Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/354

344 There was found in his pocket book, a copy of verſes reflecting on the reigning family, and which might well bear the conſtruction of a libel; but when he was charged with them, he denied that he ever compoſed ſuch verſes, or that the hand-writing was his own, and aſſerted his innocence in every circumſtance relating to the plot. The verſes in all probability were put into his pocket-book, by the ſame perſon, who with ſo much dexterity placed a treaſonable paper in biſhop Atterbury’s cloſe-ſtool, and then pretending to be the diſcoverer of it, preferred it againſt his lordſhip, as an evidence of his diſaffection. The particulars of that memorable tryal are recorded in the Life of Atterbury, written by the authors of Biographia Britannica.—The heats raiſed by Atterbury’s tryal ſubſiding, thoſe who were ſuſpected of being concerned with him, as no evidence appeared ſtrong enough to convict them, were releaſed.

Dr. Yalden was ſtill favoured with the patronage of the generous duke of Beaufort, and his reſidence in that noble family recommended him to the acquaintance of many of the firſt quality and character in the kingdom, and as he was of a chearful temper, and of a pleaſing and inſtructive converſation, he retained their friendſhip and eſteem till his death, which happened the 16th of July, 1736, in the 66th year of his age.

His poetical works are chiefly theſe.

On the Conqueſt of Namure; A Pindaric Ode, inſcribed to his moſt ſacred and victorious majeſty, folio 1695.

The Temple of Fame; a Poem to the memory of the moſt illuſtrious Prince, William Duke of Glouceſter, folio 1700. On