Sancroft, William, Dd

Sancroft, William, D.D., An English prelate, was born at Fresingfield, Suffolk, Jan. 13, 1616, and educated at the grammar school of Bury St. Edmunds, and at Emanuel College, Cambridge. In 1642 Sancroft was elected a fellow of his college, but in the following year was deprived of his fellowship by the Puritans for refusing to subscribe to the famous "Engagement;" after which he went abroad. On the restoration of Charles 2, 1660, he was appointed chaplain to Cosin, bishop of Durham. After several preferments he was (1668) made archdeacon of Canterbury, and in 1677 archbishop of Canterbury. When James II issued his declaration for liberty of conscience and required the clergy to sign it, Sancroft refused. With six other bishops who joined him in his refusal, he was sent to the Tower (1688). He refused to take the oath to William and Mary, and was deposed by an act of Parliament, Aug. 1, 1689; but his actual departure from Lambeth did not take place until June 23, 1691. He then retired to his native village, where he died, Nov. 24, 1693. He published some Sermons, and Letters to Mr. North. His Modern Policies and Practices, from Machiavelli and others, was published in 1757.