POrphyrius recordeth in a Treatise of his De vita Plotini that when Plotinus (a famous PHILOSOPHER in Rome) entred into his Schoole to performe his accustomed vse of reading; casting his eyes aside, he presently espyed Origen prepared to be his hearer, At whose aspect rubore suffusus blushing, Plotinus ceased to speake: which Origen perceauing, requested him to proceed: but the Philosopher replyed, that it was time for a professor to holde his peace, when his [Page] Auditours before hand knew what he inten­ted to teach.

I make no doubt but the verie Title and in­scription of this little Treatise giues good no­tise & inckling what shal be the subsequents, wherin I might very well hold my peace with Plotinus being an eye witnesse of so many learned Philosophers & others in place, that could both ornatius dicere, & concinius agere, a matter of such worth then my selfe. But as in causis vniuocis est semper verum, that nemo dat quod non habet: So in officious performances where there wants abilitie, the next degree to well doing is to bee faithfully willing, and desirous to doe well. For ‘Bona pars est probitatis, toto pectore velle fieri probum.’

Therefore hauing bene a member of that famous Vniuersitie, and fortunate Mother of all learning, that from her fruitefull wombe, hath sent foorth so many sufficient Schollers to supporte her owne reputation, and to sup­ply the defects and imperfections of others: I among the rest, (though the vnworthyest of [Page] all) in gratefull remembrance of some former benefits receiued from her, haue taken so vp­pon me to set downe the true Ioye which she expressed by externall actions, as voice and gestures (the signes of eternall loue and passi­on.) Through the windowes whereof a man might easily passe with the sight of his vnder­standing, and discouer the secret affection and gladnesse conceited by the approach of his most excellent Majesty, the Queene, & young Prince, vnto that their worthie Cittie of Ox­ford.

For vpon Tuesday the 27. of August laste, his Maiestie comming from VVoodstocke to Oxford, the Earle of Dorset Lord Chauncelor, accompained with the Vice-Chauncelor, the Doctors, Proctors & certaine Senior Masters, rode foorth vpon their foote-cloath Horses, verie richlye furnished to meete the King, whome they expected about Aristotles Well, where hauing intention that the Vice-Chauncelor should first salute his Majestie with a speech, Maister Maior with his compa­ny passed by without regard to them, purpo­sing [Page] indeed that his Orator should first speak, which when the Lord Chauncelor perceiued, he presently sent to the Maior, and charged him to surcease his purpose till the Vice-Chauncelor had finished his Oration to the King: with which message the Maior was lit­tle pleased, yet his mends were small, for hee retired with speede, and had no better excuse for himselfe, then to say hee did not see them, notwithstanding they were hard by him, and all in their Scarlet Gownes.

After this, his Maiestie drawing neere, the Lord Treasorer and the Vice-chauncelor re­payred vnto him, who stayed his course, and rayned his Horsse of State whereon he rode: the Vice-chauncellor presenting him-selfe with his speech vnto his Highnes, surrendring vp the Keyes of the Vniuersitye, and the Bea­dles deposing their Staues, and laying them downe at his Majesties feet: Further deliue­ring vnto him the New Testament in Greeke, very fairely bound, and richly guilded: vnto the Queene a Purse, & to the young Prince a paire of gloues. With which Oration at his [Page] first meeting, and the seuerall guiftes presen­ted vnto them, the King, Queene and Prince, were so well pleased and delighted, that the whole Vniuersitie receiued much content & comfort.

After the Lord Chauncelors, and the Vni­uersites salutation, Maister Maior addressed himselfe towards the King: and by the mouth of the Townes Orator, he & his bretherē pro­nounced an English speech to his Majestie, and presented three seuerall Cuppes: the one to the King, another to the Queene and another to the Prince. Maister Maior rendring vp his Mace, striued with himselfe to doe all duetifull obeysance that might be accepted, which the King discouering, verie graciously encouraged, and gaue him great and heartye thankes for his good will and louing duetie towards him.

This finished, his Majestie passed along till hee came before Saint Iohns Colledge, where three little Boyes comming foorth of a Cast­le, made all of Iuie, drest like three Nimphes, (the conceipt wherof the King did very much [Page] applaude) and deliuered three Orations: first in Latine to the King, then in english to the Queene and young Prince; which beeing ended, his Majestie proceeded towards the East gate of the Citie, where the Townes-men againe deliuered vnto him another speech in english.

That speech ended, the King with all his traine of Noble men and others, entred the Cittie, where in the after noone about one of the clocke, by the ringing of a Bell at Saint Maries Church, the Schollers in their formali­ties according to their seuerall degrees, were gathered together and repaired towards Christe-Church gates, where they began to be placed and rancked. They stood all of one side of the streete without any intermixion eyther of strangers, Townes-men, or any o­thers that were not Schollers of the Vniuersi­tie, and were of the left hand of the King as he passed by. Next to the gates of Christ Church (where his Majestie was receiued) stood the Doctors of Diuinity in their Scarlet: next thē the Doctors of Phisick, & then the Doctors of [Page] Lawe: next them the Batchelers of Diuinitie, and the Senior Maisters of Arte in their silke hoodes: then the Batchelers of Law, and the Regent Masters in their Miniuer Hoods, and then the Batchelers of Arte. All which gradu­ates, reached from Christes Church to aboue Carefex. Next to those Graduates, stood the vnder Graduates, whose rancke thus placed in this seemely decorum, reached to St. Giles.

