inst 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. praecipue Anglican[=a]
contumeliosas damnamus, plerasq; insuper haereticas 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 _Athenae_, 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.