Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/58

48 reaſon can be given for Mr. Prior’s attachment to her, but that ſhe was his taſte. Her huſband ſuffered their intrigue to go on unmoleſted; for he was proud even of ſuch a connexion as this, with ſo great a man as Prior; a ſingular inſtance of good nature.

In the year 1715 Mr. Prior was recalled from France, and upon his arrival was taken up by a warrant from the Houſe of Commons; ſhortly after which, he underwent a very ſhort examination by a Committee of the Privy Council. His political friend, lord Bolingbroke, foreſeeing a ſtorm, took ſhelter in France, and ſecured Harry, but left poor Matt, in the lurch.

On the 10th of June Robert Walpole, eſq; moved the Houſe againſt him, and on the 17th Mr. Prior was ordered into cloſe cuſtody, and no perſon was admitted to ſee him without leave from the Speaker. For the particulars of this procedure of the Parliament, both againſt Mr. Prior, and many others concerned in the public tranſactions of the preceding reign, we refer to the hiſtories of that time. In the year 1717 an Act of Grace was paſſed in favour of thoſe who had oppoſed the Hanoverian ſucceſſion, as well as thoſe who had been in open rebellion, but Mr. Prior was excepted out of it. At the cloſe of this year, however, he was diſcharged from his confinement, and retired to ſpend the reſidue of his days at Downhall in Eſſex.

The ſevere uſage which Mr. Prior met with, perhaps was the occaſion of the following beautiful lines, addreſſed to his Chloe; From public noiſe, and factious ſtrife, From all the buſy ills of life, Take