the letter mentioned in my last, produced a petition, which was subscribed by all the Fellows, and given to my Lord Sunderland, who promised to present it to the King. It was thought by some of that society that three or four of the Fellows, after their converse with Mr. Penn, talked very coldly of their concerns, which gave occasion for suspicion that they had promised to comply in some measure; but the truth of this cannot certainly be known till there shall be a trial. The President, I suppose, is gone to London this day; I am sure last night he intended to go. The business of Mr. Penn, I suppose, occasioned his leaving the College; and if it must be, he had rather be deserted absent than present. Pray you keep this to yourself; may be he will not be forsaken at all. He that gave the dubious answer, mentioned in my last, was the author of undoubted President, was not in town at that time. cellor will not grant a convocation for Mr. Collins, &c. till he hath an answer from the Chancellor, whom he hath consulted in this business. Christ Church and University College are cited to bring in their statutes, and all other writing's that concern their foundations, to the Commissioners on the sixth of October next. If I had known as much when I wrote last as I do now, I might have saved my pains; but my inclinations to serve you put me upon unnecessary Mr. Thompson The Vice Chan undertakings, and such to which I am not accustomed, and therefore if I fall short of your expectations, I hope you will pardon the wellmeant officiousness of Sept. 9, [16]87. Dear Sir, yours unfeignedly. SIR, LETTER XIX. From the same to the same. I AM to thank you for two letters, one of the 10th, and another of the 14th instant, and you had not escaped an answer to the first of them on Wednesday last, but that I was out of town at Sir William Dormer's. If I had written then you had had an account of our Monday's convocation. You know from Mr. Lawrence that all degrees were denied. I suppose one main reason was, because it did not appear (as I have formerly written) that it was the King's desire that they should be granted; as to what concerns Mr. Dickens, Collins, and Brookes, you have had a true account already. Mr. Sparkes and Mr. Boileau were only recommended by Munson, secretary to my Lord Sunderland, to the Vice Chancellor, that if degrees were granted, it was the Chancellor of England's request that his chaplains might be Doctors. My last ac quainted you that the Vice Chancellor wrote to our Chancellor to know his pleasure as to those things. He wrote back to this purpose, and, as near as I can remember, in these words: That he was creditably informed that it was the King's pleasure that the persons above mentioned should have their degrees; and therefore he desired that the Vice Chancellor would immediately call a convocation, that his Majesty might be obeyed therein. It is thought that the Chancellor had no information but what he had from the Vice Chancellor's letter; but, nevertheless, the Vice Chancellor was zealous that the degrees should be granted; but the Heads of Houses opposed it so vigorously, that for ought I can perceive it ought not regularly to have come into the house of convocation; and as soon as it was proposed, so briskly cried non as I never heard. The house was in all about 170. The first scrutiny for Mr. Sparkes and Mr. Boileau, contrary to the method of convocation, ran 53 affirmations, and 118 against him. The rest had more against them, and for your friend J. C. the fewest of all, as I remember, 29. When the King was here, he asked a reverend Judge, i. e. J. H.* what he should do with the stubborn and rebellious fellows of Magdalen College. He answered, his Majesty had two ways to proceed, either by a writ of [* Holloway.] ejectment or scire facias, and then put in himself; or else to bring a quo warranto against their charter, and so dissolve the college. This day my Lord Abbington came in here to be admitted steward of this city. He was met by all the aldermen, common-council, and the several companies, in the same manner that they met the King, only the aldermen and common-council met him on foot at the east gate, whereas [they] went out on horseback to meet the King; and what yet is, perhaps, something strange, the three troops here rode out to meet him. I must renew the old question from Mr. Porter, when you intend to return, though I think he himself will write to you. I am obliged to the great and worthy men that remember me. I entreat that you will return my humble service in such terms as you think will befit me. As to what concerns Mr. Cornwallis, I only can write, that if he would make good here what he said at Worcester, it would be a great kindness to many besides, Dear Sir, your most humble servant, as before. Magdalen College stands as formerly. SIR, LETTER XX. From the same to the same. Novemb. 16, [16]87. I HAVE received all your letters, and give you my hearty thanks for them; and this having been a day of action here, I send you what I can hear in requital. About eight o'clock this morning the visitors sate at Magdalen College, and after a long speech from the Bishop, the Fellows were called, and their answer required whether they would subscribe a certain paper offered to them; the substance of which was, that they should acknowledge their fault for resisting the King thus long, and as a testimony of their repentance, acknowledge the Bishop of Oxford for their lawful President, and promise obedience to him; which was refused by all to whom it was offered, that is 25 of them, and every one of them, upon that account, are deprived. This test was not proposed to Dr. Thomas Smith; I know not for what reason. And Mr. Thompson and Mr. Charnock said, they * Dr. Tho. Smith (as I hear) had made a submission before, and therefore was excused from signing this. The reason why the Fellows of Madg. Coll. were deprived and expelled from their Fellowships assigned in the sentence is, for disobedience to the King, and contempt of his authority. The Visitors went hence this afternoon. |