or Royal Chapel, is crammed by vying with the Protestant Lords and Gentry. The late King's children even by the Duchess of Portsmouth go thither."

Charles the Second being dead was succeeded by his brother, who then became James the Second. It may be recollected that Vice-admiral Penn, when he was on his death-bed, recommended his son to the care and guardianship of the latter, when Duke of York. From this period a more regular acquaintance grew up between them, and intimacy followed. During this intimacy, however William Penn might have disapproved, as he did, of the religious opinions of his guardian, he was attached to him from a belief that he was a friend to liberty of conscience. Entertaining this opinion concerning him, he conceived it to be his duty, now that he had become King, to renew his intimacy with him, and this in a stronger manner than ever, that he might forward the great object for which he had crossed the Atlantic, namely, the relief of those unhappy persons who were then suffering on account of their religion. He determined therefore to reside near him

for

for these purposes, and accordingly he took lodgings for himself and family at Kensing

ton.

It appears, while he resided there, that he spent his time, and that he used his influence with the King, solely in doing good. All politics he avoided, never touching upon them unless called upon; and then he never espoused a party, but did his best to recommend moderation and to allay heats. If he ever advised the King, it was for his own real interest and the good of the nation at large. Generally speaking, however, he confined himself to the object before mentioned; and in endeavouring to promote this, he was alive to the situation not only of those of his own religious Society, but of those of other Christian denominations who were then languishing in the gaols of the kingdom.

Among the first applications which he made to the King was one, the remembrance of which will always do honour to his memory. It was in behalf of the venerable John Locke, who had followed his patron, the Earl of Shaftsbury, into Holland, when he fled there to avoid the further persecu2 F 2 tion

Locke himself had

tion of his own Court. been deprived, only the preceding year, of his place of Student of Christ-church, Oxford, with all its rights and advantages, by the command of the late King, and was at this time in danger of being seized and sent to England in consequence of the opposition he had given to Popery and arbitrary power. It was at this moment then that William Penn applied. His application was successful. At least James the Second permitted William Penn to inform Locke that he should be pardoned. The message was accordingly sent. Locke in return expressed his sense of the friendship of William Penn, but said that he had no occasion for a pardon when he had not been guilty of any crime. This reminds me of a similar answer from George Fox to Charles the Second. This prince, touched by the hard case of the former, offered to discharge him from prison by a pardon; but he declined it on the idea that, as a pardon implied guilt, his innocence might be called in question by the acceptance of it. Thus men of high moral feeling disdain even deliverance from oppression on terms which would implicate their honour.

That

That we may judge of the attention shown to William Penn by James the Second, and of the almost incessant employment of Penn in behalf of others, during his residence at Kensington, I shall copy the following passage from Gerard Croese:

"William Penn was greatly in favour with the King, the Quakers' sole patron at Court, on whom the hateful eyes of his enemies were intent. The King loved him as a singular and entire friend, and imparted to him many of his secrets and counsels. He often honoured him with his company in private, discoursing with him of various affairs, and that not for one but many hours together, and delaying to hear the best of his Peers who at the same time were waiting for an audience. One of these being envious, and impatient of delay, and taking it as an affront to see the other more regarded than himself, adventured to take the freedom to tell His Majesty, that when he met with Penn he thought little of his Nobility. The King made no other reply, than that Penn always talked ingenuously, and he heard him willingly. Penn, being so highly favoured, acquired thereby a number of friends. Those also

who

who formerly knew him, when they had any favour to ask at Court, came to, courted, and entreated Penn to promote their several requests. Penn refused none of his friends any reasonable office he could do for them; but was ready to serve them all, but more especially the Quakers, and these wherever their religion was concerned. It is usually thought, when you do me one favour readily, you thereby encourage me to expect a second. Thus they ran to Penn without intermission, as their only pillar and support, who always caressed and received them cheerfully, and effected their business by his interest and eloquence. Hence his house and gates were daily thronged by a numerous train of clients and suppliants desiring him to present their addresses to His Majesty. There were sometimes there two hundred and more. When the carrying on these affairs required money for writings, such as drawing things out into form and copyings, and for fees and other charges which are usually made on such occasions, Penn so discreetly managed matters, that out of his own, which he had in abundance, he liberally discharged many emergent expenses."

But