on a proposal to confirm for a limited time the ordinance for regulating the Universities :

MR. SECRETARY(1) moved, that the ordinance for regulating the Universities might be confirmed, at least for a time, for six months.

COLONEL JONES moved, that it might continue for three months.

MR. BOND. The Committee laid this ordinance aside, as inconvenient, in regard the visitors undertake to make laws against the fundamental laws. If any Fellow shall enter himself in the Inns of Court, he shall be suspended ipso facto; yet they will admit the civilians and physicians to practise, till they be doctors and keep their fellowships.

THE MASTER OF THE ROLLS. (2) I would have it put for three months; but what time soever you give, you invade my Lord Protector's right, who only has the power of visiting; and the truth is, they have undertaken to make laws to the purpose that is moved to you.

MR. SPEAKER.(3) Besides the taking away his Highness's right, you take away the right of the statutable visitors.

Mr. BODURDA moved, that they might be continued for three months, to the end it might be known when it shall have an end.

MAJOR GENERAL DISBROWE. I move that it may have so far of your approbation, as to continue at least for six months. Whatever reproach may be cast upon it, it has been a great means to regulate the University, and to purge, loose and profane persons, &c.

SIR RICHARD ONSLOW, I move that you would not continue it above three months at most, for there has been strange irregularity upon it. The Masters do not challenge a negative voice, in terminis, yet they call it a necessary voice: so that, though all the scholars agreed about the choice of a Fellow, unless the master allow it, all is void.

There was a great debate whether it should be continued six or three months. The question being put, that that question be now put, the House was divided. The Yeas went forth.

Noes 28. Sir Richard Onslow and Colonel Fitz-James, Tellers.

Yeas 41. Sir Charles Wolseley and Mr. Throckmorton, Tellers.

So it passed in the affirmative.

And the main question being put, it was resolved, that the ordinance, intituled an Ordinance for appointing visitors for the Universities, be continued for six months.(4)

From the 24th of June, for three years, the county of Cambridge (exclusive of the Isle of Ely) was charged to contribute the monthly sum of £551. 5s. for the maintenance of the armies and navies of the Commonwealth.(5)

On the 17th of August the Corporation voted the Mayor the yearly allowance of 20 marks "for & towards the entertainment of MinisIters such as he shall think fitt to invite to dynner upon the lec"ture days holden at Trinity Church on Wednesday in every weeke

(1) Thurloe.

(2) Lenthall.

(3) Sir Thomas Widdrington.

(4) Burton's Diary, ii. 6.

(5) Scobel's Ordinances, part ii. 491.

1657

58

"for & during the continuance of the said Wednesday Lecture "there."(1)

"The Butts at Spittle house end" are mentioned in a corporation licence for planting willows from there to Trumpington ford, granted on the 12th of January.(2)

On the 22nd of January, "A Bill against Non-residence of Masters, "Provosts, Presidents, Wardens, and Heads of Colleges and Halls in "the Universities," was read a second time in Parliament and committed. (3) A slight debate took place, of which the following account has been preserved :

Mr. FoWELL moved, that the Bill against the non-residence of masters, provosts, presidents, wardens, and heads of colleges and halls, in the Universities, be read the second time; which was read accordingly.

MAJOR AUDLEY. I move that the Bill be committed. I have two exceptions :1. Against the preamble, as against all preambles in Bills. A good law may stand of itself. This, in a rhetorical phrase, reflects upon the masters of Houses, and says the halls are turned into counting-houses, &c.

2. The mssters of Trinity and King's Colleges have liberty by your Bill, to be non-residents, because of visiting Eton College and Westminster School. I move that they be limited to forty days, or the like.

SIR LISLEBONE LONG. I move that the Bill rather be rejected, because it talks so much of non-residents. I thought you would have inquired how they are maintained, and how fellows are chosen; whether upon the old foundation.

If you give liberty for the masters of Trinity College, and King's College, to be non-resident, the dean of Christ-church is bound to attend as well as they. Many worthy persons in the city, that are masters of Colleges, do more good by their non-residence.

Mr. BEDFORD. I move for consideration of their maintenance, rather as it was moved by the worthy person that spoke last, by whom I was prevented.(4) On the 27th of February, William Pickering (5) resigned the office of alderman by the following curious letter:

RIGHT WORSHIPFULL GENTLEMEN,

Although I am verie unwillinge to lay downe my Alderman's place amongst you Bicause I have tasted of your good and loving Society, yet I am by Providence forced thereunto, I doe it willingly, and it shall be I hope my daily prayers to God to blesse you and prosper you, to guide and keepe you in his way; And that the word of God in the Old and New Testament may be a rule for all your lives, and that you may chose one in my roome a

(1) Corporation Common Day Book.

