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History of England, from the Accession of James the Second, the — Volume 2 by Baron Thomas Babington Macaulay Macaulay
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were exaggerated, distorted, and carried by talebearers to
Whitehall. It was falsely said that he had spoken with contumely
of the theological disquisitions which had been found in the
strong box of the late King, and which the present King had
published. Compton, the Bishop of London, received orders from
Sunderland to suspend Sharp till the royal pleasure should be
further known. The Bishop was in great perplexity. His recent
conduct in the House of Lords had given deep offence to the
court. Already his name had been struck out of the list of Privy
Councillors. Already he had been dismissed from his office in the
royal chapel. He was unwilling to give fresh provocation but the
act which he was directed to perform was a judicial act. He felt
that it was unjust, and he was assured by the best advisers that
it was also illegal, to inflict punishment without giving any
opportunity for defence. He accordingly, in the humblest terms,
represented his difficulties to the King, and privately requested
Sharp not to appear in the pulpit for the present. Reasonable as
were Compton's scruples, obsequious as were his apologies, James
was greatly incensed. What insolence to plead either natural
justice or positive law in opposition to an express command of
the Sovereign Sharp was forgotten. The Bishop became a mark for
the whole vengeance of the government.96 The King felt more
painfully than ever the want of that tremendous engine which had
once coerced refractory ecclesiastics. He probably knew that, for
a few angry words uttered against his father's government, Bishop
Williams had been suspended by the High Commission from all
ecclesiastical dignities and functions. The design of reviving
that formidable tribunal was pushed on more eagerly than ever. In
July London was alarmed by the news that the King had, in direct
defiance of two acts of Parliament drawn in the strongest terms,
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