Warden of All Souls, had from his prebend of Canterbury. He apprehends that the debts he fhall lay upon his living will take up the income of it for five or fix years, after the curacy, tenths, taxes, and repairs, are deducted; and he thinks, when things are in that way, thofe who profecute him, will begin to be willing to take much less than they demand, rather than wait fo long for a fequeftration-Or, if they choose the latter, he fhall have time enough to turn himfelf, and to confider of new expedients. And therefore what your Lordship propofed in your last letter, about Dr. Freind, may reft for fome time, till it be feen how the care taken, against their coming either on the living or prebend, will work upon them. Mr. Alfop thinks that his keeping refidence ftantinople while his father was Ambaffador in Turkey. He became a Nobleman of Chrift Church in 1678; B. A. Dec. 17, 1681. Being chofen Fellow of All Souls college, he took the degree of M. A. Dec. 17, 1685; was admitted Warden there by mandamus from King James 11. Jan. 21, 1686; and was inftalled in a prebend of Canterbury, Nov. 4, 1689. He was afterwards B. and D. D. and died in December 1702. He tranflated the "Life of Hannibal" amongst thofe of "Illuftrious Men, 1634;" and wrote the dedication to the Earl of Abingdon, prefixed to that work.

this year at Michaelmas will give a better handle to his profecutors towards getting the profits of it than they will otherwise have; and that, if he omits it, the Treasurer of the Church may, upon a fequeftration isfuing, truly fay, that there is nothing due to him, which otherwife he cannot fay. This is the opinion of skilful friends, as well as his own; and therefore he humbly hopes, that your Lordship will think his abfence from Winchester at this juncture proper, and will permit him to wait upon you after your visitation is over.

I am, with all that regard that becomes me, my Lord, your Lordship's ever faithful and most obedient fervant, FR. ROFFEN.

* Some particulars of this ingenious but unhappy man have been already given in p. 306. The profecution alluded to in this and fome of the following letters was an action brought against him by Mrs. Elizabeth Aftrey of Oxford, for breach of a marriage contract; in which a verdict was given against him for 2900l. See p. 338. Seë

VOL. III.

Z

LET

LETTER CXXII.

To Bp. TRELAWNY.

Bromley, Sept. 23, 1717.

MY HONOURED LORD,

A

LSOP is indeed diftracted with a multiplicity of little affairs; too many of which he has crowded into too little room, and fcarce knows how to make his way through them all before the time when he muft abfcond *. His hand and receipt are neceffary for dispatching them all; and he must therefore fpend all his remaining time (and it is all but little enough for his purposes) between London and Brightwell. Upon which account, if he has not obeyed the direction given him by your Lordship, will both pity and pardon him.

you

I

am, with

1

very great refpect, my Lord, your most obedient humble fervant,

FR. ROFFEN.

*He left England a few days after. See pp.

342, 350.

LET

LETTER CXXIII.

To Bp. TRE L A W NY.

Westminster, Nov. 2, 1717.

I

MY HONOURED LORD,

A M going to do what I never before did, and, I hope, never fhall do again; to write to your Lordship about fomething that I have nothing do with, and that your Lordship, perhaps, will have nothing to do with, or, if you think fit to concern yourself, are probably already engaged. And yet the application to me is by fuch hands, that, as great an abfurdity as I am going to commit, I know not how to refuse it. I am defired, my Lord, to recommend to your Lordship Mr. Pratt (the fon of my Dean of Rochefter*, but no ways like his father) for the Stewardship of the Courtsof the Dean and Chapter of Winchester. Since I am preffed to fay fomething, and cannot avoid it, I muft do him fo much juftice as to affure your Lordship, that he is a man of a very fair cha

* Samuel Pratt, D. D.

Z 2

do

racter, and of repute in his profeffion, and, in my confcience, every way worthy of the place he defires. If my faying this to your Lordship can be of any fervice to him, I shall be glad of it: if it cannot, permit me to beg your Lordship's pardon for this impertinence, and under my hand to declare, that I will never be guilty of the like again.

I am, with all the regard in the world, your Lordship's ever faithful and most obedient fervant, FR. ROFFEN.

The Princefs, about two hours ago, was brought to bed of a fon *.

This young Prince was chriftened, Nov. 28, by the name of George-William. But the "public joy was unhappily damped," Abel Boyer fays, "by an accident that happened after the "chriftening was over." Political State, vol. XIV. p. 504. This was the fracas that it occafioned between the King and the Prince, when, as Lord Chefterfield said in a humorous ballad,

"To name a child, with might and main, Newcastle took his way;

We all may rue the child was born

That chriften'd was that day."

But, in conclufion,

"It kick'd up it's heels, and died."

The young Prince died Feb. 6, 1717-8'; and was buried on the 12th in Westminster abbey: the funeral fervice was read by Bp. Atterbury, as Dean of Westminster.