[1][2] In February 1681 a certain Edward Fitzharris, wrote a libelous letter against the king James II of England, for this he was sent to the Tower of London.
The chaplain of the Tower, Hawkins, operating in the interests of the court, offered Fitzharris a pardon if he would accuse a member of the House of Commons, Lord Howard of Escrick, of writing the libel against the king.
[6] In April 1688, the catholic James II of England[7] re-issued his Declaration of Indulgence[c] and ordered the Anglican clergy to read it in their churches.
[8] James appointed an Ecclesiastical Commission to find out the names of the clergy who had refused to read out the declaration.
One who did not was Hawkins, who previously had been appointed by James as chaplain to the Chapel of St. Peter within the Tower of London.