Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 11.djvu/449

 Pits (De Angliæ Scriptoribus, 393, p. 488) states that Roger flourished in 1360, but this date is plainly derived from Bale's conjecture, for there is no positive evidence to support it, that he lived under Edward III.  COMPTON, HENRY (1632–1713), bishop of London, born at Compton Wynyates, Warwickshire, in 1632, was the sixth and youngest son of Spencer Compton [q. v.], second earl of Northampton, by his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Francis Beaumont. His father was killed at Hopton Heath in 1643, and he himself told James II in 1688 that he had 'formerly drawn his sword in defence of the constitution,' which would imply that as a youth he took some part in the civil wars. He entered Queen's College, Oxford, as a nobleman in 1649, and remained in residence till 1652. After a short time spent in retirement with his mother at Grendon, Northamptonshire, he subsequently travelled abroad, visiting Italy, studying the civil and ecclesiastical constitutions of foreign countries, and, according to a common rumour, 'trailing a pike' at one time under the Duke of York in Flanders. He did not return to England until the Restoration, when he received a cornet's commission in the royal horse guards under the command of Aubrey de Vere, earl of Oxford. Although he never seems to have altogether divested himself of a military bearing, the profession of a soldier proved distasteful to him after a few months' trial, and he determined to transfer himself to the service of the church. He went to Cambridge, where he was admitted M.A. in 1661 ; in the following year took holy orders ; early in 1666 entered Christ Church, Oxford, as a canon commoner by the advice of Dean Fell ; on 7 April was incorporated M.A. of Oxford ; became rector of Cottenham, Cambridgeshire ; and was granted a reversion to the next vacant canonry at Christ Church. In 1667 he was appointed master of the hospital of St. Cross at Winchester ; on 24 May 1669 was installed canon of Christ Church on the death of Dr. Richard Heylin ; and proceeded B.D. (26 May) and D.D. (28 June) in the same year. On 11 July following Compton was ' inceptor in theology ' at the first ' commemoration ' held in the new Sheldonian theatre, and on 17 April 1673 Evelyn heard him preach at court. ' This worthy person's talent,' the diarist added, ' is not preaching, but he is like to make a grave and serious good man.' On 6 Dec. 1674 Compton was consecrated bishop of Oxford at Lambeth, in July 1675 became dean of the Chapel Royal, and in December of the same year was translated to the see of London. His rapid promotion was attributed by some to his bold avowal of hostility to the papists, and by others to the influence of his intimate friend, the Earl of Danby. His high birth will probably account for much. Almost his first act as bishop of London was to confiscate the writings of Joannes Lyserus, a renowned champion of polygamy, and to insist on the author's expulsion from the country (February 1675-6). On 22 Jan. 1675-6 Compton was sworn of the privy council, and he was reinstated in the position on the creation of the new privy council in April 1679. On the death of Archbishop Sheldon in 1677 Danby was popularly credited with endeavouring to secure the archbishopric for Compton; but on this, as on two other occasions, the dignity was peremptorily denied him. The bishop's ' forwardness in persecuting the Roman catholics ' earned for him the distrust of James, duke of York, and this was stated at the time to be the cause of Compton's neglect. The compiler of James II's ' Memoirs ' argues that it was due to the fact that Compton ' was married and his wife alive.' It is usually stated that Compton never married, and the contrary assertion is unconfirmed.

Compton exercised much personal influence at Charles II's court. The religious education of the king's nieces, the Princesses Mary and Anne, daughters of James, duke of York, was entrusted to him, and he carefully indoctrinated them in protestant principles. He thus acquired large powers in James's household, and in November 1677 compelled the duke to dismiss his wife's Roman catholic secretary, Edward Coleman [q. v.], on account of his alleged proselytising activity. Nevertheless Compton consistently opposed the Exclusion Bill. The bishop confirmed his royal pupils on 23 Jan. 1675-6, and performed the marriage ceremony when Princess Mary married William of Orange (4 Nov. 1677), and when Princess Anne married Prince George of Denmark (28 July 1683). The two princesses, each of whom was in turn queen of England, always regarded Compton with affection. Compton christened Charlotte Mary, daughter of the Duke of York (15 Aug. 1682) ; Charles (afterwards second duke of Grafton), Charles II's grandson (30 Oct. 1683), and Mary, daughter of Princess Anne of Denmark (1 June 1685).

From 1678 onwards Compton held frequent, conferences with the clergy of his diocese, in which the practices and doctrines of the established church were fully discussed. He embodied his own addresses in a ' Letter to the Clergy ' (London, 25 April 1679), maintaining-

