mediate resolution concerning me; and having voluntarily surrendered myself, and the warrant having never been served on me till I had twice attended here, this being the third time, and my health being infirm, I beg this favour of your lordships, that I may return to my sister's house, where I have hitherto lodged, which is a place the messenger knows well; and that I may be no otherwise confined, till I have received your lordships' final resolution.

"This favour your lordships were pleased very readily to grant me; for which I return my humble acknowledgements, beseeching God to be gracious to your lordships.

"April 28, 1696.

THOMAS BATH & WELLS.

Deprived."

LETTERS

FROM BISHOP KEN,

WILLIAM LLOYD,

THE DEPRIVED BISHOP OF NORWICH,

AND

DR. THOMAS SMITH.

D

LETTER I.

FOR THE REVEREND DR. JOHN NICHOLAS,

VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD.

MY GOOD FRIEND,

1

It pleased God to take away Mr. Coles between 10 and 11 of y o'clock yesterday night about y very time we were commending him to God in the prayers, Cujus anima requiescat in pace. His sisters have lost an excellent brother, and ye society a very sincere and understanding man, but, to recompense his losse, as soon as ever he was dead ye warden was persuaded to go to an election of a successoure immediately; and just as we went into the chappelle Mr. Harris appeared, and was chose 2, nemine contra

'Gilbert Coles, admitted fellow of New College, after he had served two years of probation, 1637; took the degree of arts in 1648, or thereabouts; became fellow of the New College near Winchester; but soon after was elected fellow by the visitors appointed by Parliament. Afterwards he was elected fellow again by the society of New College, for the great respect they had for him, he being about that time rector of East-Meon, in Hampshire, and accounted by many a learned man. Afterwards he became rector of Easton, near Winchester, D.D. and rector of Ash, in Surrey. He wrote, " Theophilus and Orthodoxus; or, several conferences between two friends, the one a true son of the Church of England, the other fallen off to the Church of Rome," Oxford, 1674. He died 1676, and was buried in the Church of Easton before mentioned. Over his grave his widow soon after erected a stone, with this inscription thereon; Gilbert Coles, S. T. P. hujus ecclesiæ Rector, Coll. Winton. Socius, obiit 19 Junii, 1676, anno ætatis suæ 59. Mærens conjux posuit hoc." -Wood.

2

dicente, before dinner. You may perhaps suspecte that we of this colledge might have a design against you, in taking your friends away, and leaving you all your honours; but, to convince you of the contrary, I will endeavour to rid you of Bampton', whom Dr. Clutterbuck is willing to recommend to his kinsman, upon some discourse I had with you, but I intend he shall receive the favour from you early, or not at all; and I hope the new colledge are now resolved that no one who offers disrespect to you can be acceptable now. I thank you kindly for your favours to my little boy. It is fitt for me to appear at Oxford: I shall, God willing, be ready. In ye mean time, you would do me kindnesse to exchange offices with me, for I would willingly be Vice Chancellour a month, provided you would be Bursar! In regard to the death of my colleague y present account of the whole yeare lies on me. Read to B. what follows: Dr. Clutterbuck desires me to send to you for a scholar who is prudent and welle-behaved, to live with a Knight at Greenwich, of his owne

1 This James Bampton is doubtless the same mentioned by Wood in his Fasti Oxonienses. "This person took no higher degree than B. L. entered afterwards into holy orders, and published a sermon, but the title of it I do not know, only the text, which is, "suffer little children to come," &c.-St. Mark x. 4. He also provided another thing for the press, which I think is not yet published, nor ever will be. He died of a consumption 9th May, 1683, aged 37, and was buried in the west cloister belonging to that college."-Wood.

2 Thomas Clutterbuck, D.D. rector and vicar of South Stoneham, near Southampton, installed as an Archdeacon in the cathedral of Winchester in the place of Robert Sharroch, promoted to this preferment through his great patron Morley; took his degree of M.A. of Magdalen College 1646.-Wood.