His Maiestie still passing along into the Cit­tie by the Easte gate of it, where (as is before remembred) the Townes-men deliuered a speech and the Schollers gaue him a viuat.

From the Easte gate, his Majestie marched along till he came to Carefex, where Doctor Perin was placed in a Pue, and saluted him with a Greeke Oration, which while hee was pronouncing, the Queene asked the King once or twise what hee said? and he answered her, that he spake verie well and learnedly.

From Carefex, the King with the Queene on his left hand, & the young Prince next before them (all on their seueral great horses) march­ed downe the streete, till they came to Christ-Church, [Page] where at the gates, the Vniuersityes Orator made an Oration vnto him.

After the speech was ended, the Deane and the Prebends with all the Students of Christ-Church, were ready at the Gates in their Sur­plesses and Hoodes to receiue his Majestie: and carrying a Canapie ouer him, they first conducted him to the Church, at the entring whereof there was an Oration deliuered vn­to him: and in the Church the Deane himselfe made another Oration, and so went to Pray­ers, After which his Majestie accompained with the Queene and the Prince, and a troope of Lordes and Noblemen, was brought vnto his lodging.

The Prince hauing accompained the Kings Majestie vnto the Chamber of Presence, de­parted: and betaking himselfe to his Coach, went straight to Magdalen Colledge, where the President standing in the Gates, receiued him with all joyfull reuerence and duety, and passing into the Chappell, he had an Oration pronounced vnto him. After which, the Prince going vnto his lodging, heard disputations, [Page] that were made before him by certaine No­blemens Sonnes, which at this time are Stu­dents in Magdalen Colledge, with the which he outwardly shewed, how inwardly hee was delighted.

After Supper his Majestie, the Queene, and Prince, with the Noblemen, had a Comedie played before them in Latine in Christ-Church Hall, which continued the space of three houres and more.

VPon Wednesday in the morning, being the 28. of August, betwixt nine and ten of the clock, his Majestie came into S^t. Maries Church to heare the exercise: where first the Kinges professor in Diuinitie, created the Deane of Salisbury Doctor of Diuinity before his Majestie, which being finished, they ad­dressed them-selues to Diuinitie disputati­ons.

VPon Thursday in the morning, being the 29. of August, betwixt nine and ten of the clocke, Phisicke disputations were had before the King in Saint Maries Church.

[Page] With this speech thus concluded, his ma­iestie arose, and gaue vnto the Doctors and the rest, manie thanks, for their paines that they had taken: and vnto all he shewed him­selfe so gracious, and with so louing a coun­tenance, that by his outward appearaunce might be well discouered, how inwardlie he was satisfied, and pleased, with their learned answeares vnto the seuerall questions: and so returned backe againe to Christchurch.

Where vppon Thursdaie at nighte after supper there was a Comedie plaied by saint Iohns men before his Maiestie. The subiect whereof was the foure Complexions. This comedie was so richlie set foorth and beauti­fied, with such curious and quaint conceipts and deuises, as that it made his Maiestie pro­nounce himselfe as muche delighted there­with, as with anie sight (of the like nature) at anie time heretofore presented vnto him.

The next morrowe, beeing Fridaie, the thirtieth daie of August, was the daie of his [Page] Maiesties departure from Oxforde, and as soone as the Sunne had vailed the curtaine of the night, he got vp, carrieng the opinion of Caesar.

That he had done nothing, when any thinge was left vndone: and mounted himself with diuers of his Nobles to see the Vniuersities Librarie, which is in length all ouer the Diui­nity Schoole. The scituation whereof is so pleasant, that the grounde whereon it is sea­ted is Diapred with Floraes riches, yet is it farre more glorious, hauing placed within her circumference so famous a Monument of such worke, and workemanshippe.

Round about, in forme of an Amphithea­ter, are placed Colledges, and in the forefrōt [Page] thereof, in the place of Oakes, Elmes, and Pine-trees, all which are comfortable trees to defende her from the furious wrathe of winde and weather, are planted the Schools of the seauen liberall Sciences, to adorn and beautifie her with the inward plenty of their wisedome and treasure.

As for the Lybrarie it selfe, it hath a verie long, large, and spacious walke, ouer the schoole of Diuinitie, inter-seamed on both sides, from the one ende vnto the other, ve­ry thicke with seuerall Partitions, with cer­taine seates and Deskes before them to sitte downe vpon and reade. These partitions are in euerie place filled full of shelues, and vnto the shelues are there many Bookes fastened with chaines of Jron: euerie volume bearing his name and title, written on paper or parchment, in faire Roman letters, and euerie par­tition hath an Jnscription of the Faculties, As whether her bookes bee either of Theolo­gie, Philosophie, Astronomie, Geometry, or any other Art, &c.

