LETTER XLV.

DEAN TILLOTSON to LADY RUSSELL, on the same subject. His scruples at length overcome.

October 25, 1690.(1)

I am obliged to your ladyship beyond all expression, for taking my case so seriously into your consideration, and giving me your mature thoughts upon it. Nothing ever came more seasonably to me than your letter, which I received on Wednesday se'n-night, the very night before I was to have given my final answer to the king the next morning. I thank you for it. It helped very much to settle and determine my wavering mind. I weighed all you wrote, both your advice and your arguments, having not only an assurance of your true friendship and good-will for me, but a very great regard and deference for your judgment and opinion. I cannot but own the weight of that consideration, which you pleased to urge me withal; I mean the visible marks of a more than ordinary providence of God in this thing, that the king, who likes not either to importune or to be denied, should, after so obstinate a declining of the thing on my part, still persist to press it upon me with so much kindness, and with that earnestness of persuasion which it does not become me to mention. I wish I could think the king had a superior direction in this, as I verily believe he hath in some other things of much greater importance.

(1) From a copy in short-hand, found in his Common-place Book.

The next morning I went to Kensington full of fear, but yet determined what was fit for me to do. I met the king coming out of his closet, and asking if his coach was ready. He took me aside, and I told him, that in obedience to his majesty's command, I had considered of the thing as well as I could, and came to give him my answer. I perceived his majesty was going out, and therefore desired him to appoint me another time, which he did on the Saturday morning after.

Then I came again, and he took me into his closet, where I told him, that I could not but have a deep sense of his majesty's great grace and favour to me, not only to offer me the best thing he had to give, but to press it so earnestly upon me. I said I would not presume to argue the matter any further, but I hoped he would give me leave to be still his humble and earnest petitioner to spare me in that thing. He answered, he would do so if he could, but he knew not what to do if I refused it. Upon that I told him, that I tendered my life to him, and did humbly devote it to be disposed of as he thought fit. He was graciously pleased to say, it was the best news that had come to him this great while. I did not kneel down to kiss his hand, for, without that, I doubt I am too sure of it; but requested of him that he would defer the declaration of it, and let it be a secret for some time. He said, he thought it might not be amiss to defer it till the parliament was up. I begged further of him, that he would not make me a wedge to drive out the present archbishop:

that some time before I was nominated, his majesty would be pleased to declare in council, that since his lenity had not had any better effect, he would wait no more, but would dispose of their places. This I told him I humbly desired, that I might not be thought to do any thing harsh, or which might reflect upon me; for now that his majesty had thought fit to advance me to this station, my reputation was become his interest. He said, he was sensible of it, and thought it reasonable to do as I desired. I craved leave of him to mention one thing more, which, in justice to my family, especially to my wife, I ought to do, that I should be more than undone by the great and necessary charge of coming into this place, and must therefore be an humble petitioner to his majesty, that if it should please God to take me out of the world, and that I must unavoidably leave my wife a beggar, he would not suffer her to be so; and that he would graciously be pleased to consider that the widow of an Archbishop of Canterbury (which would now be an odd figure in England) (') could not decently be supported by so little as would have contented her very well if I had died a dean. To this he gave a very gracious answer— "I promise you to take care of her." (2)

(1) Only two who had filled the see of Canterbury had been married; Cranmer and Parker.

(2) King William granted Tillotson's widow an annuity of £600. and forgave the first-fruits; for the archbishop left nothing to his family but the copy of his Posthumous Sermons, which was afterwards sold for 2500 guineas.

Just as I had finished the last sentence, another very kind letter from your ladyship was brought to me, wherein I find your tender concern for me, which I can never sufficiently acknowledge. But you say, the die is now cast, and I must now make the best I can of what I lately thought was the worst that could have happened to me. I thank God I am more cheerful than I expected; and comfort myself as I can with this hope, that the providence of God, to which I have submitted my own will in this matter, will graciously assist me to discharge, in some measure, the duty he hath called me to.

I did not acquaint my good friend, who wrote to you, with all that had passed, because it was intended to be a secret, which I am sure is safe in your hands. I only told him that his majesty did not intend, as yet, to dispose of this place; but when he did it, I was afraid it would be hard for me to escape.

The king, I believe, has only acquainted the queen with it. As she came out of the closet on Sunday last, she commanded me to wait upon her after dinner, which I did; and after she had discoursed about other business, (which was to desire my opinion of a treatise sent her in manuscript out of Holland, tending to the reconciliation of our differences in England,) she told me that the king had with great joy acquainted her with a secret concerning me, whereof she was no less glad: using many gracious expressions and confirming his majesty's promises concerning my wife.

But I am sensible this is an intolerable letter, especially concerning one's self.

I cannot forbear to repeat my humble thanks for your great concernment for me in this affair. (')

That God would multiply his best blessings upon your ladyship and your children, and make them great blessings and comforts to you, is the daily prayer of, yours, &c.

J. T.

LLTTER XLVI.

BISHOP BULL to MR. NELSON.

Oxon Ch. Ch., July 27, 1697.

You were pleased to favour me with an unexpected letter; and therein to signify to me the good character those of this place you have met with, give of me. I find common fame, how uncharitable soever it is to others, has been too kind to me in ascribing to me what I must confess to you I do not deserve. Which convinces me, that a very little thing is sufficient to bring a man into the good, as well as the ill opinion of others. But every man that can think impartially is his own best judge in this case. And therefore I hope I

(1) Tillotson became archbishop in 1690-1, and died in 1694. "King William declared he was the best man whom he ever knew, and the bestfriend he ever had."-Burnet.