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As the strongholds alike of learning and loyalty, the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge were the objects of the especial hatred of the Puritans. They gained possession of both by military force, and they exerted to the full all the licence which that circumstance might be supposed to entitle them to. Oxford was a royal garrison, and was thus saved from their hands until the close of the civil war, but Cambridge was defenceless, and after being plundered of its plate in August, 1642, was converted into a garrison and a gaol, many of the heads of houses carried prisoners to London, and the rest of its members standing in daily peril of their lives from the violence of the soldiery. In January, 1643, an ordinance was passed for regulating the University, the execution of which was committed to the earl of Manchester, and in consequence he proceeded to eject at least two hundred masters and fellows, and twice as many scholars, including among them such men as Cosin, Sterne, Beale, Martin and Laney, and supplied their places with others whose only recommendation was that they were ready to take the Covenant, or any other engagement, as the price of preferment. The ejected members were commanded to quit the University within three days, upon pain of imprisonment and plunder,' and Cambridge was thus promptly reduced to a seminary of Puritanism. "The Knipperdollings of the age," says one of the sufferers, "reduced a glorious and renowned University almost to a mere Münster, and did more in less than three years than the apostate Julian could effect in all his reign, viz. broke the heartstrings of learning and all learned men, and thereby luxated all the joints of Christianity in the kingdom." The events of the war postponed the ruin of Oxford for some years, but the city was at last surrendered to Sir Thomas Fairfax (June 24, 1646). The capitulation expressly. promised that the University should be free from "sequestrations, fines, taxes, and all other molestations whatsoever," but, in spite of this, the parliament at once proceeded with their design of reducing it to the same condition as its sister University. As a preliminary, seven Presbyterian divines, members of colleges, were sent to preach in any pulpits

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The author of Querela Cantabrigiensis; probably Dr. John Barwick, an active loyalist, who managed the secret correspondence with the king,

that they pleased, and to endeavour to recommend "the blessed reformation" intended; these men had little success with the members of the University, and were fiercely opposed by one Erbury, and other Independents, who fairly silenced them in disputation. The parliament, however, had no intention of resting their cause on mere arguments. On May 1, 1647, they passed an ordinance for the visitation of the University, by Sir Nathaniel Brent, (formerly vicar-general to Archbishop Laud,) five of the seven preachers, William Prynn, and seventeen others, who were to declare vacant the places of all refusers of the Covenant, all opposers of the Directory, and all who had borne arms against the parliament, and to certify the names of the persons thus deprived.

These visitors commenced their proceedings by issuing a citation for the heads of the University to appear before them in the Convocation-house "between the hours of nine and eleven" on the 4th of June. The University, in answer, published its Judgment, condemning the Covenant and the Directory (June 1), and when the visitors arrived, the vice-chancellor (Dr. Samuel Fell) took advantage of the length of a sermon preached by one of their number, and which was not concluded till after eleven o'clock, to break up the convocation before they could present themselves in it. The next day a system of resistance was organized, which drove the visitors to apply for enlarged powers, and when these were granted by a new ordinance (Aug. 26), they were no more regarded than the former had been. A commission was next issued in the name of the king for a visitation, but its validity was disputed by Dr. Wightwick, master of Pembroke College, and though he was at once deprived of office, the proctors delivered a formal protest against the visitation, which at last occasioned the removal of the cause to London.

Meanwhile Dr. Fell had been voted out of his office as vice-chancellor, but continuing to exercise his functions, had been sent prisoner to London; other heads of houses had appeared before the visitors for the express purpose of disputing their authority; and vacancies that had occurred in some of the colleges were filled up by election, in spite of injunctions to the contrary. The

and was in consequence rigorously imprisoned, but survived until the Restoration, and died dean of St. Paul's, in December, 1664.

parliament then took the matter in hand, and after hearing counsel for the University, on the 9th of December, voted its conduct to be derogatory to their authority, and gave effect to this by shortly after depriving five heads of Houses and three of the canons of Christ Church; nothing daunted, however, the remaining officers refused to publish the sentence, and the students tore the notices down from the walls.

