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ing his authority, he with the other commissioners was impeached of high treason, and escaped solely by the influence of his wealth. Though present at the first parliament under Henry IV. which in 1399 deprived Richard the second of his crown, he did not assist at the council which pronounced on him the sentence of perpetual imprisonment. His health was at this time fast declining, and being unable to perform his episcopal functions, he nominated two coadjutors to his see, and quietly waited for that inevitable fate which should release him from all worldly care : he expired in September, 1406, in the eighty fifth year of his age. Having lived in a state of celibacy, and possessing the most ample wealth, he was enabled to gratify the spirit of munificent liberality by which he is pre-eminently distinguished. In addition to the numerous other buildings he created and repaired within his own diocese, in the course of ten years he rebuilt in the gothic style the cathedtal of Winchester, which had been a Saxon edifice of the eleventh century. His college at Oxford, was known by the name of New College, was completed in 1388, in the turbulent reign of Richard the second, as was also the school or college at Winchester, from which it was to be supplied with students; this was finished in 1393. Whatever charges the

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

violence of party, may have preferred against this prelate in his life, impartial posterity has regarded him with the highest admiration; almost superior to the age in which he lived, he possessed all the noble qualities that distinguished it, and seems to have been exempt from its defects.

TILLOTSON.

It appears, from the series of portraits preserved in the great dining room at Lambeth palace, that Archbishop Tillotson was the first to wear a wig: which however, resembled his natural hair, and was worn without powder. It has been said of Dr. Barrow that he wrote longer sermons than any man of his time; of Archbishop Tillotson, it may be said that he wrote a greater number. The latter was appointed Clerk of the closet to king William, in 1689, and afterwards dean of St. Pauls. There is a curious letter of his, to Lady Russell, in which he says "After I had kissed the king's hand for "the deanery of St. Pauls, I gave his majesty

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my most humble thanks, and told him, that 66 now he had set me at ease for the remainder "of my life. He replied, 'no such matter, I assure you,' and spoke plainly about a great

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"charge it on my conscience. Just as he said "this, he was called to supper, and I had only "time to say that when his majesty was at lei366 sure, I did believe I could satisfy him that it "would be most for his service that I should " continue in the station in which he had now placed me. This hath brought me into a real "difficulty. For on the one hand it is hard to "decline his majesty's commands, and much "harder yet to stand out against so much good"ness as his majesty is pleased to hold towards "me. This I owe to the bishop of Salisbury, 166 one of the best and worst friends I know: 'best "for his singular good opinion of me, and the "worst for desiring the king to this method, "which I knew he did; as if I and his lordship “had concerted the matter, how to finish this "foolish piece of dissimulation in running away "from a bishopric to catch an archbishopric." He was nominated to the see of Canterbury, April 15, 1691.

RICHARD KEDERMINSTER.

This amiable aud learned man was the last abbot but one, who presided over the monastery of Winchcombe, in Gloucestershire, to which office he was elected in 1488. His wise government, and the protection he afforded to virtue

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