80 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SANCROFT. 



termined that resistance to his unlawful at- 

 tempts was absolutely necessary, he acted 

 with all the resolution, steadiness, and spirit 

 which became his station and his character. 

 In the whole affair of the petition of the seven 

 bishops, in which he was the leader both in 

 advising and in acting, and in the subsequent 

 interviews of the bishops with the king re- 

 specting the invasion of the kingdom by the 

 Prince of Orange, his whole conduct was firm, 

 temperate, and respectful towards his sove- 

 reign ; evincing his full determination not to 

 recede from the line of duty, and at the same 

 time his great reluctance to oppose in a quarter 

 where he w^as desirous only of obeying. 



In the part which he took, at and subse- 

 quently to the Revolution, however question- 

 able some particulars of his conduct may be, 

 we perceive, beyond all possibility of doubt, 

 the same triumph of conscientious principle 

 over every worldly consideration, and over 

 every inferior motive of action. In refusing his 

 assent to the exclusion of the abdicated mo- 

 narch from the throne, many powerful feelings 

 must have impelled him to a contrary deci- 

 sion. Attachment to the Protestant church 

 was known to be a master principle in his 

 mind. No one could have been more con- 



