To the Honourable Visitours appointed by both Houses of Parliament for the regulating and reforming of the Vniversity of Oxford.
The Petition of your Freinds and Servants in the said Vniversity.
That divers learned and civill men have much importuned, and some of them seduced (under pretence of maintaining the old Prelacy and Liturgy) to enter into a kinde of Confederacy with Doctor Fell, and his Delegates, to oppose all Reformers, both the Parliament, and Visitours, and hinder a just and necessary Reformation. VVe doe not deny that some of us are exercised with doubts, but we desire to communicate our speciall scruples to you in an humble and outrages of other men, who are as yet (to the great dishonour and prejudice of our Common-Mother the Vniversity) of the same body with us. VVe consider that to oppose you our much honour'd Visitours, is to rebell against the Houses: to maintaine Prelacy is to uphold Tyranny: and to contend for the Common-Prayer-Booke is to contend for a false Translation of the Canonicall Scriptures, to magnifie those bookes that are not Canonicall, and justifie the Court of Rome, not onely in admiting dangerous Ceremonies to corrupt the purity, but in submitting to the Roman Order, which would overthrow the piety of our Common and publique service.
VVe are bold therefore to remonstrate that whatever is propounded and delivered by the pretended Delegates aforesaid, as the sence of the whole Vniversity contrary to this Petition, is contrary both to our sence and consciences; And our humble request is, that you judge not of this Vniversity by the rage and confederacy of some Malignants in it, who would endanger the whole body to save themselves, and have therefore conspired to set up this Delegacy to seduce and corrupt the unsetled, to oppose the Visitation, and hinder the Reformation of this place. Be pleased to command every man to plead his owne cause, and speake for himselfe, onely punish the Heads and Ringleaders of this Rebellious conspiracy, and pardon all seduced Schollers, who upon better information, and more mature deliberation, shew that they have erred out of meere simplicity, and doe not hate to be reformed.
And we shall pray, &c. Iune 2. 1647.
THe Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled do appoint and establish Joshua Crosse Master of Arts, and fellow of Lincolne Colledge in Oxford to be senior Proctor, and Ralph Button Master of Arts and fellow of Merton Colledge junior Proctor of the Ʋniversitie of Oxford, with full power and authority to exercise and execute the said places and offices of Proctors according to the Lawes of the Land, the Customes and Statutes rightly established of the said Ʋniversitie; And to continue in the said places untill the usuall time of Resignation and Election, which shall be in the yeare 1649. And then the usuall course shall be held for the choice of Proctors as in former times.
ORdered that no Masters or Heads of any Colledges or Halls, or Schollers, or other persons be admitted into any Mastership, Governourship, Fellowship, Schollership, or Office or place of preferment or advantage in the Ʋniversitie of Oxford; And that no Leases of any Lands belonging to the said Ʋniversitie, or any the Colledges or Halls therein be made or renued, untill the pleasure of the Parliament be made knowne therein.
Concordat cum Registris Vniversitatis OXON.
An additionall Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the Visitation and Reformation of the University of Oxford, and the severall Colledges and Halls therein.
FOr the more effectuall and speedy reformation and regulation of the Ʋniversity of Oxford, and the severall Colledges and Halls therein according to a former ordinance of the first of May last, and for the explanation of the same, the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament do declare, that the Cathedrall Church and Colledge of Christ-Church in Oxford, with the Deane, Prehendaries, Students, Schollers, and Officers, thereunto belonging, are within the words and intention of the said Ordinance to all intents and purposes: and it is further ordained, that the Visitours thereto appointed, or any five or more of them shall have full power and authority to tender and administer the solemne League and Covenant and negative Oath, to all and every the Governours, Professours, Graduates, Masters, Fellowes, Schollers, Students, & Officers of the said Ʋniversity, and of the respective Halls and Colledges therein, and to send for, examine and peruse all and every their Bookes and Statutes, Registers, Journals, Bookes of Entries, Accounts, Orders, Writings, which concerne the government or affaires of the said Ʋniversity, or respective Colledges and Halls, and to send for in custody and commit to prison all such persons, who after the personall summons shall contemptuously refuse to produce and deliver the same, or any of them to the said Visitours, or not shew sufficient cause of their not producing them, or any of them respectively, untill they shall be accordingly produced, and delivered, and likewise all such Masters, Professors, Fellowes, Schollers, Students, and Officers of the said Ʋniversity. Colledges, Halls, or any of them respectively, who during the said Visitation shall after a second personall summons wilfully neglect or refuse to appeare before them, and also to impannell such and so many Members & Officers of the said Ʋniversity, Colledges, Halls, and other persons within the limits and precincts of the said Ʋniversity being of the age of 21 yeares or upward as they shall thinke fit to enquire of, and present upon their corporall Oathes all offenders and offences comprized within the said Ordinance upon such articles of enquiry grounded on the said ordinance, as shall be approved of by the standing Committee of Lords and Commons mentioned in the said Ordinance, and likewise to examine witnesses upon oath for proofe of an offence or misdemeanour inquirable or punishable by the said Ordinances: and Oliver St. John His Majesties Sollicitour generall is hereby required and authorized to draw up and prepare a Commission, and direct the same unto the said Visitours for visiting the said Ʋniversity, Colledges, and Halls, and every of them respectively, and the respective Governours, Masters, Professours, Schollers, Students, Officers and Members in as large and ample manner as in the said Ordinance, and this present Ordinance is prescribed without any further warrant, and that the Commissioners of the great Seale of England, shall have authority hereby to passe the said Commission under the great Seale accordingly, and the said Visitours and every of them shall be protected and saved harmelesse by authority of this present Parliament against all persons for whatsoever they shall act or execute in pursuance of the said Ordinances, and the said Vistours or any five or more of them shall have power to oppiont a Register, and such other Officers as are necessary to be imployed in the said Visitation, who shall receive such recompence and Salary for their paines therein, and out of such money as the standing Committee of Lords and Commons shall thinke meet, and all Sheriffes, Mayors, and other Officers, are hereby required to be aiding and assisting to the said Visitours, or any five or more of them, and to their Officers in the execution of this and the former Ordinance.
WHereas Philip Earle of Pembroke and Montgomery, Chancellour of the Ʋniversitie of Oxford, hath recommended Edward Reynolds Master of Arts, to be Vice-Chancellour of the said Ʋniversity. The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament doe appoint and establish the said Master Reynolds to be Vice-Chancellour of the same Ʋniversity, with full power and authority to exercise and execute the said place and Office of Vice-Chancellour according to the Lawes of the Land, the Customes and Statutes rightly established of the said Ʋniversity, and to continue in the said place untill August, 1649. And then the usuall Course shall be held for the Choice of Vice-Chancellours as in former times.
WHereas the Parliament have sent downe Commissioners for the regulating of the Ʋniversitie of Oxford; and whereas divers ill affected persons doe from time to time oppose the putting in execution of the Ordinances of Parliament there, you are on sight hereof, and hereafter as occasion shall serve, to send such parties or Companies of your Regiment to Oxford as you shall find necessary upon the desire of the Commissioners for the assisting of them in the setling of the said Ʋniversitie according to Ordinance of Parliament. And for so doing this shall be your Warrant.