Archbishop Tillotson whilst at Cambridge "was a very attentive hearer of Sermons, of "which in that time there was both great and good store, he generally hearing four every "Lord's day, besides the weekly Lecture at Trinity Church on Wednesdays, which was "reach'd by a combination of the worthiest and best preachers in the university at that "time, all of them Fellows of Colleges."-Birch, Life of Abp. Tillotson, 381.

(2) Corporation Common Day Book.

(3) Commons' Journals, vii. 581.

(4) Burton's Diary, ii. 338.

(5) He is styled Captain Pickering in the entry of his election as Alderman 16th August, 1652.

man of trueth fearinge God and hating covetousnes, as it is written Exodus 18, 2j; And I hope in God that I for my part shall so continew my love and affeccion to your Corporation (of which I am yet a member) That I shall be redy to doe what lyeth in my power either in word or deede for its goode, And in the meane time you shall have the daily prayers of a most miserable Sinner and your loveing Servant

WILLIAM PICKERING. From my house in the Bowling Ally in Westminster, February 27th, 1657. To ye Right Worshipfull Mr. Mayor & ye rest of ye Aldermen his Brethren of the Corporacion of the Towne of Cambridge.(1)

Thomas Williams and John Cooper treasurers of the town, make these charges in the account of their payments from Michaelmas 1656 to the 22d of March, 1657-8:

Item, to Phillip Wickham for a Banquet wine & cakes at ye hall for ye Maior & Aldermen when the Lord Protector was proclaymed(2)

Item, to John Love for a baskitt & lattice(3) for the Spittlehouse

Item, to Littlemore for whipping 7 Roagues

1658.

£. 8. d.

01

08

04

On the 27th of April, the Corporation sealed a letter of attorney, empowering Thomas Jekill of Clifford's Inn, London, gentleman, Philip Brace of Furnival's Inn, London, gentleman, and Christopher Lowe of Barnard's Inn, London, gentleman, to demand in the Upper Bench conusance of pleas and the liberty and power of holding pleas arising in the town or liberties before the Mayor and Bailiffs.(5)

The death of the late Protector and the accession of his son were commemorated by the University in a collection of verses, entitled "Musarum Cantabrigiensium Luctus & Gratulatio: Ille in funere Oli"veri Angliæ Scotia & Hiberniæ Protectoris Hæc de Richardi succes-"sione felicissima ad eundem."(6) The dedication to the Protector Richard is signed by Joseph Hill and John Luke the Proctors (nondum admisso Procancellario). Amongst the contributors were Anthony Tuckney Master of St. John's College, Richard Minshull Master of Sidney College, Thomas Horton President of Queens' College, Benjamin Whichcot Provost of King's College, Lazarus Seaman Master

(1) Corporation Common Day Book, 27 April 1658.

(2) Oliver Cromwell was first proclaimed Protector in December, 1653, the above item probably refers to his second proclamation in May, 1657.

(3) For the collection of broken victuals.

(4) Accounts of the Treasurers of the Town, of receipts from Michaelmas, 1656, to Michaelmas, 1657, and of payments from Michaelmas, 1656, to 22d March, 1657-8.

(5) Corporation Coucher, ii. 93.

(6) Cantabrigiæ Execudebat Johannes Field Almæ Academiæ Typographus 1658, Apud quem Londoni prostant ad insigne septem stellarum e regione Templi Dunstano sacri in vico yuigo vocato Fleet street," 4to.

of Peterhouse, Ralph Cudworth Master of Christ's College, Theophilus Dillingham Master of Clare Hall, John Worthington Master of Jesus College, William Dillingham Master of Emmanuel College, William Moses Master of Pembroke Hall, James Duport Vicemaster of Trinity College afterwards Dean of Peterborough, and Thomas Gale of Trinity College afterwards Dean of York.

