August 24th, 1690,
Qu. Coll. Oxon.
Dear S^r,
I heartily thank you for the favour of your letter, and to shew itt will
not fail to write as often as anything does occurr worth sending, if you
think the accountt I give not troublesome. Dr. Adams, Dr. Rudston, and
Delaune have promis'd to write this post: we remembred you both before and
after your letters came w^{th} S^r John Matthews, who staid here 3 nights
this weeke. Our militia is gone home cloath'd in Blew coates but many
coxcombs of this city have refused to pay their quota towards the buying of
them, railing against my L^d Abington, who has smooth'd the mob by giving a
brace of Bucks last Friday in Port Meed. J. M. has bin expected here this
fortnight: the Lady that calls herselfe by his nane has bin a good while at
Astrop, and has discover'd her displeasure there, that her husband as shee
calls him keeps the coach so long from her at Oxford: upon hearing of
w^{ch} S^r W. H. in a blunt way gave her the old name, w^{ch} caus'd some
dissatisfaction and left her smal acquaintance: I heare that the
understanding between our Friend and his uncle is not so good as formerly,
but I do not think it will end in Abdication. Mr. Painter is admitted
Rector of Exeter. The _Naked Gospel_[3] was burnt on y^e 19th in the
Scholes Quadrangle. The Regents first drew up a Petition to have it
censured; then some others more busy than wise tooke upon them to gett it
subscribed, and went to coffee houses and taverns as well as colleges for
that purpose: these proceedings being ag^{st} statute, and reflecting upon
the vice ch., gave great offence; at last he call'd a meeting of y^e {474}
heads of houses, who deputed 6 to examine it: they pick'd several Proposit.
w^{ch} were read. The sentence was in this form: Propositions &^c tanqu[=a]
falsas et impias in Chris. Relig. et in Ecc. præcipue Anglican[=a]
contumeliosas damnamus, plerasq; insuper hæreticas esse decernimus et
declaramus, &^c. This was first subscribed by all y^e heads of Coll. and
then condemn'd unanimously in a full convocation. The Decree is printed,
but is too large to send. The Author of y^e Booke has sent about a soft
vindication of himselfe, that he is unwilling to be accounted a Socinian,
&c. If I can gett a sight of it I will send you the contents. I do not know
how far you are in the right about guessing at a Bursar: Tim. seems
resolv'd to act according to y^e song; but I to shew good nature even
w^{th}out a tree have promis'd to make him a Dial: and when that's done I
will doe y^e like at Astrop. I am
Your very humble serv^t,
W. R.
If you see Coll. Byerly, give my service to him.
Directed thus: These to George Clark, Esq., Secretary of War in Ireland.
By y^e way of London.
Indorsed: W. Rooke, Rec^d at Tipperary, Sept. 7th.
[Footnote 3: [For some account of this work, by Arthur Bury, and the
controversy respecting it, see Wood's _Athenæ_, edit. Bliss, vol. i. p.
483. William Rooke, the Writer of the letter, was of Queen's College; made
B.A., May 16, 1674; M.A., Oct. 30, 1677; B.D., April 12, 1690.--ED.]]
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