* * * * *

In 1706 he was received into the family of his noble and kind patron the duke of Beaufort; with whom he was in very great favour, having in many instances experienced his bounty and generosity.  In the following year he compleated his academical degrees, by commencing doctor in divinity:  He presented to the society their founder’s picture in full length, which now hangs up in the public-hall; and afterwards he delivered in to the president a voluntary resignation of his fellowship, and moral philosophy-lecture.  He was afterwards preferred to be rector of Chalten in Cleanville, two adjoining towns and rectories in Hampshire.  He was elected by the president and governors of Bridewell, preacher of that hospital, upon the resignation of Dr. Atterbury, afterwards lord bishop of Rochester.

* * * * *

Having mentioned this prelate, it will be proper here to observe, that upon a suspicion of Dr. Yalden’s being concerned with him in a plot to restore the exiled family; and for which the bishop was afterwards banished, he was seized upon by authority, and committed to prison.  When he was examined before the council, concerning his correspondence and intimacy with Mr. Kelley the bishop’s secretary; he did not deny his knowledge of, and correspondence with, him, but still persisted in averting, that no measures contrary to the constitution were ever canvassed between them.  There was found in his pocket book, a copy of verses reflecting on the reigning family, and which might well bear the construction of a libel; but when he was charged with them, he denied that he ever composed such verses, or that the hand-writing was his own, and asserted his innocence in every circumstance relating to the plot.  The verses in all probability were put into his pocket-book, by the same person, who with so much dexterity placed a treasonable paper in bishop Atterbury’s close-stool, and then pretending to be the discoverer of it, preferred it against his lordship, as an evidence of his disaffection.  The particulars of that memorable tryal are recorded in the Life of Atterbury, written by the authors of Biographia Britannica.—­The heats raised by Atterbury’s tryal subsiding, those who were suspected of being concerned with him, as no evidence appeared strong enough to convict them, were released.

Dr. Yalden was still favoured with the patronage of the generous duke of Beaufort, and his residence in that noble family recommended him to the acquaintance of many of the first quality and character in the kingdom, and as he was of a chearful temper, and of a pleasing and instructive conversation, he retained their friendship and esteem till his death, which happened the 16th of July, 1736, in the 66th year of his age.

His poetical works are chiefly these.

On the Conquest of Namure; A Pindaric Ode, inscribed to his most sacred and victorious majesty, folio 1695.