The following correspondence relates to the election of John Thurloe Secretary of State, as one of the members of Parliament for the University. Dr. Whichcot's second letter gives a curious account of the uncertainty which then attended the transmission of letters to and from the metropolis :

DR. BENJ. WHICHCOT TO LORD CHIEF JUSTICE ST. JOHN. My Lord,

I yesterday received your lordship's letter (but none before; yet Dr. Tuckney had a letter from Whitehall, on munday, about the same busines, the contents whereof he did presently communicate); and I did immediately deliver the enclosed to our vicechancellor. I shall take the best care of the busines I possibly can; so also, I am sure, will the rest of the heads upon the place. We resent the busines very well, and highly like the person your lordship doth propose; and I hope the body of the university will do the same; for the uncertenty lies in this, that every master of arts hath as much to doe in this election as any doctor; yet I trust we shall all agree. Yet I must acquaint your lordship that Sir Francis Russel hath sent, and on monday intendes to come in person, to move for Sir Anthony Morgan of Ireland, in the name of the lord lieutenant of Ireland. Yet I greatly hope, and do beleive, that the university doth soe highly honour the person, and so greatly regard (as becomes us) your lordships recommendation, that whosoever proves second, Mr. Secretary wil be the first in our election; and hereof as in motion, if there be cause, soe in the determination therof I shall timely certify your lordship. So with my most humble service presented I take leave, Your Lordship's humbly devoted servant, BENJ. WHICHCOT.

Cambridge, Dec. 11. 1658.

SIR FRANCIS RUSSELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.
Dear Sir,

As I was desireous to serve you, so have I bin buisy about it; and the other day sent to some of my neighbours, to meet me at Newmarket, to confer with them about making choyse of yourselfe for one of our knights for this shire. I found them all ready and willing to give you their votes; and they were sensible, how much it would be to their advantage to have you a freind and servant to Cambridgeshire. Those of my neighbours, who were at some distance from me, I writ unto, as collonel Castle, my brother Chicheley, and some others, whose answers I have not as yet received. But that person whom I did employ to the towne of Cambridge to speake to my freinds there, brought me word, that the university was unanimously resolved to make choyse of you for their burgesse. This they give out allready, and send me word of what they resolve. Old Mr. Faireclough was with me, when that message was brought me, and was ready to put pen to paper to wright to his freinds of the cleargy about you, and to serve you as myselfe intended. Upon further debate with him, what was fit to be done, we concluded, that to know

your mind now, whether we should proceed any further, was best; and that according to your advise and directions, we will goe on or desist. Therefore I desire to heare from you by the saturday post. Sir Anthony Morgan was very likely to have bin your brother burgesse; but I understanding by my lord Claypoole, that there will a certain number choosen out of Ireland, to serve for that nation, I sent the Vice-chancellor thanks for his respects towards my Lord Henry and Sir Anthony. Sir, I hope to heare from you the first opportunity. My love for you is true and reall, and from a person (I think I may say) you know not, notwithstanding all our outward converse. This mistery, when 'tis knowen by you, I hope will not be to your disadvantage. You may be more than confident, that I am,

Decem. the 15th, 1658.

Deare Sir,

Yours, to love and serve you faithfully,
FRANC. RUSSEL.

I should be glad to know, whether my lord Henry be likely to see England this winter.

DR. BENJ. WHICHCOT TO LORD CHIEF JUSTICE ST. JOHN.
My Lord,

Since your lordship's first letter so farre went out of the way, as to make Scotland the way from London to Cambridge, whence it is now come to hand, I will suppose also that my letter to your Lordship in answer to your second might also mistake its way, though letters go more certainly from hence to London, than vice versa, becaus here the carrier of the day, to whom certenly they are to be delivered, is better known, and from London hither the carrier is surer then the post, and sometimes also quicker; because sometimes letters are not left at Royston, and sometimes lie there a while. My Lord I cannot understand but that all agree in Mr. secretary; yet I am never confident of ought, that is in the hands of a multitude; yet greater probability and likelihood there cannot be of a thinge, for all pleases, your lordship's recommendation, and the person recommended: but it cannot be brought to issue or trial; for noe newes as yet of the writ. The Irish knight, Sir Anthony Morgan desistes, since an election is also to be in Ireland: for a second heere is a great uncerteinty. It is the general sense here, one Gremial, who knowes all our affaires, to joine with master secretary and two or three are pretenders; Yet all with submission to Mr. secretary, but in competition with one another. We do thinke to naturalise Mr. secretary to us, and to make him of our body, by admitting him by proxy to the degree of master of arts, as by our university-statute we are enabled to doe, where persons are upon any account stiled honourable, which preceeding, he is pulchre eligibilis. My lord, I put your lordship to the trouble of these lines, for your further certioration of your letters received, and my duty performed in pursuite of them. Nothing more can be done, till the precipe come from the sheriffe of the county, to warrant us to proceed to an election; which being once made, I shal soon certify your lordship. And in the meane while, having presented my humble service, I commend your lordship to divine protection. Your Lordships humble devoted, BENJ. WHICH COT.

Cambridge, 20 Dec. 1658.

To the right honourable Oliver St. John, lord cheife justice of the common pleas, and chancellor of the university of Cambridge, at his lodgings, in Lincoln's inne.