His

general both amongst Dissenters and the Church, that many of his friends, who had not the courage to go against the spirit of the times, avoided his company. Others, who were of a firmer texture, and who knew of his worth and character, stood by him, but, either to justify themselves for so doing, or to try if possible to restore his expiring reputation, required of him a voucher from his own hand, that there was no ground for the charges preferred against him. Among these was Mr. Popple,* an intimate friend both of him and of John Locke. letter to this purpose was friendly, modest, and respectful, yet firm and manly. Penn replied in a long but most admirable letter, denying and refuting the charges preferred against him, and giving utterance to many most beautiful sentiments on religion, government, toleration, &c. About a fortnight after he wrote this letter, while the nation was all in a ferment on account of the arbitrary proceedings of the King, William Prince of Orange landed at Torbay. He was received with open arms, both there and in the country at large. Officers and men, abandoning their former banners, deserted to serve under him. The national discontent was such, that James found it necessary to leave the kingdom, and to retire to France. In a very short time, the Prince of Orange and his consort were raised to the sovereignty of the realm.

This sudden change of affairs was a very great trial to Penn. The King had always been a great and firm friend to him, and, as he believed, a sincere friend to liberty; and now his friend was gone, and his prospects of liberty for his country, for which he had laboured so devotedly, seemed fearfully darkened. Under these trials he was exposed to popular indignation as a Papist and Jesuit, and as one who had aimed to establish popery and arbitrary power in the kingdom. To return to America, though she presented to him a peaceful asylum, he dared not, for that would have led persons to conclude that he had been guilty of what had been laid

* This gentleman was secretary to the Lords Commissioners for the affairs of trade and plantations.

to his charge. To stay in England was dangerous. Still, conscious of his own innocence, he resolved to remain where he was, and to go at large as before, following those occupations by which he thought he could best promote the good of his fellow-creatures.

It was not long before he began to feel the effect of the political change which had taken place. On the tenth of December, when walking in Whitehall, he was sent for by the Lords of the Council, who were then sitting. Here he underwent an examination. In reply to some questions which were put to him, he protested, that "he had done nothing but what he could answer before God, and before all the Princes in the world; that he loved his country and the Protestant religion above his life, and had never acted against either; that all he had ever aimed at in his public endeavours was no other than what the Prince himself had declared for ; that the King, James the Second, had always been his friend, and his father's friend; and that in gratitude he himself was the King's friend, and did ever, as much as in him lay, influence him to his true interest." Notwithstanding this manly and open declaration, and notwithstanding that nothing appeared against him, the Council obliged him to give security for his appearance the first day of the next term. Having complied with their demand, he was discharged.

Penn had also some trouble with respect to America at this time, and was obliged to make another change in the Government of the Settlement, reducing the Executive to three persons.

Thomas Lloyd resigned his Presidency, and another was appointed to his place, named Blackwell. Blackwell however, in consequence of a misunderstanding with the Council, was advised by Penn to resign, and Thomas Lloyd again resumed the Presidency for a short period, and the Government was restored to its old form, as settled in 1683.

On the last day of Easter Term, Penn made his appearance in public Court, to answer the charges which

might be made against him. He waited a considerable time, but no one could be found, who would either say that he was a Papist or Jesuit, or who would even try to prove that he had aided in any manner the late King in an attempt either to establish Popery or arbitrary power. He was accordingly discharged in open Court.

Soon after this he had the satisfaction of seeing the great Act of Toleration passed by King, Lords, and Commons. It is true this act did not come up to his wishes, but it was a great change. All Dissenters were excused from certain penalties, if they would take the oaths to Government. They were allowed to apply for licenses for their houses which they intended to worship in, and the Magistrates were obliged to grant them; and, provided they worshipped in these with the doors not shut, they were not to be molested. There was a more particular exemption in the act to the Quakers for the same purpose. Here an end was put to those vexatious arrests, imprisonments, and deaths in bonds, which had afflicted the country for so many years. Men could go to their respective meetings in security, and worship God in their own way. This was most gratifying to Penn, who had toiled for such liberty so long, and to whose labours the act itself was in great part owing. While at the Hague, he had greatly impressed the mind of the Prince of Orange, now made King William, in its favour. He had also been the means of bringing over many of his own countrymen to his views, and among the rest a number in the Legislature. In his numerous publications he had discussed the question thoroughly, and diffused light on the subject through the kingdom. He had held up pictures of individual suffering to public view. He had appealed both to reason and humanity on the subject. He had anticipated and combatted objections. By urging the King, James the Second, to issue so speedily as he did, and then to renew, his indulgence to tender consciences, an opportunity had been given to persons of public character, and to his fellow-citizens at large, to see what would be the effects

of Toleration. It had clearly appeared that while this indulgence continued, the nation was in a state of unexampled quiet, and that its interests had been greatly promoted by an extraordinary diffusion of industry, prosperity, and happiness. All these things had their influence. And here it may be observed, that Dr. Burnet, then Bishop of Salisbury, who had treated Penn so ungenerously, gives, in the "History of his own Times," those as reasons why it had passed, which William Penn had long before given as reasons why it ought to pass. Penn now thought of returning to America. But as the authors of infant projects, when ushered into the world, feel interested in watching their progress and their fate, so he felt a desire to see how this new-born babe of toleration would be received in the kingdom; hence he resolved to lengthen his stay to the following year.

In a letter which Penn wrote to his friends in America this year, before the coronation of William and Mary, he repeated the cause which had so long hindered him from seeing them. "Europe," says he, "looks like a sea of trouble. Wars are like to be all over this summer. I strongly desire to see you before it be spent, if the Lord will; and I can say in his sight, that to improve my interest with King James for tender consciences, and that a Christian liberty might be legally settled, though against my own interest, was that which has chiefly separated me from you." In the same letter he manifested his great love and tender regard for them as a people. "If," says he, "it be with you as I can say it is with me in the presence of God, then are we one with him; for neither length of days, nor distance of place, nor all the many waters between us, can separate my heart and affection from you."

In a second he says; "And now, friends, I have a word more for you, and that is this; that faith, hope, and charity, are the great helps and marks of true Christians; but above all charity.- Blessed are they who come to it, and who hold the truth in it, and work and act in it. This will preserve peace in the church; peace

in the state; peace in families; peace in particular bosoms. God Almighty draw, I beseech him, all your hearts into this heavenly love more and more, so that the work of it may shine out more and more to his glory and your

comfort!

In a fifth, which was addressed to the Council, he says, I heartily wish you all well, and do beseech God to guide you in the ways of righteousness and peace. Whatever you do, I desire, beseech, and charge you all, to avoid factions and parties, whisperings, and reportings, and all animosities; that, putting your common shoulders to the public work, you may have the reward of good men and patriots; and so bid you heartily farewell."

CHAPTER XX.

A. 1689, 1690.

THOUGH Penn saw no disposition in the King or Parliament to amend the Toleration-Act, so as to bring it nearer to his own wishes, he had yet the pleasure to find that it had become very popular, except among some of the clergy, and that it was likely to maintain its ground; and thankful to Divine Providence for what had been obtained, he resolved to embark for Pennsylvania in the course of the present year.

Penn had been in the habit of writing letters to the Duke of Buckingham, who was then deceased. A friend had fallen in with some of these letters, and was then collecting all he could of them, to prevent them from falling into improper hands; for he supposed that they might contain matters political; and as Penn was then daily watched by the new Government as a person suspected to be hostile to it, he thought there might be expressions in them, which might be so twisted and misinterpreted by his enemies, as to afford a handle for putting him to trouble. In a letter to this friend, thanking him for his kindness, he speaks as follows: