The life of William Penn

Preface

The following Memoir is chiefly taken from ^n anonymous work published in London several years since. For the alterations and additions made by myself, 1 have relied principally on the authority of Graham and Proud. The Sketch of the Early History of Pennsylvania, is part of a work commenced some years since for the use of schools, but never completed. I thought that it would make an appropriate introduction to the life of the great Founder of Pennsylvania, as it furnishes the reader with the leading facts in the history of the State antecedent to the arrival of Penn ; and brings the narrative down to the period of that important and auspicious event.

A*

COIVTENTS.

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Chapter I

Birth and Parentage of William Penn — He is sent to school at Chigwell — Early religious impressions — He is removed to a private seminary on Tower HUl — Enters Christ's Church College at Oxford — Imbibes the opinions of Thomas Loe-Is expelled from College — Trave Is in France—

VIII CONTENTTS.

Is instructed by Moses Amyrault— Visits Italy—Returns to England. . , . . . 1^

CHAPTER 11.

Penn's religious impressions continue— He is sent bv his

fether to Ireland to the court of the Duke of Ormond

Goes to superintend his father's estates in the county of P°S~?^^-®t^ ^^^]^ ^i* Thomas Loe— Attaches himself to the Society of Quakers or Friends— Imprisoned for attending one of their meetings— Released by the Earl of Orrery— Returns to his father— Controversy respecting the hat— .-Dismissed from his father's house—Becomes a preacher and an author. • ... 25'

Chapter III

Principles of the Quakers— Controversy with the Presbyterians— Wm. Penn publishes "The Sandy Foundation Shaken; and IS consequently imprisoned in the Tower of London— Writes "No Cross, No Crown," during his imprisonment—Character of that work— Penn writes to Lord Arlington— Substance of the letter— It is disregarded— fenn publishes " Innocency with her open face"— Is re-

i leased from his imprisonment by the king. . 30

Chapter IV

Wm. Perin attends at the death-bed of Thomas Loe— Loe's exhortation— Penri's father permits him to return to his house— Sends him to Ireland on business— he preaches tbere returns to England, and is completely reconciled tohis father— Passage of the Conventicle act— Its character— Penn preaches in Gracechurch street — Penn and WUJiam Meade are sent to Newgate prison— Their trial Th"?^ -n?- f ^^^ Old Bailey-The^ justices-The jury- ?i^.H''V'^'''^™^''^~P¥— P^'soners placed at the bar— ?lntl L^^^r^^u^^-^"' hats— Witnesses examined— .r^^J^r j}i?T^ *° ^^^ judges— Penn's memorable contronfth^o Y^?!^ recorder— His appeal to the jury— Attempts h rv Sn° intimidate the jury~Penn's defence of the ffi7.7" T^^'f %J"^.y andof Penn— Verdict of "Not Suh 7hp ^tu>-ned--The jury fined— Penn's controversy S,fP ^nil^'^T^?"'' ^-"^ ^^^^e areagainsenttoNewfhlftEi J}~^T^V,'^^'y imprisoned— Admiral Penn pays Ihe'ir^hSvaHolJ:"^-''"" '"' ^"^- ^--^e-^nd proc^ures

CONTENTS. IX

Chapter V

Admiral Penn's last advice to his son — His death — Wm. Penn goes to Oxford — His letter to the Vice Chancellor — Wra. Penn retires to his family seat in Buckinghamshire — Writes 'A Seasonable Caveat against Popery' — Returns to London — Imprisoned again in the Tower of London for preaching — Taken before the justices— Refuses to take an oath—Nobly repels an attack on his moral character — Is imprisoned for refusing the oath. . . 51

CHAPTER VL

Works written by Penn during his imprisonment — He is liberated, and travels and preaches in Germany — He is married — Preaches in England — Publishes several new works. . . . . . . .59

Chapter VII

Penn preaches in the West of England — His controversy with Thomas Hicks — Meeting at Barbican — Penn's letter to George Fox — His controversy with John Faldo— Dr. Moore's encomium on Penn's works. . . 64

Chapter VIII

Wm. Penn's appeal on the subject of toleration — His letter to the King — Persecutions — Wm. Penn's tract entitled " England's Present Interest" — His work entitled " The continued cry of the oppressed for justice" — His exertions in behalf of George Fox — His letter to Fox — Fox's release. . . . ... 75

Chapter IX

Penn's controversy with Richard Baxter — His letter to Baxter — His letters to Fenwick — He writes to Elizabeth Princess Palatine of the Rhine — Penn becomes a manager of the colonial concerns in New Jersey — Division of New Jersey — He forms a constitution for the colony — Outline of the constitution — Settlers invited. . 84

Contents

Arrangement with Byllinge's creditors — The Commissioners appointed — They embark for America — They receive the King's blessing — Penn receives a letter from the Princess Elizabeth — Penn visits Holland — He writes to the King of Poland — He visits the Princess Elizabeth — His success in preaching — He visits many German cities — Labodie and his followers — Anna Maria Schurmans — Penn's second visit to the Princess — Returns to Amsterdam— Controversy with Abrahams — Penn's preaching at Wonderwick — Embarks at the Brill — Returns to London, and thence to his seat at Worminghurst. 93

Chapter XI

Penn despatches 800 settlers for New Jersey — The Popish Plot — Persecutions of the Dissenters — Penn's petition to the House of Commons — He addresses the members — It is well received — His second Address — The desired bill passes the Commons — Penn's tract, entitled England's Great Interest in the choice of a New Parhament — ^Penn's exertions in behalf of Algernon Sydney. . 106

Chapter XII

Peath of the Princess Elizabeth — Penn's claims on the British Government on account of his father's services and expenditures—The petition for a grant of territory in America — His motive for this proceeding— He obtains a charter tor Pennsylvania— Substance of the charter — Penn rehnquishes the management of West New Jersey — Situation of the colony — Penn publishes his " Account of Pennsylvania," and the "Concessions" — Account of the "Concessions" — Penn's "Frame of Government"— It secures liberty of conscience — Settlers sent out to Pennsylvania with Colonel Markham— Penn's letter to Robert Vickris. 131

Chapter XIII

Death of Penn's mother — He pubhshes his " frame of government" — Preface of this instrument — Its chief provisions — Penn obtains a deed of release tor Pennsylvania from the Duke of York — He obtains the tract of land called the Territories, (Delaware) — Penn's letter to his wife and children — His interview and conversation with king Charles II. . . . . , 131

CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XIV

Penn sails from Deal — Lands at Newcastle — Is joyfully received — Takes legal possession of the country — Addresses the magistrates — Renews their commissions — Proceeds to Upland — First General Assembly — The Assembly passes the Act of Union and the Act of Settlement — Character of its other Acfs — Penn's interview with Lord Baltimore — Penn's Treaty with the Indians— He lays out the plan of Philadelphia — Arrival of two thousand settlers — Wm. Penn's arrangements for the internal government of the colony — He meets the Council and ihe Assembly — Charter amended — Penn journeys through the province — Appoints a provinciEil council — Thomas Loyd president — Penn sails for England, after declining an impost intended for his own benefit — Arrives in England and has an interview with the King and the Duke of York. ..... 152

Chapter XV

Death of Charles II — Accession of James II — Friendship subsisting between Penn and James II — Passage from Gerard Croesse — Penn's successful intercession for John Locke — Penn is suspected of being a Papist — His letter to Doctor TiUotson — Tillotson's apology — Penn's successful appeal in behalf of the Dissenters — Unsatisfactory accounts from the Province — Penn appoints a new Council — Accession of William Prince of Orange to the throne of England — Unpleasant situation of Penn — He is examined before the Lords of the Council — Is discharged — Act of Toleration passed — Penn is ae:ain arrested and brought before the Lords of the Councir~His examination — He is again discharged — Proposes to embark for America — Is again arrested — Takes private lodgings in London — Is deprived of his government of Pennsylvania — His noble conduct under this reverse— His government restored— Death of William Penn's wife — Penn's second marriage — Death of his son Springett Penn — Visit to Ireland — Second \ oyage to America — Arrival — Treaty with the Indians— Penn recalled to England by the state of affairs — He grants his last charter to the Province — Returns to England — Death of William III — Accession of Queen Anne — His favour at court — Literary pursuits — Penn's law-suit with Ford — He is a prisoner in the Fleet—He mortgages the Province of Pennsylvania— He is released and restored to his family— His health fails—He offers to sell his province to the British government. , 166

XII

COIVTENTS.

