que; nos collegiorum præfecti, matura habita consultatione, statuti prædicti verba, nempe intra quatuordecim dies post vacationem, etc. sic interpretamur, ut omnis electio et nominatio burgensium nunc et in posterum fiat juxta formam electionis procancellarii intra quatuordecim dies post traditionem regii brevis a vicecomite procancellario Universitatis factam.

CLEM. CORBET. procan. an. 1613.

HUM. TYNDALL.
Jo. RICHARDSON.

LAW. CHADERTON.

VAL. CAREY.

JO. DUPORT.

THO. NEVILE.

GUL. SMITH.

OWEN GUINN.

W. BRAINTHWAITE.

UNIVERSITY PRIVILEGES.

THE VICE-CHANcellor to sir JOHN [.. · ].

[From MS. Sloan. no. 3562, fol. 41.]

...

SIR JOHN about the beginninge of August last, one George Becke, a servant of yours, was arrested by our officer, and brought before me, beinge deputy vice-chancellor, at the suite of the wyfe of William Scarrett, a priviledged person; where understandinge he was towardes you, I was willinge to shew him what favour I could, and therfore, (wheras upon the arest he should have beine bounde with sufficient suretyes within the jurisdiction to answere the action) uppon his honest promise to me that he would appeare at a day and tyme then assigned him to answere the sayd action, he was released from the arest: synce which tyme he hath neyther regarded his promise made to me for his appearance, nor taken any course to satisfy the plantife, who every court calleth uppon the cause, and blameth me that he was not bound uppon the arest, accordinge to our statutes and the custome of the court. I pray heartely

eyther let him appeare to the action uppon Friday next at one of the clocke, yf he thinke he have not offended, or yf he be loath to endure a tryall, lett him stay the proceedinges in the court by seekinge some friendly ende with the party grieved, so that myself be no moore blamed, nor further courses taken agaynst him by his adversary. So, with my hearty comendations to you, I take my leave. From Christs Colledge in Cambridge, this 28 of October, 1615. Your very lovinge friend,

V. C.

THE UNIVERSITY TO LORD ELLESMERE.

[From MS. Sloan. no. 3562, fol. 91 vo.]

Honoratissimo domino, Thomæ domino de Elismer, equiti aurato, summo Angliæ cancellario regiæque majestati consiliario dignissimo.

Qui pro salute tua precibus haud ignavis aliquandiu excubuimus, liceat nobis ad te (honoratissime domine) pro nobismet etiam ipsis aliquando precibus accedere, tibique uti propitius fuit Deus noster (quod bonis quidem omnibus peroptato contigit), sic e nobis quoque fas sit sperare te in causa Dei et nostra futurum. Magna haud dubie totius regni in ecclesiam pietas, nec minus in patriæ pietatisque hostes severitas justa fuit, cum abrepto ab eis jure patronatus, utramque academiam eorum loco patronas fore populi patrumque consulto sancitum est. Nam qui tandem aut melius potuerunt aut potius debuerunt huic juri succedere, quam geminæ illæ sorores, quæ tot theologorum fecundissimæ quotannis matres sunt? Ac diu quidem est, a quo hæc nobis a republica dona missa sunt, necdum tamen accepimus; diu a quo lege sunt concessa, quæ ut semel a judice tradantur, nos etiamnum expectamus. Sed ejusdem profecto improbitatis est, totius regni beneficium a nobis avertere, quæ prius regnum ipsum evertere sategit. Quot

enim dolos, quam mille et mille artes pontificia subtilitas nuper extudit, quibus aureis legum vinculis elaberetur, et satis intelligit vestra quæ summa est prudentia, et nostra sane quæ maxima est paupertas nimis, heu nimis, experitur.

