His
Grace
the
Lord
Archbishop
of
Canterbury's
Letter
to
the
Reverend
Dr.
Batteley
,
Archdeacon
of
that
Diocese
,
concerning
the
late
Act
against
Popery
,
to
be
communicated
to
the
Clergy
of
his
Archdeaconry
.
Reverend
Sir
,
IT
is
well
known
to
you
,
and
indeed
to
the
whole
Nation
,
how
the
late
Act
for
the
further
preventing
the
growth
of
Popery
,
was
extorted
by
the
provoking
behaviour
of
divers
of
the
Members
of
that
Church
.
Of
this
,
frequent
Complaints
were
made
from
all
parts
of
the
Kingdom
;
representing
the
openness
of
their
Assemblies
,
their
daily
endeavours
to
pervert
His
Majesty's
Natural-born
Subjects
,
and
other
publick
Affronts
to
the
Laws
of
this
Realm
.
The
Parliament
,
notwithstanding
,
in
the
method
of
restraining
them
,
hath
us'd
such
tenderness
both
to
their
Persons
and
Estates
,
as
was
consistent
with
the
preservation
of
our
Religion
,
our
Laws
,
and
the
publick
Peace
.
Particularly
,
the
Favour
that
is
offer'd
to
all
who
shall
embrace
the
Protestant
Faith
,
with
the
allowance
of
reasonable
Time
and
Opportunities
in
order
thereunto
,
are
sufficient
Arguments
that
His
Majesty
and
〈◊〉
Two
Houses
did
principally
intend
,
not
●●eir
Punishment
,
but
their
Conversion
.
In
pursuance
of
which
good
design
,
it
will
become
the
Clergy
,
both
in
Conscience
and
Humanity
,
to
endeavour
their
exemption
from
the
Penalties
of
the
Act
,
by
their
readiness
on
all
Occasions
to
convince
them
of
the
reasonableness
of
the
Change
.
An
Office
the
more
charitable
and
necessary
,
considering
how
they
are
train'd
up
in
a
blind
Obedience
to
their
Church
,
and
not
permitted
by
their
own
Guides
to
search
into
the
true
grounds
and
reasons
of
their
Faith
.
Wherefore
,
I
thought
it
incumbent
on
me
,
especially
at
this
juncture
,
to
desire
you
to
move
the
Clergy
of
your
Archdeaconry
carefully
to
observe
the
LXVI
Canon
,
and
not
to
be
wanting
in
any
assistance
of
this
kind
,
either
where
they
are
invited
to
give
it
,
or
where
on
their
part
it
may
regularly
and
conveniently
be
offer'd
:
But
that
they
be
ready
upon
all
fitting
Occasions
,
as
well
to
lay
open
the
many
dangerous
Errors
of
the
Church
of
Rome
,
as
to
shew
the
Agreeableness
of
the
Doctrine
of
Our
Church
to
the
Holy
Scriptures
,
and
the
purest
Ages
of
Christianity
.
The
successful
Management
hereof
will
require
great
Caution
and
Prudence
;
but
(
being
well
assur'd
of
your
Ability
)
I
leave
it
to
your
Consideration
to
suggest
to
the
Clergy
aforesaid
such
Directions
as
may
seem
necessary
for
their
conduct
in
an
affair
of
this
nature
.
I
would
further
desire
you
to
give
them
notice
of
a
Book
entitl'd
,
An
Address
to
those
of
the
Roman
Communion
in
England
,
occasion'd
by
the
late
Act
;
written
at
my
Request
,
and
now
in
the
Press
.
Not
doubting
of
your
readiness
to
use
all
proper
means
for
the
promoting
a
Work
of
such
Importance
;
I
remain
,
Lambeth
,
May
8th
.
1700.
Sir
,
Your
Affectionate
Brother
,
Tho.
Cantuar.