Some Instances of what has been
the Behaviour of this &and other Nations,
when great Revolutions happened in
them, how tender they were of those
unfortunate Clergymen, who could not
comply with the unexpected Changes
that fell out &and how careful they were
to provide them of Means, whereby

2135 (30352135)
they could subsist.
First, At the Beginning of the Re-
formation in Germany, the Princes, a-
mong the other Grievances, complained that
there were so many idle Bullies (mean-
ing Monks &and Friars) in the Empire; &and
though they found them both useless
&and burdensome, yet, considering, that the
Men were unfit for other Employ-
ments, &and incapable of getting a Live-
lyhood for themselves; that the present pos-
sessors should be allowed to enjoy their
Rents during Life; but in case any of
them should happen to die, none should
be allowed to succeed them.

Secondly, When at the Treaty of
Munster, the Archbishoprick of
Magdeburg, was given to the Mar
grave of Brandenburgh, in consi-
deration of what the Swedes got
from him in Pomerania it was wtwith
this express clause that the Bishop
who was in Possession of his
Rents during Life.

Thirdly, let us consider what
has been the Temper of England,
when great Changes happened in
it. First, at the Suppression of the
Monasteries during Henry VIII 2136 (30362136)
(not the tenderest of Princes) the ab-
bots &and priors had pensions settled on
them during Life. Secondly, Queen
Elizabeth his Daughter, allowed a
Provision to those Popish Clergy,
who were turned out for non-compli-
ance. Thirdly, The English Parlia-
ment in King Charles the First’s
Time, notwithstanding their violent
Heat against Episcopacy, Voted, those
Clergymen that were turned out
for Non-compliance, should have
a competent &and honourable Mainte-
nance, settled upon them during
Life. Fourthly, When the chief
management of Affairs, was esta-
blished in the person of Oliver
Cromwell, notwithstanding his
exceeding Hatred to the Church of
England, &and that he was a Man
so full of Blood, as to be void
of Bowels; yet, either to avoid
the Censure of extreme Cruelty,
or, that the Miseries of so many
honest Men, suffering for Consci-
ence sake, made some Impressi-
on upon him; Ordered, that a fifth
part of their Rents should be

2137 (30372137)
given to such, as were unprovided
of Means of their own to subsist
them. Fifthly, At the late Revo-
lution, such Clemency, so natural
to Englishmen, was shewnshown by the
Members of the English
[illegible] Convention, that they im-
poweredempowered King William to settle
Provisions even upon those, who,
by Reason of Scruples of Consci-
ence, could not come into the
Interest of the Government.

If we look into the History
of Scotland, such was the Tem-
per of our Reformers (though
violent enough in other Mat-
ters) that they allowed the
very Popish Bishops, to enjoy
some, if not all, their Rents
during Life; &and in all the differ-
ent Turns that have happened
since (&and several there have
been) all the Changes that fell
out, were allowed to keep posses-
ion of their Churches &and Livings.

By these Instances we may see,
what has been the Behaviour

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of this &and other Nations, when great
Revolutions happened in them how
tender they were of those unfor-
tunate Clergymen, who could not
comply with the unexpected Chang-
es that happened, &and always provid-
ed them of Means whereby they
could subsist. ‘Tis only those of the
Episcopal Clergy in Scotland, who
must be excepted from this Rule.

No Compassion so much as a Compliance
save such as actually did comply.

They were treated with the utmost
Injustice, the most unfeeling Cru-
elty &and Barbarity; Instances of qchwhich
are upon Record, hundreds upon
hundreds having been left to Starve!
But I chusechoose not to name Particulars.

From such pious Confessors
&and worthy Sufferers, has Gray
Cooper, Esquire, the Honour to
be defended. Therefore, he may,
as to his own particular, adopt,
with great Truth, either of the
following Mottos.
Virescit vulnere virtus,
or
Clarior e tenebris.