Sed tu fortasse (illustrissime Egertone), quid hic sibi vult literarum fletus, quid hi gemitus exposcunt, quæris. Certe et agunt tibi gratias pro veteri beneficio, et gratiam pro novo sibi petunt. Vetus erat, quod celeberrimæ nostræ sorori, cui pater es, in hac eadem causa patronus quoque prius esse volueris; jam vero ut in nos quoque, si non in causa pari, pari pietate et saltem simili sis affectus, novum est quod a te vehementer expetimus beneficium. Neve putes huic uni tantum homini, licet gratissimo, alumno nostro, Tidswello, has literas differenti, te gratiam hanc facturum; majus hoc bonum est quam ut uni tantum academiæ conferri possit. Utrique datur quod uni porrigitur. Quid loquimur academias? Ecclesiæ totæ, toti regno (si modo huic causæ faveas), peroptime consulis. Atque hæc tibi si magna videantur (ut sunt procul dubio maxima), latius etiamnum patebit, nec terræ quidem finibus hæc tua bonitas se continebit, quin ibit in secula, et ecclesiæ nondum natæ pietas hæc vivacissima aliquando profutura est, ipsi denique cœlo, imo vero (concede nobis hanc ultimam, sed piam loquendi audaciam) Deo ipsi donum quod illi dari potest maximum et largiturus.

Tu itaque (clarissime domine), qui benefaciendi mercedem non ex populi sermone, sed ex benefacto petis, majorique animo fructus honestatis in conscientia quam in fama reponis, privata in Deum pietate ne sis contentus, sed transi hoc beneficio in secula nepotum, et posteris etiam hoc immortale donum trade, ut tua benignitate non ecclesia solum quæ jam est diu lætetur, sed ea quæ olim est ventura eadem perpetuo perfruatur. Nos interim persancte Deum precabimur, ut in hoc seculo ipse tibi ætate facili beatissimeque acta retribuat, coloque te excipiat in

futuro. Cantabrigiæ, e senatu nostro frequenti, pridie Idus

Aprilis, 1616.

Honoris tui perpetuo observatissimi,

Procancellarius et reliquus senatus Cantabrigiensis.

DISPUTE WITH THE TOWN.

LETTER FROM THE HEADS.

[From MS. Sloan. no. 3562, fol. 26.]

OUR humble dutyes to your honorable good lordship premised: as uppon all attempts made agaynst the honor or peace of this University, and the libertyes and priviledges therof (wherof your lordship hath ever vouchsafed to be a cheife patron and protector), wee have sufficiently tasted the benifitt of your favourable assistance and countenance; so now by your former bounty wee are imboldened to implore your lordships wonted help in the behalf of one Benjamen Prime, our under beadle, and common minister of this University, who hath lately sewed one Thomas Smarte, an alderman of the towne of Cambridge, before the comissary of the University, uppon a personall action, the tryall, examination, and determination wherof by charter and custome belongeth to the chancellor, masters, and schollers of the sayd University, and their vicechancellor or commissary. Yet the sayd Smarte (contrary to his oath heretofore taken in the tyme of his maioralty to defende and protect our priviledges and charters) hath now procured a habeas corpus cum causa out his majesties honorable court of the kinges bench, hopinge therby with chardge and suite to weary our officer and impugne the priviledges of the University. Wee therfore intreate your honor would be pleased to graunt us and our servant that

lawfull favour, and speede in the hearinge and remittinge the cause, which your lordship and that honorable court shall thinke fitt, for the releife of our officer and the mayntenance of our charters. And for the merittes of the cause in question, wee intreate your lordship to heare them from Mr. doctor Goche, the University commissary, who hath heard and examined the difference betweene Prime and Smarte, and is best able to geive accompt of his owne proceedinges therin. Thus, with our humble thankes to your lordship for your dayly favours to us and our whole body, and our hearty prayers to the Almighty for your long lyfe and happinesse, wee take our leaves, this viijth of June, anno Domini 1616.

[From MS. Sloan. no. 3562, fol. 40.]

My very good lord: presuminge uppon your lordships favour and patience, I have delayed my answere to your letters dated the xth of May, only in hope to bringe Allesson to conforme and submitt himself to our church government and religion established; which although he hath not performed as I desyred, yet I thought it my duty to certify your lordship with the course I have taken, and how farr he hath yeelded. After some conference with him, perceivinge by the poore mans weaknesse and willfull ignorance that he was ledd rather by the strength of his owne imagination then the instruction of any learned or sounde teacher, I intreated some persons of good place amongest