Chapter XVI

Gradual decay of Penn's health— His death--His Funeral— His Will--Comparativevalueof his European and American possessions — Penn's character . . 196

. . . . .201

Questions.

Constitution of Pennsylvania.

SKETCH

OF THE

EARLY HISTORY

OF

PENNSYLVANIA..

Chapter 1

The different Nations who founded Colonies in North America.

In order to settle clearly in the minds of young readers the period at which our narrative commences, we mention certain other important dates in American history, to be compared with that of the settlement of Pennsylvania. Such dates serve as land-marks from which to take our departure in beginning the course of our story ; and they are important to be remembered.

The discovery of the New World was effected by Columbus in the year 1492. The

Z HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

first land which he reached was one of the Bahama islands. He was in the service of the king of Spain, and hence it happened that a considerable portion, both of North and South America, were for a long period afterwards under the dominion of Spain; although none of these extensive territories, now belong to Spain, excepting two of the West India Islands, Cuba and Porto Rico.

The continent of America was discovered by John and Sebastian Cabot, June 24th, 1797. The part of the coast which they first reached was Labrador. They were in the service of England; and with their voyage commenced a series of discoveries and settlements which made our country the seat of numerous English colonies, of which Pennsylvania was one.

The earliest permanent settlement made in the territory which now belongs to the United States, was effected by the Spaniards under Pedro Melendez at St. Augustine, in Florida, on the 8th of September, 1565. St. Augustine must, therefore, be considered the oldest town in the United States.

The next settlement was made by an English colony headed by the famous Captain John Smith, at Jamestown, in Virginia, May, loth, 1607. This was the earliest English settlement in our country.

The French were also early settlers in North

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA, S

i^merica. An expedition from France under the command of Samuel Champlain, founded Quebec on July 3d, 1608. The lake which lies between Vermont and New York received its name from this adventurer; and the settlement which he effected gave to his countrymen the possession of Canada until it was wrested from them by the English.

Hudson sailing up the Hudson Eiver.

The Dutch under Henry Hudson sailed up the Hudson River in 1609, and began the settlement of the province of New York, which they called New Netherlands, in 1614.

The Swedes landed at Cape Henlopen, in 1638, and began the settlement of Delaware, and what is now called Pennsylvania. Hoerkill, now called Lewistown, Wilmington, Chester and Manayunk, were amongst the first places settled by them. The settlements of the Dutch and Swedes were soon after brought under the dominion of England, (1664); the Dutch and Swedish colonists mingled with the English; and their descendants still remain among us.

Thus it appears that North America was originally colonized by several different nations, a.i different periods; and although the greater part of their colonies were speedily united under the British Government, we are nevertheless indebted to all these nations for the settlement of the territory, as well as for subsequent emigrations which have increased its population and wealth.

CHAPTER II. Early Settlements on Delaware Bay and River

The first explorer of Delaware bay and river was Captain May, who, as early as the year 1621, sailed up the river as far as Gloucester Point, in New Jersey, not far below the place where Philadelphia now is, where, with other settlers, he formed a village, and built Fort Nassau for its defence.

HISTORY or PENNSYLVANIA. 5

It was from this Captain May, that Cape May received its name. These Dutch settlers at Gloucester Point came from the neighboring colony of New York. The Dutch also formed a colony at New Castle, in Delaware, near Cape Henlopen, in 16S0. This little settlement, to which they gave the name of Svvaenendael, was soon destroyed by the Indians. The Dutch navigator De Vries afterwards attempted to restore this colony, but without success.

The Building of Fort Nassau.

r

During the year 1688, according to Mr. Gordon's history, the Swedes visited Cape Henlopen, which they named Paradise Point,

1* and began their settlements on the Delaware bay and river. In that year they built a town which they called Stockholm, in the place where New Castle now is, and began the settlement of Wilmington, which they named Christianna.

At the Island of Tenecum, in the Delaware, a few miles below Philadelphia, a settlement was made by John Printz, who had been appointed governor of the Swedish colony on the Delaware. On this island he built a fort which they called New Gottenburgh, and erected some houses, a church, and the governor's house, to which they gave the name of Printz's hall.

Many other places within the present state of Pennsylvania, as well as in Delaware, were settled originally by the Swedes. Among them Watson enumerates, Mocoponaca, the present town of Chester, Manaiung, a fort at the mouth of the Schuylkill, Chincessing, now Kingsessing township, Korsholm fort in Passaiung, and many other places in the immediate neighborhood.

