Sacheverel

By William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

Henry Sacheverel, who died on June 5th, 1724, was a High Church divine and Tory politician. He preached two sermons criticising the Whig ministry for which he was prosecuted by Godolphin and suspended from preaching for three years. Public feeling ran high in his favor causing riots in the streets of London at the time of his trial.

A SUDDEN conflict rises from the swell

Of a proud slavery met by tenets strained

In Liberty’s behalf. Fears, true or feigned,

Spread through all ranks; and lo! the Sentinel

Who loudest rang his pulpit ’larum bell,

Stands at the Bar, absolved by female eyes

Mingling their glances with grave flatteries

Lavished on Him—that England may rebel

Against her ancient virtue. High and Low,

Watchwords of Party, on all tongues are rife;

As if a Church, though sprung from heaven, must owe

To opposites and fierce extremes her life—

Not to the golden mean, and quiet flow

Of truths that soften hatred, temper strife.

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