BISHOP TRBLAWNY. 217 



The episode wliicli caused the name of Bishop Trelawny to be 

 celebrated in song arose from the following circumstances. 



Q-reat events in the history of the country had been following 

 each other rapidly. Under the Tudor monarchs the papal 

 supremacy in England had been overthrown, revived, and again 

 suppressed. The Stuarts reigned. The Great Eebellion had 

 raged to its close. The King had been put to death, and the 

 Protector had died. Monarchy had been restored, and James II 

 having succeeded his brother, was king. In him the Pope's 

 party were placing their hopes, and were consequently exerting 

 all their influence to induce His Majesty to restore them to 

 power. 



The country at large viewed the king's conduct with dismay. 

 The Ai'chbishops, Bishops, and Clergy weU understood the ten- 

 dency of the Court, and the spirit of the time. Many accordingly 

 nerved themselves to withstand, at all hazards, any measures 

 which the King might introduce, of an illegal or subversive 

 character. Bishop Trelawny was one of those bold but truly 

 loyal subjects. 



King James did what they feared. He called upon all the 

 English clergy to promulgate what Scotland had already 

 received — a decree favourable to the ultimate restoration of 

 Eoman influence. 



Whatever might be the terms in which it was couched, its 

 drift was plain. The indulgence was ostensibly for the relief of 

 various sects of dissenters. It was called a "Declaration for 

 liberty of conscience." It was somewhat lengthy, but its substance 

 may be thus expressed — as may be gathered from Eapin's 

 record of it. "His Majesty thought fit by his sovereign 

 authority and absolute power to grant toleration to Presbyterians, 

 Quakers, and Roman Catholics, — suspending, stopping, and 

 disabling all laws or acts of parliament, made or executed 

 against Eoman Catholic subjects, so that they should in aU 

 things, without any penalties, be free to enjoy all offices, benefices, 

 &c., which the king might think proper to bestow upon them, — 

 all oaths of allegiance, &c., being discharged."' Some words 

 calculated to conciliate the prelates were prefaced, and others of 

 a similar kind were added in conclusion. The king ordered 

 that this Eoyal Indulgence should be read in aU chiu'ches and 

 chapels, at the time of divine service. 



