Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/353

Rh himſelf the next year, by taking orders, as the founder’s ſtatutes require. After his admiſſion he received two public marks of favour from that ſociety: The firſt was a preſentation to a living in Warwickſhire, conſiſtent with his fellowſhip; and the other, his being elected moral philoſophy-reader, an office for life, endowed with a handſome ſtipend, and peculiar privileges.

In 1706 he was received into the family of his noble and kind patron the duke of Beaufort; with whom he was in very great favour, having in many inſtances experienced his bounty and generoſity. In the following year he compleated his academical degrees, by commencing doctor in divinity: He preſented to the ſociety their founder’s picture in full length, which now hangs up in the public-hall; and afterwards he delivered in to the preſident a voluntary reſignation of his fellowſhip, and moral philoſophy-lecture. He was afterwards preferred to be rector of Chalten in Cleanville, two adjoining towns and rectories in Hampſhire. He was elected by the preſident and governors of Bridewell, preacher of that hoſpital, upon the reſignation of Dr. Atterbury, afterwards lord biſhop of Rocheſter.

Having mentioned this prelate, it will be proper here to obſerve, that upon a ſuſpicion of Dr. Yalden’s being concerned with him, in a plot to reſtore the exiled family; and for which the biſhop was afterwards baniſhed, he was ſeized upon by authority, and committed to priſon. When he was examined before the council, concerning his correſpondence and intimacy with Mr. Kelley the biſhop’s ſecretary; he did not deny his knowledge of, and correſpondence with, him, but ſtill perſiſted in aſſerting, that no meaſures contrary to the conſtitution were ever canvaſſed between them. There