it with a competent maintenance. He also augmented the stipend of the minister and schoolmaster in that town.

In 1683 he was engaged in a contest with his dean, Dr. Peirce, relative to the power of bestowing prebends, in consequence of his refusal to confer one on the son of the dean. Dr. Peirce published a curious and learned tract, in which he endeavoured to deprive the bishop of the disposal of any, by asserting the king's sovereign right. The affair was determined against the dean by the ecclesiastical commissioners; but the agitation and exertions of the bishop, while the cause was pending, produced a deplorable effect on his health and understanding.

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In the latter years of his life, bishop Ward was deprived of his faculties, and died January 6, 1689, a melancholy instance of weak mortality. He was not only admirably skilled in mathematics, but also in all kinds of polite literature; and "he was,' "he was," as Burnet has observed, one of the greatest men of his age." He wrote a Discourse on the Being and Attributes of God, and some sermons, besides several treatises on mathematical subjects. He was buried in his cathedral. *

At the solicitation of bishop Ward, Charles the Second restored to this see the Chancellorship of the Garter, which since the deprivation of Campeggio had remained in lay hands.

52-1689. William III.-1.

GILBERT BURNET

Descended from an antient family in the shire of Aberdeen, was born at Edinburgh, September 18, 1643. He was instructed in the rudiments of

* Pope's Life of Bishop Ward.

learning under the care of his father. Having acquired a competent knowledge of the latin tongue, he was sent, at the age of ten, to the university of Aberdeen, where he perfected himself in greek, and passed through the common course of logic and philosophy with applause. Before he was fourteen he took the degree of master of arts, and applied himself to the study of the law. In conformity with the wishes of his father, he afterwards turned his views to the church, attached himself to divinity, and employed his leisure hours in the study of history.

At the age of eighteen he passed through the customary probation, and was admitted to preach. He received the offer of a benefice from his cousin, Sir Alexander Burnet; but declined it, from a consciousness that he was too young to undertake the cure of souls. Devoting himself, however, to the clerical profession, he took for his model Mr. Nairn, minister of the Abbey Church at Edinburgh, a preacher highly admired for accuracy of style, strength of reasoning, and sublimity of thought. Afterwards he attracted the notice of bishop Leighton, one of the newly consecrated prelates for Scotland, and under his superintendance studied the primitive writers of the church. The assistance of a third friend, Mr. Charters, contributed also to increase his knowledge in other branches of literature.

In 1663 he repaired to England, visited the two Universities, and received much attention from Dr. Cudworth, Dr. Pearson, Dr. Burnet, Dr. More, and other celebrated characters. He then passed over to Holland, and established his residence at Amsterdam, where he studied hebrew, under the instruction of a learned jew. After a short visit to Paris, he returned to his native country; and being nominated to a benefice, by the gift of Sir Robert Fletcher of Saltoun, he was ordained priest, in 1665, by the bishop of Edinburgh.

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Amidst the violent disputes between the episcopalians and presbyterians, with which Scotland was then agitated, Burnet encountered many mortifications. He rose, however, in public esteem, and was elected professor of divinity in the university of Glasgow," where he continued," says his biographer," four years and a half, with no small exercise of his patience."

During this period he became acquainted with the duchess of Hamilton, an incident which produced important consequences in his subsequent life. At her instigation he undertook to compile the Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton, who bore so important a share in the administration of Scotland. His researches enabled him to render considerable service to his noble patroness, and made him known at the British Court. A vacant scottish bishopric was offered to him; but as the mitre then presented few attractions, he declined the honour.

Soon after his return to Glasgow, he espoused lady Margaret Kennedy, daughter of the earl of Cassilis, who lived in great intimacy with the duchess of Hamilton. As there was some disparity in their ages, he was anxious to prove that the match was not prompted by interest or ambition; and the day before the marriage, presented her with a deed, renouncing all claim to her property.

In 1673 he revisited London, to obtain a licence for publishing his Memoirs of the Dukes of Hamilton. This journey again brought him into notice. He was courted as an adherent of the house of Hamilton; nominated one of the royal chaplains; and honoured with frequent interviews by Charles the Second, and James duke of York. Of these oppor

tunities he availed himself to rouse the gay and licentious monarch to a sense of religion, and to recommend to his bigotted brother, the pure worship and sound doctrines of the Church of England. He soon experienced the

ordinary fluctuation of court favour. His honest remonstrances alienated both the royal brothers; while his interference in politics drew on him the blame of some miscarriage in the designs of the government. He was struck from the list of chaplains; and having reason to fear for his safety, if he returned to Scotland, he fixed his residence in London. The court, however, opposed his establishment; and it was with difficulty that he obtained the post of preacher of the Rolls, by the gift of the master.

As the inclinations of the king and duke of York awakened the strongest alarms, lest attempts should be made for the restoration of the Roman Catholic religion, Burnet distinguished himself, with the learned Stillingfleet, and other protestant divines, in defending the principles of the English Church. With this view he undertook the History of the Reformation, the first volume of which was published in 1679. Appearing at the moment when the nation was agitated by the discovery of the Popish Plot, it produced no ordinary sensation, and procured for the author a vote of thanks from both houses of parliament. This encouraged him to complete the second volume, which was equally approved.

Amidst the great party contentions of the period, when every day was expected to produce some awful change in church or state, it was not possible for a man of character and talents, connected with the different political leaders, to abstain from all interference in public transactions. Though courted by the ministry, he maintained his attachment to the earl of Essex, lord Russel, and the party in opposition; yet without entering into their intrigues, to thwart the arbitrary measures of the government. Hence he attended his friend lord Russel in prison, and on his execution ; and boldly vindicated his memory before the privy council. The displeasure which he thus incurred at court, induced him to make a short journey to

Paris, where he was received with extraordinary civility. Notwithstanding the appreliensions entertained for his safety, he again returned to London; but experienced no other mortification than the loss of his place at the Rolls Chapel, from which he was removed by an order of government.

Dr. Burnet had taken too active a share în defending the principles of the Reformation, to expect countenance, or even forbearance, from the duke of York. Accordingly, on the accession of that prince, he demanded permission to quit the kingdom; and after a short stay at Paris, travelled through the South of France, Switzerland, Italy, and part of Germany. Of this Tour an account is given in his Travels, published in 1687, which is among the earliest productions of the kind, and not the least entertaining.

In 1686 he repaired to Utrecht, with an intention to settle in the United Provinces. Soon after, he was invited to the Hague, by the prince and princess of Orange, who duly appreciated his talents, and services in the protestant cause; and who foresaw that the violent measures pursued by James, to restore the Roman Catholic religion, would speedily produce a convulsion in the state. Burnet was admitted into the confidence of the prince, and employed in preparing measures for the Revolution.

The favour which he enjoyed in Holland, inflamed the resentment of James, and instances were made to exclude him from the court of the prince. A prosecution for high treason was next instituted against him; first on account of his conduct in Scotland, and afterwards on the plea of his naturalization in Holland, which had recently taken place. But the demand for his arrest and delivery, as a traitor, was evaded by the States.

At this period he espoused a second wife, Mrs. Mary Scott, a dutch lady, though of scottish descent, who, with a handsome person, and accomplished mind, brought him a plentiful fortune.