At length, at the end of March, 1648, a strong guard was placed at the disposal of the visitors, and soon after the earl of Pembroke, who had been named chancellor, repaired to Oxford, when the expulsion of all the remaining heads of Houses (except Paul Hood, the rector of Lincoln, and Gerard Langbaine, provost of Queen's) was promptly proceeded with. But the fellows, the graduates, and the students still remained, and the latter especially feared not to treat the visitors with every mark of contempt and aversion. They wrote and circulated pamphlets in which the intruders were attacked with stern invective in some cases, in others held up to ridicule in doggrel verses, and though the Knipperdollings laboured earnestly to suppress them, many of these productions have come down to our time. The visitors now made the whole body prisoners, and demanded from them, on pain of expulsion, an answer in writing whether they submitted to the visitation or not. Very few indeed complied; the expulsion of the rest was voted, and to give effect to this, proclamation was made by beat of drum, and with a strong guard, before the gate of each college, that if any who had been voted out presumed to remain in the University, they should be given over as prisoners to the governor. Even this threat, however, did not dislodge the students, and the governor (Thomas Kelsey, a button-maker) at last (Aug. 17, 1648) made the decisive announcement, that "if any one who had been expelled did presume to tarry in the town, or should be taken within five miles of it, he should be deemed a spy, and be punished with death." Too many instances were fresh in every man's mind to allow any doubt that this threat would be carried into effect, and accordingly all further opposition to the godly reformation" was at last aban

doned.

The most lucrative places in the University were of course the prize of the visitors, and their immediate assistants, but after all these were provided for, the colleges were comparatively empty, and "the dregs of the neighbour University," says Anthony

à Wood, were transferred, or transferred themselves, from Cambridge to Oxford.

Seckers, were great frequenters of the sermons

"They were," he says, "commonly called

at St. Mary's, preached by the six ministers appointed by parliament, and other Presbyterian ministers that preached in other churches in Oxford, and sometimes frequenters of the conventicles of Independents and Anabaptists. The generality of them had mortified countenances, puling voices, and eyes commonly, when in discourse, lifted up, with hands lying on their breasts; they mostly had short hair, which at that time was commonly called the Committee-cut,' and went in cuerpo, in a shabby condition, and looked rather like apprentices, or antiquated schoolboys, than academi cians or ministers; and therefore few or none of the old stamp, or royal party, would come near to, or sort themselves with them, but rather endeavoured to put scorn on them, and make them

ridiculous."

though originally referring to Cambridge A passage from Querela Cantabrigiensis, only, may aptly close this notice of the

Puritan desolation of both Universities:

"Thus are we imprisoned or banished for our consciences, being not so much as accused of anything else, only suspected of loyalty to our King, and fidelity to our Mother the Church of England: and not only so, but quite stripped of all our livelihood, and exposed to beggary, having nothing left us to sustain the necessities of nature, and many of knowing whither to bend one step when we set us no friends to go to, but destitute and forlorn, not footing out of Cambridge, having only one companion, which will make us rejoice in our utmost afflictions, viz., a clear conscience in a righteous cause; humbly submitting ourselves to the chastisement of the Almighty, who, after He hath tried us, will at last cast His rods into the fire.

"As for us, God forbid that we should take up bless: we are so far from that, that we have rather any railing or cursing, who are commanded only to chosen to let the names of our greatest persecutors rot in our ruins, than so much as mention them

with our pen, save only where necessity compelled

us unto it.

