Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 49.djvu/259

 death (11 Nov. 1686) of Colin Falconer, bishop of Moray, Rose was nominated by the king (17 Dec.) as his successor. The patent was issued on 7 April 1687, and Rose was consecrated at St. Andrews on 11 May. He held in commendam, as Falconer had done, the first charge in the collegiate church of Elgin. The see of Edinburgh had been vacated by the nomination (21 Jan. 1687) of John Paterson (1632–1708) [q. v.] to the archbishopric of Glasgow, in the place of Alexander Cairncross [q. v.] arbitrarily deprived. At the instance of Colin Lindsay, third earl of Balcarres [q. v.], Rose was nominated in the congé d'élire for Edinburgh. When the chapter met (22 Dec.) for the election, several members, headed by Andrew Cant (d. 1730), minister of Trinity collegiate Church, and grandson of Andrew Cant [q. v.], declared that they elected Rose only in compliance with the royal mandate. He was appointed on 22 Jan. 1688.

With the fall of James II, Rose became an important figure in ecclesiastical politics. On 3 Nov. 1688 the Scottish bishops met at Edinburgh, and drew up a loyal address to the king. A month later they commissioned Rose, with Andrew Bruce (d. 1700), bishop of Orkney, to go up to London in support of James's cause, and to confer with Sancroft on the position of affairs. Bruce's illness caused some delay. Rose took the journey alone, and, reaching London, found that James had fled.

Rose's account of the negotiations that followed is given in his letter of October 1713 to the nonjuring bishop, Archibald Campbell (d. 1744) [q. v.] He acted with unblemished propriety, but he was not the man to cope with the crisis. His position was isolated, and in the absence of instructions he would not speak for his party. The presbyterian interest was in the strong hands of William Carstares [q. v.], whom he does not seem to have approached. Sancroft told him the English bishops were too much perplexed about their own situation to be able to advise others. Francis Turner, bishop of Ely, did all he could for him. William Lloyd (1627–1717) [q. v.], bishop of St. Asaph, though a personal friend, showed him no sympathy. Hearing of the Cameronian outbreak at Christmas in the west of Scotland, Rose sought the interposition of William, through Burnet, who told him that he ‘did not meddle with Scottish affairs.’ Henry Compton (1632–1713) [q. v.], bishop of London, counselled a direct address to William. The same advice was urged by George Mackenzie, viscount Tarbat [q. v.], and other Scottish peers. It would have been necessary to congratulate William on coming to deliver the country from ‘popery and slavery.’ Rose neither felt authorised to do this, nor did it fall in with his own scruples. After the vote of abdication (28 Jan. 1689) he was for returning at once to Scotland, when he found a pass from William was necessary. Compton undertook to introduce him to William. He was accompanied to Whitehall by Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh [q. v.], who suggested a deputation from the Scottish nobility and gentry to wait upon William in the episcopalian interest. William declined to see more than two, lest the presbyterians should take umbrage. At the same time he intimated to Rose, through Compton, that he understood that the bulk of the Scottish nobility and gentry were for episcopacy. Next day Rose was admitted to see William, who hoped he would be ‘kind’ to him ‘and follow the example of England.’ Rose answered, ‘Sir, I will serve you so far as law, reason, or conscience will allow me.’ Upon this, ‘instantly the prince, without saying any more, turned away from me and went back to his company.’ The opportunity was lost. William Douglas, third duke of Hamilton [q. v.], who presided at the Scottish convention of estates, told Rose from William that ‘nothing should be done to the prejudice of episcopacy in Scotland, in case the bishops could by any means be brought to befriend his interest.’ At the opening of the convention (14 March 1689) Rose prayed for the safety and restoration of King James, a proceeding rebuked by resolution of the house. He did not sign the declaration (16 March) that the convention was a free and lawful meeting. The declaration (11 April) against prelacy was followed (13 April) by the enactment enjoining all ministers to pray for William and Mary. Refusing to transfer their allegiance, the Scottish bishops no longer took their seats in the convention, which became a parliament on 5 June. The act for the abolition of prelacy was passed on 22 July 1689; that for establishing presbyterian government on 7 June 1690.

The deprived bishops made no attempt to maintain their diocesan jurisdiction, but they remained faithful to their order, with the exception of John Gordon (1644–1726) [q. v.], the last survivor of the deprived hierarchy, who left the country, and ultimately became a Roman catholic. Of the thirteen others, only five were left at the death (13 June 1704) of the primate, Arthur Ross.

At this juncture the surviving bishops (practically four, as William Hay (d. 1707), bishop of Moray, was paralysed) resolved upon continuing the episcopal order by con-