The paper I fent your Lordship last post has produced another; which I have inclofed. On Thursday next, Mr. Pelham of the Treafury is determined to bring Dr. Binckes's Sermon into the Houfe of Commons, as blafphemous, and to complain of its being printed, and approved by the Lower Houfe of Convocation. It comes to your Lordship by to-night's carrier, together with Dr. Smalridge's, and the " Hiftory of the late Parliament +." Mr. Fisher defires earnestly your Lordfhip's leave to return; and indeed, unless we were a little more vigorous, I fee not to what purpose his stay here at present would * This does not appear to have been done. On the contrary, Dr. Binckes was promoted to the Deanery of Litchfield in the June following (fee p. 71;) and on the 5th of November, 1704, was, appointed to preach before the Houfe of Commons. It was, however, complained of in the Houfe of Lords, May 12, 1702; where it was refolved, "That in the Sermon were feveral expre 6. ffions that gave juft fcandal and fhanie to all "Chriftian people." The motion for burning the Sermon was negatived; but the Bp. of Lichfield and Coventry Dr. Hough], Dr. Binckes's ordinary, was directed to cenfure him according to the course of the ecclefiaftical courts. See p. 72. See p. 169. be be. I beg your Lordship's bleffing; and an your Lordship's most dutiful, humble fervant, FR. ATTERBURY. I humbly beg that your Lordship would be pleased to preferve these letters where matter of fact is related, that, if there be occafion, I may have recourfe to them. LETTER *XXVIII. To Dr. JAMES +, at the Bishop of EXETER'S. DEAR SIR, IN Chelfea, March 3, [1701·2]. N hafte I sent you an Ash-Wednesday explication of the Almanack. Since that, another copy, made by one of our House, hath very well come to my hands, and I think it worth your seeing; and therefore, as bufy as I am, will fteal time to tranfcribe it for you. It is, it seems, a defcription of one Beconfall, of Brazen-notice, who is a of ideas, and full of the fpleen. If you will overlook a falfe quantity in the firft verfe, the reft will please you. Chancellor of Exeter. See pp. 20. 69. *F 10 man An Colum agat in Animam? Negatur. Obfcuras cerebro volvit Damafippus ideas, Dum latera infeftat trifte lienis onus. Mox lectum petit, acceffique Machaonas omnes; Protinus abjiciens pharmaca, pofcit equum: Bifque die prodit, venator amabilis auræ ; Bis, ne pulmones opprimat aura, timet. Tum rediens, iterat folitas fine fine querelas; Jam morior longùm, fide caballe, vale!" Cràs Baias equitat: fed & hinc redit ocyus æger, Jurans fe Stygios hic tetigiffe lacus. Inde petit terras alio fub fole calentes; As for Convocation news, you know, Sir, that is all at an end, by what our great Mafter* did on Thursday fevennight. Thursday next is the day of the feffion he then appointed ; when it is intended by the members here in town to make fome oral claim in the Upper Houfe. But I fuppofe, the Commiffary †, who comes to prorogue, will tell them he hath no power to do any thing but that act alone, and confequently not to receive what they offer. There is an end of the conftitution, if this practice obtains quietly. *Archbishop Tenifon. Bishop Gardiner. See the next Letter. Pray, Pray, Sir, give my duty to my Lord, and let him know, that I have this day fent fome papers to the prefs, which contain a state of the Schedule, at large. The first sheet will be finished by Saturday, at furtheft; and by that poft I will fend it his Lordship, and a sheet, I hope, by every poft for about a fortnight afterwards, unless his Lordship fhall command me to defer them till I can fend the whole. I am, Sir, your most faithful and moft humble fervant, FR. ATTERBURY, Binckes's + book will not be out till (at least) a fortnight hence. Cafe of the Schedule ftated, wherein an account is given of the rife and design of that "inftrument, and of the influence it hath on the "adjournments of the Lower Houfe of Convoca"tion; and all the authorities urged in behalf of the Archbishop's fole power to prorogue the whole "Convocation, are occafionally examined. By a "Member of the Lower Houfe of Convocation.' 4to. This was anfwered in a piece, fuppofed to be written by Dr. Edmund Gibson, intituled, "The "Schedule reviewed, or the right of the Archbi 46 fhop to continue or prorogue the whole Convo"cation, cleared from the exceptions of a late "vindication of the Narrative of the Lower Houfc, "and of a book, intituled, The Cafe of the Schedule "ftated, 1702," 4to. + His "Examination," &c. See p. 71. LETTER *XXIX. To Bp. TRELAWNY. Chelsea, March 7, [1701-2]. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP, N Thurfday laft it was agreed among the members, when they met, to put Archdeacon Drewe in the chair, and by him to make an oral representation to the Archbishop's Commiffary*, when he came to adjourn, that we thought it our right to be directed to the choice of a Prolocutor. Before Archdeacon Drewe was fufficiently impowered and inftructed in this matter, the Commiffary had done his bufinefs, and difrobed. But the meffage was delivered to him afterwords as Bishop of Lincoln. He took it in writing, and promised to deliver it to his Grace. Your Lordship's commands about the plate for the altar will be obeyed to the best of mine and Dr. Edifbury's knowledge. Matters, I fear, are past hopes at Kensington †. I am your Lordship's in all duty, FR. ATTERBURY. Dr. Gardiner, Bp. of Lincoln. Where King William died on the day after the date of this letter. His Majefty had been long in an ill ftate of health, and for fome time feemed fenfible of his approaching end: but his death was |