"But though we spare their names, we hope we may without offence to any describe their qualities. And therefore, if posterity shall ask, 'Who thrust Eloquence dumb, Philosophy sottish, widowed the out one of the eyes of this kingdom? who made Arts, and drove the Muses from their ancient habitation? who plucked the reverend and orthodox professors out of their chairs, and silenced them in rebellion, and changed the apostolical chair into prison or their graves? who turned religion into a desk for blasphemy, and tore the garland from off the head of Learning, to place it on the dull brows of disloyal ignorance?' If they shall ask, 'Who made those ancient and beautiful chapels, the sweet remembrances and monuments of our forefathers' charity, and kind fomenters of their children's devotion, to become ruinous heaps of dust and stones? ing bees, which used to drop honey-dews over all this kingdom, to place in their rooms swarms of senseless drones?' 'Tis quickly answered, 'Those and put them in their own pockets, have transthey were, who endeavouring to share three crowns, formed this free kingdom into a large gaol, to keep the liberty of the subject: they who maintain protect our lives, and the propriety of our goods: 100,000 robbers and murderers by sea and land, to they who have gone a king-catching these three years

or who unhived those numerous swarms of labour

hunting their most gracious sovereign like a partridge on the mountains, in his own defence: they who have possessed themselves of his majesty's towns, navy, and magazines, and robbed him of all his revenues, to make him a glorious king: who have multiplied oaths, protestations, vows, Leagues and Covenants, for ease of tender consciences: filing all pulpits with jugglers for the Cause, canting sedition, atheism, and rebellion, to root out tery and Babylon, and settle the kingdom of Christ: who, from a trembling guilt of a legal

A.D. 1646.

The king's great seal, taken at Oxford, is broken up in the presence of the parliament, Aug. 11.

The parliament and the Scots exchange angry letters, and the parliament manifest an intention of expelling their allies.

The Scots offer to withdraw from England on payment of a sum for their services. The amount is, after much contention", fixed at £400,000, one-half to be paid before they quit England, and the balance to be secured on "the public faith."

The parliament, by vote, denounce forfeiture of life and property against all who shall hereafter oppose them in arms, Dec. 8.

The parliament send propositions to the king, which he finally declines to discuss, unless allowed to return in safety and honour to Westminster, Dec. 20.

The Scots' commissioners, in August, desired "to have consideration for their losses, hazards, charges, and damage;" this consideration they afterwards stated at £1,000,000 for arrears, "besides losses" to an indefinite amount. They afterwards offered to take £500,000 for the whole, which was ultimately agreed to, but with deductions for free quarter, which reduced it to £400,000.

The money was raised by the sale of the bishops' lands, for which ordinances were passed, Oct. 9, Nov. 16 and 30. The Scots received £100,000 a few days before, and a like sum a few days after, they gave up the king, whence they are often said to have sold him to his enemies. The accuracy of this charge has been questioned, although it cannot be denied that they exhibited a lamentable want of generosity, in taking advantage of the fact, that he came to them without a formal promise of protection, on the faith of the private negotiation that had been carried on with them before he left Oxford. Perhaps, however, they felt compelled to act as they did, for the English parliament had by vote declared (Sept. 21) that the disposal of the king belonged exclusively to them, and shewed themselves ready to enforce the claim by arms. When the matter was discussed in the Scottish parliament, six peers and eight commoners protested against the surrender. The first one to do so was Alexander Strang, a shoemaker, then provost of Forfar, who exclaimed, "I disagree, as honest men should do."

A.D. 1647.

The Scots leave Newcastle, having given up the king into the hands of the parliamentary commissioners ", Jan. 30. He is removed under a strong guard to his own house at Holmby, in Northamptonshire.

The parliament take steps to disband the army. They resolve to send a portion to Ireland, to reduce the establishment for England, and to dismiss all officers above the rank of colonel, except Sir Thomas Fairfax, March 8h.

Harlech Castle, the last royal post, surrenders, March 30.

The king writes to the parliament, May 12, offering to consent to their propositions regarding religion and the power of the sword. His letter is favourably received, which displeases the army.

The king is seized at Holmby-house, by Joyce, a cornet of Fairfax's life

The earls of Pembroke and Denbigh, Lord Montague, Sir James Harington, Sir John Holland, Sir Walter Earle, Sir John Cooke, Mr. John Crew, and Major-general Brown.

