In 1668 he published Cowley's Latin poems, and prefixed in Latin the Life of the Author; which he afterwards amplified, and placed before Cowley's English works, which were by will committed to his care.

Ecclefiaftical benefices now fell faft upon him. In 1668 he became a prebendary of Westminster, and had afterwards the church of St. Margaret, adjoining to the Abbey. He was in 1680 made canon of Windfor, in 1683 dean of Westminster, and in 1684 bishop of Rochester.

The Court having thus a claim to his diligence and gratitude, he was required to write the History of the Ryehouse Plot; and in 1685 published A true Account and Declaration of the horrid Confpiracy against the late King, his prefent Majefty, and the prefent Government; a performance which he thought convenient, after the Revolution, to extenuate and excufe.

The fame year, being clerk of the clofet to the king, he was made dean of the chapelroyal; and the year afterwards received the

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laft proof of his master's confidence, by being appointed one of the commiffioners for ecclefiaftical affairs. On the critical day, when the Declaration distinguished the true fons of the church of England, he stood neuter, and permitted it to be read at Westminster; but pressed none to violate his conscience; and when the bishop of London was brought before them, gave his voice in his favour,

Thus far he suffered intereft or obedience to carry him; but further he refused to go. When he found that the powers of the ecclefiaftical commiffion were to be exercifed against those who had refused the Declaration, he wrote to the lords, and other commiffioners, a formal profeffion of his unwillingness to exercise that authority any longer, and withdrew himself from them. After they had read his letter, they adjourned for fix months, and scarcely ever met afterwards,

When king James was frighted away, and a new government was to be fettled, Sprat was one of those who confidered, in a conference,

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ference, the great question, whether the crown was vacant; and manfully spoke in favour of his old master.

He complied, however, with the new establishment, and was left unmolested; but in 1692 a strange attack was made upon him by one Robert Young and Stephen Blackhead, both men convicted of infamous crimes, and both, when the scheme was laid, prifoners in Newgate. These men drew up an Affociation, in which they whose names were subfcribed declared their refolution to restore king James; to feize the princess of Orange, dead or alive; and to be ready with thirty thousand men to meet king James when he fhould land. To this they put the names of Sancroft, Sprat, Marlborough, Salisbury, and others. The copy of Dr. Sprat's name was obtained by a fictitious request, to which an answer in his own hand was defired, His hand was copied fo well, that he confeffed it might have deceived himself. Blackhead, who had carried the letter, being sent again with a plaufible meffage, was very curious to see the house, and particularly importunate to be let into the study; where, as is supposed, he defigned to leave the Affociation.

ciation. This however was denied him, and he dropt it in a flower-pot in the lour.

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Young now laid an information before the Privy Council; and May 7, 1692, the bishop was arrested, and kept at a messenger's under a strict guard eleven days. His houfe was searched, and directions were given that the flower-pots should be infpected. The meffengers however miffed the room in which the paper was left. left. Blackhead went therefore a third time; and finding his paper where he had left it, brought it away.

The bishop, having been enlarged, was, on June the 10th and 13th, examined again before the Privy Council, and confronted with his accufers. Young perfifted with the most obdurate impudence, against the ftrongest evidence; but the refolution of Blackhead by degrees gave way. There remained at last no doubt of the bishop's innocence, who, with great prudence and diligence, traced the progrefs, and detected the characters of the two informers, and published an account of his own examination, and deliverance; which made fuch an imVOL. II, preffion

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preffion upon him, that he commemorated it through life by an yearly day of thankf giving.

With what hope, or what interest, the villains had contrived an accufation which they must know themselves utterly unable to prove, was never discovered.

After this, he paffed his days in the quiet exercise of his function. When the cause of Sacheverell put the publick in commotion, he honeftly appeared among the friends of the church. He lived to his feventyninth and died May 20, 1713. year,

Burnet is not very favourable to his memory; but he and Burnet were old rivals. On fome publick occafion they both preached before the houfe of commons. There prevailed in thofe days an indecent custom; when the preacher touched any favourite topick in a manner that delighted his audience, their approbation was expreffed by a loud hum, continued in proportion to their zeal or pleasure. When Burnet preached, part of his congregation hummed so loudly and fo long, that he fat down to enjoy it,