Sancroft

Sancroft, WILLIAM (1616-93), Archbishop of Canterbury, was born in Suffolk, and graduated at Cambridge. He was made Dean of York in 1664, and later Dean of St, Paul's, and in 1677 was raised to the see of Canterbury. He was a man of much power and great obstinacy, and was one of the seven bishops who were sent to the Tower for drawing up the petition against the illegalities of James II. He took a prominent part in the events which followed the flight of James and the arrival of the Prince of Orange. In 1691, for refusing to take the oaths to William and Mary, he was deprived of his see, but absolutely declined to leave Lambeth Palace. When finally obliged to retire to his native place, he endeavoured to set up a new Church.