Note 702 — Chapter XII

Kennet, p. 332; North's Examen, p. 61; Burnet. This test was covertly meant against the Romish party as well as more openly against the dissenters. Life of James, p. 499. Danby set himself up as the patron of the church party and old cavaliers against the two opposing religions; trusting that they were the stronger in the House of Commons. But the times were so changed that the same men had no longer the same principles, and the house would listen to no measures against nonconformists. He propitiated, however, the prelates, by renewing the persecution under the existing laws, which had been relaxed by the cabal ministry. Baxter, 156, 172; Kennet, 331; Neal, 698; Somers Tracts, vii. 336.

Meanwhile, schemes of comprehension were sometimes on foot; and the prelates affected to be desirous of bringing about an union; but Morley and Sheldon frustrated them all. Baxter, 156; Kennet, 326; Parker, 25. The bishops, however, were not uniformly intolerant. Croft, Bishop of Hereford, published, about 1675, a tract that made some noise, entitled "The Naked Truth," for the purpose of moderating differences. It is not written with extraordinary ability; but is very candid and well designed, though conceding so much as to scandalise his brethren. Somers Tracts, vii. 268; Biogr. Brit. art. Croft; where the book is extravagantly over praised. Croft was one of the few bishops who, being then very old, advised his clergy to read James II.'s declaration in 1687; thinking, I suppose, though in those circumstances erroneously, that toleration was so good a thing, it was better to have it irregularly than not at all.