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This blow was aimed at Cromwell and the other Independents, but the Presbyterian party soon discovered that they had conquered their sovereign only to find a worse master. Fairfax, though one of themselves, was easily induced by Cromwell to move the army from the centre of England to Saffron Walden, with the manifest intention of overawing the parliament. The troops demanded payment of their arrears, provision for the wounded, and for widows and orphans, and an ordinance of indemnity. The parliament at first took a high tone, and threatened them as disturbers of the public peace" (March 29), but this made matters worse. The soldiers established a kind of parliament of their own, and unanimously resolved neither to be disbanded nor to take service in Ireland until their demands were conceded. The parliament now tried to soothe them by passing the ordinance of indemnity (May 21), and issuing a portion of their arrears. This did not avail. The soldiers combined still more closely together, compelled the parliament to withdraw their offensive declaration, and when they saw a probability of the Presbyterians and the royalists uniting against them, they broke all their measures by seizing the person of the king.

guard, June 4, and carried to Childersley, near Cambridge.

The army take a solemn engagement at Newmarket, June 5, refusing to be disbanded. The parliamentary commissioners visit them at Triplow-heath (June 10), and endeavour in vain to

break their union.

The marquis of Huntley is obliged to lay down his arms in Scotland, June.

The marquis of Ormond makes an agreement with the parliamentary commanders (June 19), and withdraws from Ireland. The Romanists continue the contest, and offer the sovereignty of the island to foreign powers.

The parliament order London to be fortified, and forbid the nearer approach of the army. The soldiers impeach eleven members of treason, and march to Uxbridge (June 25), when the parliament give way, exclude the obnoxious members, demolish the new fortifications, and appoint commissioners to treat for full satisfaction to the army.

The army offer to replace the king on the throne, on certain conditions, but he refuses them.

Fairfax advances towards London, and is joined by Lenthall, the speaker, and several of the members of the parliament. He enters London without opposition, Aug. 6, when the Houses reassemble, and after some opposition from the Presbyterians, all the votes hostile to the army are rescinded.

The king is placed at Hampton Court, and is treated with much atten

They were Sir John Clotworthy, Mr. Glyn, Col. Harley, Denzil Holles, Sir William Lewis, Colonel Long, Major-general Massey, Sir John Maynard, Mr. Nichols, Sir Philip Stapleton, and Sir William Waller. Holles, Long, and Stapleton retired to France, where Stapleton died very shortly after his landing at Calais; the others were allowed to withdraw to their own houses.

tion by the army. He, however, enters into a design of the Scots and others to invade England. This is discovered, and his fears are excited by the fierce denunciations of the Levellers. He escapes from Hampton Court, Nov. 12, and seeks refuge with Colonel Hammond', governor of the Isle of Wight. By him he is placed in Carisbrooke Castle, Nov. 14.

Cromwell endeavours to curb the Levellers, but fails. He then comes to an agreement with them.

The king renews his offers for an accommodation to the parliament, Nov. 16. They are not accepted, and he negotiates anew with the Scots.

The parliament at length offer four propositions" to the king as the basis of a personal treaty, Dec. 24; the Scots offer less onerous terms, and he refuses his assent, Dec. 28. He on the same day endeavours to escape from Carisbrooke Castle, but is prevented".

A.D. 1648.

The parliament, under the coercion of the army, declare they will no more treat with the king, nor allow others to do so, under the penalty of treason.

The king publishes an appeal to the people against this vote. It is favourably received, and Colonel Poyer, a parliamentary officer, hoists the royal standard at Pembroke. He is joined by other officers, as also by the royalists, and is at first successful. Cromwell marches against him, and after

out of the civil war, he acted as a military chaplain. Peters was a leading man among the Anabaptists during the Commonwealth, and at length was executed as a regicide, October 19, 1660.

He was the son-in-law of Hampden. He died in Ireland in October, 1654.

These required, that the militia should be placed at their disposal; that the king's declara

that the peerages bestowed since the commencement of the war should be set aside; and, lastly, that the Houses should be adjourned only with

their own consent.

