he bar of the house, acknowledged himself
the author of both, and mentioned the encouragement he had received from
the lord mayor to print that which was entitled, "The Perils of False
Brethren." Sir Samuel, who was a member, denied he had ever given him
such encouragement. The doctor being ordered to withdraw, the house
resolved he should be impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors; and Mr.
Dolben was ordered to impeach him at the bar of the house of lords, in
the name of all the commons of England. A committee was appointed to
draw up articles, and Sacheverel was taken into custody. At the same
time, in order to demonstrate their own principles, they resolved that
the reverend Mr. Benjamin Hoadly, rector of St. Peter-le-Poor, for
having often justified the principles on which her majesty and the
nation proceeded in the late happy revolution, had justly merited the
favour and recommendation of the house; and they presented an address
to the queen, beseeching her to bestow some dignity in the church on Mr.
Hoadly, for his eminent service both to the church and state. The
queen returned a civil answer, though she paid no regard to their
recommendation. Hoadly was a clergyman of sound understanding,
unblemished character, and uncommon moderation, who, in a sermon
preached before the lord mayor of London, had demonstrated the
lawfulness of resisting wicked and cruel governors, and vindicated the
late revolution. By avowing such doctrines, he incurred the resentment
of the high churchmen, who accused him of having preached up rebellion.
Many books were written against the maxims he professed. These he
answered; and, in the course of the controversy, acquitted himself
with superior temper, judgment, and solidity of argument. He as well as
Bishop Burnet and several other prelates, had been treated with
great virulence in Sacheverel's sermon, and the-lord treasurer was
scurrilously abused under the name of Volpone. The doctor being
impeached at the bar of the upper house, petitioned that he might be
admitted to bail; but this indulgence was refused, and the commons
seemed bent upon prosecuting him with such severity as gave disgust to
men of moderate principles. Meanwhile the tories were not idle. They
boldly affirmed that the whigs had formed a design to pull down the
church, and that this prosecution was intended to try their strength
before they could proceed openly to the execution of their project.
These assertions were s