The Dutch colonists of New York appear to have regarded the Swedes as rivals and intruders from the beginning. They built a fort which they called fort Kasimer, at New Castle, in 1651, in spite of the remonstrances of the Swedes who settled there, and of their

HISTORY OP PENNSYLVANIA. 7

governor Printz, who solemnly protested against what he considered an invasion of his rights. This fort was afterwards taken by a stratagem of the Swedish commander Risingh.

But the Swedes were not destined to retain the country as a colony of Sweden. In 1655, Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch governor of New Netherlands, embarked from New Amsterdam* with 6 vessels and 700 men, for the purpose of conquering New Sweden, as the Swedes called their territory, and succeeded without much resistance in reducing the whole country. He then destroyed tlie fortifications and public buildings, and carried off the most distinguished among the colonists, leaving only the common people, who were mingled without distinction among their conquerors and the subsequent settlers.

The triumph of the Dutch, however, was destined to be short. In 1664 King Charles 1]. of England, without any regard to the circumstance of its being already settled by the Dutch, thought proper to grant all the large territory, not only of New Holland hut New Sweden, to his brother the Duke of York; and the country was taken possession of by an expedition of three ships and six hundred men, under the command of Col. Richard Nichols.

* Now New York.

8 HISTORY OF PENJVSYLVANIA.

New Amsterdam was thenceforth called New York, in honor of the Duke. New Jersey was included in the king's grant to the Duke, who afterwards possessed himself of the west shore of the Delaware, and claimed Pennsylvania also.

Although the country which was afterwards granted to William Penn by King Charles II., is spoken of in the charter as not yet cultivated and planted ; yet we see that a small portion was actually settled by the Swedes, and afterwards passed successively into the hands of the Dutch and the English long before the effective and permanent settlement by Penn was made.

Chapter III

How William Penn first came to take an interest in American Affairs.

After the occupation of New York by the English colonel, Nichols was appointed Governor by the Duke of York, and that province as well as the other settlements on Delaware bay and river, were governed by him for nearly three years, with a degree of wisdom and impartiality which gained for him the approbation of all parties. He regulated the mode

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. U

of purchasing land of the Indians, and required a regular registry of their deeds to the settlers, He also incorporated the city of New York, and settled the boundary between New York and Connecticut.

He was succeeded by Colonel Francis Lovelace in May, 1667. Governor Lovelace began his administration by requiring that grants of land, upon the Delaware, which had been made by the Dutch, should be renewed ; and that new grants should all proceed from the English authorities. A Swedish adventurer called the Long Finne, endeavoured^to excite a rebellion against the English authority, and to restore his countrymen to the sovereignty of their beloved New Sweden. He' gained some adherents; but after a short time he was arrested, tried and sentenced to death ; but his sentence was subsequently changed and he was whipped, branded with the letter R. on his breast, and transported to Barbadoes, and sold as a slave for four years. This severe punishment, and the fines imposed on his adherents, prevented further disturbance from that quarter.

The Indians gave some trouble to the English during the administration of Governor Lovelace. Murders were committed by them which the Indians themselves ascribed to the use of ardent spirits,and begged the white peopie to prohibit the sale of them. This remarkable request by the Indians seems to have been disregarded, and further disturbance was the consequence- One anecdote, related by Mr. Gordon in this connection, is so strikingly illustrative of the Indian character that we quote it.

An Indian named Tashiowycan, having lost a beloved sister by death, expressed great grief, and declared " that the Mannetto * having killed his sister, he would go and kill the Christians." Accordingly taking with him a companion, he proceeded to an island in the Delaware below Bordentown, now known as Newhold's Island, and murdered two Dutchmen who were resident there.

Governor Lovelace demanded the murderers, and their surrender was promised, but delayed. Preparations were made for an Indian war ; and the Indians who were friendly to the whites were invited to join them in punishing the aggressors. Fortunately the hostile Indians engaged to deliver up the murderers before the commencement of actual hostilities.

They came to the wigwam of Tashiowycan by night. He asked one of them, who was his particular friend, if he intended to kill him ?

•The Great Spirit, or God.

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

His friend replied '^No; but the sachems have ordered you to die." <' What," returned Tashiowycan, ''say my brothers?" ''They also say you must die;" was the response.