"Captain Burley, a royalist, who attempted to get up a rising in the island to favour this project, was seized and executed; as was Roger Newland, of Newlands near Lymington. He said on the scaffold, "Deprived of my life and property, I leave to my posterity my name, which none can assail; my arms, which traitors, ignorant alike of gentility and heraldry, cannot efface; and my loyalty, which none can impugn." His family in consequence assumed the motto, "Le nom, les armes, la loyauté," which they still use.

a six weeks' siege, captures Pembroke, and crushes the movement".

Tumults occur in London and many other places, and an army is raised in Kent, in favour of the king.

The duke of Hamilton P induces the Scots to espouse the royal cause.

The young duke of York escapes from St. James's, April 22.

The Kentish rising occurs, May 23; six ships of war in the Downs mount the king's flag, and repair to Holland. The prince of Wales takes the command, and appears at the mouth of the Thames with a fleet of nineteen ships, early in July.

Fairfax defeats the Kentish men at Maidstone, June 1. A party of them, under the earl of Norwich (George Goring), endeavour to enter London, but being foiled by the vigilance of Skippon, retire into Essex, and occupy Colchester, June 12.

Colonel John Morris surprises Pontefract Castle, June 3; he holds it for the king.

The Scots enter England, July 5, where Berwick and Carlisle are in the hands of the royalists under Sir Marmaduke Langdale. Cromwell and Lambert advance, and totally defeat them near Preston, Aug. 17; the duke of Hamilton is captured at Uttoxeter, Aug. 20, but Langdale conceals himself in London, and escapes to the Continent.

The earl of Holland appears in arms at Kingston, July 5. He is defeated and put to flight, July 7, and captured at St. Neot's, July 10.

Colchester surrenders to Fairfax, Aug. 27. Sir George Lisle and Sir Charles Lucas, two of the prisoners, are shot by virtue of the parliamentary

ordinances, the same evening. The earl of Norwich and Lord Capel* are reserved for trial.

The prince's fleet retires to Holland, at the end of August, without attempting to rescue the king.

On the proposition of the Peers, (Sept. 11,) negotiations are resumed with the king. They were opened at Newport, Sept. 18, and continued until Nov. 27, when the king agreed to most of the terms demanded".

The marquis of Ormond returns to Ireland, Sept. 29.

Cromwell advances into Scotland, in September, and disperses some new levies of the royalists. He retakes Berwick, and Carlisle, and returns to London, Dec. 6, when he establishes himself at Whitehall.

The Levellers, while the negotiations are carried on, demand the blood of the king more vehemently than before. He is seized at Newport, by order of the council of the army, Nov. 30, and imprisoned in Hurst Castle.

The council of officers publish a declaration accusing the parliament of perfidy, and desire all well-affected members to resort to them, Nov. 30. At the same time several regiments march into London.

The parliament vote, after a three days' debate, that the king's concessions are a sufficient ground for a settlement, Dec. 5. On the next day, the House is "purged" by Colonel Thomas Pride, when 47 members are seized and imprisoned, and 96 excluded

from the House.

The remains of the parliament (known as the Rump) vote the late treaty with the king dishonourable and dangerous, Dec. 13; and afterwards

of the parliament; to leave also the reduction of Ireland in their hands; to pass an act of oblivion; to abolish episcopacy, take the Covenant, and receive the Assembly of Divines and the Directory. The political propositions the king agreed to; he also consented to allow, for a limited period, of the Assembly and the Directory, but he refused to subscribe the Covenant, or to deny the divine origin of episcopacy, though he was willing, probably from deference to the views of Archbishop Usher, to strip bishops of their property, and to be satisfied with a bare recognition of an inherent difference between their order and that of presbyters.

He was originally a drayman. He was made one of Cromwell's House of Peers, and died Oct. 23, 1658.

Lord Grey of Groby pointed them out.

It mustered only about fifty members, and appears to have been at the absolute disposal of the army.

These were, to leave the militia at the disposal