Yet he began, as soon as James was on the throne, to express a strong inclination towards Popery, and at length in private affected to be a convert.

This abject hypocrisy had been rewarded by a place in the Ecclesiastical Commission.

[285] Before that formidable tribunal now appeared the Vicechancellor of the University of Cambridge, Doctor John Pechell.

He was a man of no great ability or vigour, but he was accompanied by eight distinguished academicians, elected by the Senate.

One of these was Isaac Newton, Fellow of Trinity College, and Professor of mathematics.