RADCLIFFE. 119 been establislied more than a twelvemonth, before he rose to the head of his profession, and received, in daily fees, the sum of twenty guineas. To this rapid success, the pleasantry of his discourse and his ready wit are said to have greatly contributed — many even feigning themselves ill for the pleasure of having a few minutes' conversation with the facetious doctor. In 1686, he was appointed phy- sician to the Princess Anne of Denmark ; and soon after, about the time the Bishops were sent to the Tower, was sorely beset, as well by the Master of the College at Oxford where he had received his education, as by the court chaplains. Father Saun- ders and another Dominican, to change his reli- gion, and turn Papist. To the solicitations of the first, sent to him by the king, he turned a deaf ear ; and to Mr. Obadiah Walker, of University Col- lege, Oxford, he wrote the following letter, in reply to an epistle of his, in which he had told RadcHlfe, " that he should be incessant in his prayers to the great God above, and to the blessed Virgin, that he might be enlightened, and see the things that belonged to the peace of his immortal soul." " Bow-street, Covent-gardeiiy May 25, 1688. " Sir — I should be in as unhapjDy a condition in this life, as you fear I shall be in the next, were I to be h'eated as a turn- coat ; and must tell you, that I can be serious no longer, while you endea- vour to make me believe what, I am apt to think, you give no credit to yourself. Fathers, and coun- cils, and antique authorities, may have their influ- ence in their proper places : but should any of them all, though covered with dust 1400 years ago.
