University of Virginia Library

ANSWER.

Whether I did heartily press reformation in pursuance of your Lordship's
letter, your Lordship will more readily apprehend from the copy of my speech
to the Convention, than from these hard prognostications of it. And though,
by means of this letter of the Governor's and other more clandestine prepossessions,
they were sufficiently inflamed, your Lordship will observe
that, instead of accusing me of any irregularities, when I put the question,
Whether any of them knew of any that did not punctually conform to the
established Liturgy, they answered only that there were several things
that were not observed by any, by reason of the circumstances of the country,
which particulars were ordered to be mentioned by the committee
appointed to answer your Lordship's letter, and that your Lordship's directions
be requested therein. But the worst innuendo of all is a doubt here
suggested, and more industriously circulated in his private insinuations,—
at least in the insinuations of his emissaries,—as if I never had Episcopal
ordination. The Governor, indeed words it somewhat doubtfully. "Espe

cially (says he) if he made no such promise at his ordination as his Bishop
reminds you all of". He was satisfied before that I was ordained with
Episcopal ordination in Scotland. The doubt he here suggests is concerning
the form of that ordination,—whether it had any such stipulation as the
English form has. I had told him that I was ordained by the very same
English book of ordination,—as indeed I was. But, if he could not believe
that,—having it only from my own testimony,—he might have remembered
that I showed him my license under the hand and seal of your Lordship's
predecessor, in which, among other things, is certified that I promised to
conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as by law established;
so that there was no occasion for throwing out this reflection.

These are the accusations I am charged with in that letter: the sum of
which is,—1st. A difference of opinion about presentation, which I own,
and have given your Lordship my reasons for it; which yet I humbly
submit to your more mature judgment. 2d. Some few irregularities as to
the Liturgy, which were owing partly to sickness and weakness disabling
me at that time to perform the whole service, and partly to the circumstances
of the country, which will not admit of exact conformity as in
England. This will be more fully explained in the clergy's answer to your
Lordship's letter.

But that all this heat and anger should break out now, when the pretended
causes were the same all along,—both during his nine years' government
and all his predecessors', from the first seating of the country,—
everybody here observes is owing to his late resentments because I could
not go along with him in several late innovations, which have given such
distaste to the country that our House of Burgesses have complained of
them to his Majesty. Had he taken the advice of the Council, he might
have made himself and the country easy. But he is so wedded to his own
notions that there is no quarter for them that go not into them. He is
now endeavouring to remove several gentleman of the Council of the most
unblemished characters. But, his resentment having more ways to reach
me than any of the rest, he has exerted himself to the utmost of his endeavours
both to ruin me with the College and my parish and your Lordship.
But your Lordship's backwardness to discard an old servant without
some crime proved against him, and the clearness of my title to be president
of the College by the charter, and the love of my parishioners, give him great
uneasiness,—though my interest is a very unequal match for his. The
fair, candid way with which your Lordship has used me, notwithstanding
the vast pains he has taken to supplant me with your Lordship, has laid me
under great obligations of gratitude, and the highest esteem of your Lordship's
candour and justice.

I doubt not there are many other things laid to my charge which I have
never heard of, and therefore cannot answer at this distance. But, if your
Lordship will give me leave to come home, I hope I shall be able to clear
myself of all imputations to your Lordship, as I had the good fortune

to do formerly in the like case to your Lordship's predecessor, who sifted
all those matters to the bottom.

I hope your Lordship will pardon all this trouble. God forgive them
who have occasioned it. I am only on the defensive. The equity of my
judge gives me great boldness,—knowing that I have endeavoured to keep
a good conscience, and that whereinsoever I have erred I am ready to
submit to your Lordship's judgment, and to correct whatever you think
amiss in my conduct.