The Bookes that are conteined within this [Page] Lybrarie, are verie rare straunge and scarce, seldome or not at all to be heard of or seene in any place but there. All of them verie richlie guilded, and manye of them bossed either with Siluer or Golde.

All these are so fairelie kept and maintaind, as if the Goddesse of wisdome hadde selected and reserued it a Paradice to entertaine the Muses: Therefore J conclude of it thus, that ‘Dignitatem eius, difficile est vt homo explicet sermone.’

This obiect being presented vnto the sight of his Maiestie, did so sensiblie discouer his delight therewith, that he reported it a most admirable ornament to the Vniuersitie: and gratiouslie promised himselfe, a royal friend and Patron for euer.

Whilst his Maiestie was thus busied in ta­king of this suruey of the librarie; the queen and Prince were in the meane space, as much delighted with an English Comedie, presen­ted and plaide before them in Christ-church hall, by certaine Schollers: which was as rich lie set forth and perfourmed, as with as great [Page] applause, and commendation as any of the rest that had beene before since the Kinges comming to Oxford.

Jn the meane time also diuers of the Noble men went to Saint Maries in their hoodes, and formalities, and were presented, and in­corproated Maisters of Arts. As

• The Duke of Lennox.
• The Earle of Northumberland.
• The Earle of Suffolke.
• The Earle of Salisburie.
• The Earle of Pembroke.
• The Earle of arundell.
• The Earle of Oxford.
• The Earle of Essex.
• The Earle of Montgomerie.
• The Earle of Rutland.
• The Lord mounteagle.
• The Lord Howard Baron of Effingham.
• The Lord Howard Baron of Waldon.
• The Lord Vicount Cranburne.

[Page] with diuers others, of the Noblemen and Knights, that came in so confusedly that as yet there is not a perfect register gathered of their names.

After his sighte of the Vniuersities Ly­braries, he betooke himselfe towards Mag­dalen Colledge, to see that also: accompa­nied with diuers of the Nobility, wheras the president and diuers the rest of the fellowes, stoode readye to receiue him, also at the Chappell doore he was Royally entertained and at his entrance, there was a Latine ora­tion pronounced vnto him.

Which being ended, hee stoode a prettie while reading the verses that were written in Latine by certaine Noblemens sonnes stu­dents in the same Colledges, and set thicke on both sides of the chappell gate, as there was also diuers others placed rounde aboute the courts of other Schollers writings.

[Page] Thus when his Maiestie had viewed the Chappell, he was forth with conducted into the Cloysters, and from thence into the squadrant Court within the Cloysters, wherehe staied a good space, taking a thorow view of all such seuerall Pictures as were there set vp round about, and now against this entertain were newly trimmed and painted, which caused his Maiestie to demande the meaning of them, wherein the President and others fully resolued him.

From thence he returned backe to Christ church againe vnto the Queene and younge Prince, and in the waie (as is credibly repor­ted) he woulde needes be guided to Brazen Nose Colledge gate, that he might be made an eie-witnesse of that, of which he hadde so often heard, and that whereof the Colledge carrieth the name.

And both as he passed forth of Magdalen Colledge gates, and so vpwardes all along, the Schollers cried Viuat uiuat, &c. and the others of the multitude, with a loude voice, God saue king Iames, &c.

[Page] Much about twelue of the clocke the same day he tooke his leave, and left the Vniuersi­tie, addressing his course towardes Wind­sore Castle. And a little on this side Whayt ley, some fiue or sixe miles from Oxford, his Maiestie and the Queene parted, the King purposing that night to lie at the Ladie Rus­sels a little from Maiden-head, & the Queen at Sir Francis Stoners, a little from Henly vp­on Thames.

[Page] Thus was Oxford left a mournefull place for the suddaine departure of her most dread Soueraigne. Crying,

But all in vaine, For as Titan appeares not from the East, to make one place only gor­geous with his Sunne-beames. So his Ma­iestie is nowe departed from thence, to make other places also hapie and ioyfull at his roy­all presence, and to present suche with the brightnesse of his fauours, as haue muche languished for his long absence. Thus as his entrance into the Cittye, filled euerie parte [Page] of it with great ioy and admiration, so like­wise his departure lefte the Vniuersitie thus lamenting his short continuance and tarry­ing amongst them.

Well: hope is a sweet stringe to harpe on, which sends a second comfort to cure all dis­content, for his Maiesties most Royall fauor and countenance considered, giues the whol Vniuersity hopefull perswasion that hee will alwaies remain her faithfull remembrancer. Which God grant he may doe, and that he may continue manye and most happie yea­res, to fauour and foster her, and all others which doe truely loue, and honour him.