The Death of Tashiowycan.

"Then," cried he, holding his hands before his eyes, "kill me." Instantly one of the executioners, not his friend, however, shot him through the body with two balls, and completed his death by several strokes of the tomahawk on the head. His body was taken to Newcastle, and there hung in chains. Thus died Tashiowycan, a voluntary sacrifice to preserve his countrymen from the calamities of war. The other Indian who had assisted him in killing the white men, saved himself by flight ; but he had not been able to persuade Tashiovvycan to accompany him.

A part of the country on Delaware bay had been claimed by Lord Baltimore, the proprietor of Maryland; and during the administration of Governor Lovelace, the Marylanders took possession of Hoarkill, from which, however, they were speedily dislodged.

In 1673, Charles 11. having declared war with the Dutch, that nation sent an expedition under the command of Cornelius Evertse and Jacob Benke, who recaptured New York without opposition. The treachery of Captain Manning,who commanded the fort at the Narrows, is assigned as the cause of this easy victory. He was tried and cashiered for the offence. The country was soon after restored to the English by treaty.

After the recovery of the provinces, a new patent was granted to the Duke of York by the king. Sir Edmund Andross was made Governor, and received the surrender of the territories from the Dutch.

During Governor Andross's administration (25th September, 1675) the dominion of the Duke of York was extended by purchase over all the west shore of the Delaware^ then settled by Europeans.

On the 24th of June, 1664, the province of

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA. io

New Jersey was granted by the Duke of York to John, Lord Berkeley, and Sir George Carteret, who immediately proceeded to establish a regular government for the country. Settlers increased rapidly in this pleasant and fertile region; and Elizabethtown, Newark, Middletown and Shrewsbury were soon settled.

In 1675 Lord Berkeley sold his half of the province of New Jersey to John Fenwicke, in trust for Edward Byllinge. These gentlemen were both members of the society of Friends. At the close of the year, Fenwicke sailed for the bay of Delaware, and with his family and dependants, who of course were Friends, formed a settlement at Salem, a place in New Jersey situated on the Delaware river.

Governor Andross disputed the proprietary rights of Fenwicke, who was arrested and carried to New York twice by the Governor's orders. But he was not prevented by these arbitrary acts from continuing his operations as a proprietor.

Edward Byllinge, the Friend who had purchased New Jersey from the Duke of York, being involved in debt, assigned his property, in that province, to William Penn, Gawen Lawrie and Nicholas Lucas, in trust for his creditors. These trustees made a division of the province with Sir George Carteret, and took the western portion of the province which they called West New Jersey. The first governor of this province was Edward Byllinge, and the first assembly for enacting laws was called by his deputy, Jennings, November, 1681.

The cursory account of leading events in the history of New York and New Jersey, which we have just given, was deemed necessary in order to make the reader acquainted with the train of circumstances by which William Penn, the real founder of our state> was first made acquainted with the country, and led to take an earnest, and lively interest^ in its concerns. His being appointed one of the trustees of Edward i3yllinge, although it may seem a trifling circumstance, was attended with results of the utmost importance to Pennsvlvania.

Chapter IV

Settlements of the Priendis in New Jersey and Pennsylvania previous to Penn's obtaining his Charter.

In consequence of being appointed one of the trustees of Edward Byllinge, William Penn became one of the chief instruments in settling West New Jersey, and thereby acquired considerable knowledge of the neighboring country of Pennsylvania, before it received that name, or was assigned to him. It appears that he took a very active part in making known to the Society of Friends in England the advantages otFered to settlers in East and West New Jersey, and that in consequence of his representations many parties of his brethren came out, purchased lands, and built towns and villages. These were chiefly on the Eastern shore of the Delaware river. The settlement of Salem has been already noticed. Burlington was laid out in 1677.* The first inhabitants were a considerable number of respectable families from Forkshire, and other places in England. Other settlers from Wicaco, the Swedes' settlement on the Delaware, came in the latter part of October of the same year ; and in consequence of the lateness of the season were obliged to erect a kind of wigwams, like those of the Indians, for their accommodation during the winter. The Indians, who were very friendly, supplied them with corn and venison.

In December 1678, the Shield, from Hull, in England, anchored off Burlington. This, says Proud, in his History of Pennsylvania, %vas the first ship that came so far up the

* Proud's History, Vol. 1, p. 145.

