mind, to bear a change from lofty to 

 humbler fortunes with equal temper and con- 

 tented resignation ; and perhaps it might be 

 difficult to find a stronger instance than that 

 now before us, in which this greatness of mind 

 is pourtrayed in its brightest colours, and with 

 its most attractive characters. 



Respecting the fundamental principle on 

 which Archbishop Bancroft acted on this occa- 

 sion, and the rule by which he formed his con- 

 science, it is well known that the opinions of 

 the vast majority of the nation were formed in 

 opposition to the line which he took, and that 

 this decision has been confirmed by the almost 

 unanimous consent of succeeding times. It 

 was held at the time, and may be justified on 

 the soundest principles, that, the king having. 



