Adrian Drift

Adrian Drift's (1676-1737) relationship to Prior is described in detail in The Literary Works of Matthew Prior, edited by H. Bunker Wright and Monroe K. Spears (2nd ed., 2 vols. [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971] xxxi-xxxiv, 975, 1067-68). He was Prior's long-time secretary and amanuensis, serving in those capacities from as early as 1699. He was as well friend and companion to Prior, living in his household from about 1717 until Prior's death. Drift is often cited in our annotations to the Calendar entries, and unless there is reason to doubt information his indexing of or notes on Prior's correspondence provide us, we grant him authority second only to that of Prior himself.