Delaware. Opposite to Coaquannock, the Indian name of the place where Philadelphia now stands, which was a bold and high shore, she went so near to it in turning, that part of the rigging struck the trees. Some of the passengers observed, " It was a fine situation for a town;" hardly supposing that it was to become the site of one of the largest cities in the w^estern world.

The settlements of the Friends were not confined to the eastern shore of the Delaware. Upland, (now Chester, Pennsylvania.) was settled by them in 1675, and Kensington, and several other places on the w^estern shore, are noticedi by the historians as having been occupied hy them as well as by the remains of the Swedish, Dutch, and English settlers, to whose early possession of the soil we have already referred.

Of these early settlements, previous to the grant of our State to William Penn, the notices in history are scanty and often contradictory. Little is known with certainty concerning the precise extent to which the country was cleared and peopled. The inhabitants, however, were certainly few, and their little towns and hamlets widely scattered along the shore of the river and the contiguous country — a state of things which promised but a slow and uncertain growth to the colony, and but

HISTORY OP PENNSYLVANIA. 17

for the sagacity and energy of our great founder, no doubt the country would have remained many years a comparative wilderness. He, however, was destined to give it a sudden and powerful impulse ; and to stamp the character of his own strength and wisdom upon the State he founded.

From the moment when he was first concerned in the settlement of Edward Byllinge's estate, he appears to have taken the deepest interest in the affairs of the colonists, and it was not long before he became not only a trustee, but a direct proprietor in American lands. East Jersey w^as, by the last will of its proprietor. Sir George Carteret, ordered to be sold for the payment of his debts; and in February, 1681, William Penn with eleven other persons, became the purchasers. It was only one month afterwards that Penn obtained his famous charter of Pennsylvania from the king.

2#

THE LIFE

OF

WILLIAM PENN.

Chapter I

Birth and parentage of William Penn — He is sent to school at Chigwell — Early religious impressions — He is removed to a private seminary on Tower Hill — Enters Christ's Church College at Oxford — Imbibes the opinions of Thomas Loe—Is expelled from College — Travels in France. Is instructed by Moses Amyrault—Visits Italy — Returns to England.

William Penn was born in London in the year 1644, and was descended from an ancient and respectable family in Buckinghamshire. His father, Admiral Penn, a brave and distinguished officer, was intrusted when very young with the command of the fleet sent against Hispaniola by Oliver Cromwell ; and although unsuccessful, the failure of the expedition was not attributed to any misconduct of the Admiral's ; on the contrary, it was allowed by all, that as far as he was concerned, it was conducted with equal skill and gallantry ; the whole blame having been attached to colonel Venables, who commanded the land forces. — After the restoration of Charles the Second, he commanded under the Duke of York in the memorable naval engagement with the Dutch in 1665, and contributed so materially by his bravery to the success of that well-contested action, that he had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him by that Monarch. Having thus served both Parliament and King, he yet sided with neither during the civil commotions which then agitated his country ; bu~ applying himself to the discharge of his professional duties, which retained him at a dis tance from the scene of civil broil, he was enabled to serve his country without attaching himself to either of the parties of the day. As Wanstead, the then country residence of the Admiral, was contiguous to Chigwell in Essex, it was thought advisable that the subject of the present memoir should receive the first rudiments of his education at an excellent free grammar school established there, some time previously, by Harsnett, archbishop of York. It was said of WilHam Penn, as something remarkable is always said of the early lives of all great men, that during his stayhere, and while alone in his chamber, he was suddenly surprised with an inward grace, and observed, as he imagined, an external gloryin his room ; that he felt firmly impressed with the belief of the existence of a God, and the susceptibility of the immortal soul to hold converse with him : and that he had then received the seal of divinity, and been awakened or called to the exercise of a holy life. However, be this as it may, it is certain that from this period his mind became seriously impressed on the subject of religion.

Having been removed from Chigwell to a private seminary on Tower-hill, he made such rapid progress in his studies that he was considered qualified for college at fifteen years of age; and was accordingly entered a gentleman commoner at Christ's Church, Oxford. Here he became intimate with Robert Spencer, afterwards the earl of Sunderland, the celebrated John Locke, and all those young men who were distinguished either for genius or ability.