Cambridge University Transactions During the Puritan Controversies of the 16th and 17th Centuries

The heads to Lord Burghley, complaining that their warrant
against plays, &c. had been disregarded by the constables
and the inhabitants of Chesterton, as well as by the players
themselves; that the players had set up their bills upon the
college-gates; that Lord North had said that the date of the
letters of the Privy Council had expired; and finally request-
ing, that the letters may be renewed in order to prevent the
disorders of Chesterton, and other occasions of danger
The University to Lord Burghley, stating their inability to
prepare a play in English to be acted before her Majesty,
and the unwillingness of their actors to play in English;
and requesting, that if a play must be acted, they may
either have it acted in Latin, or have a longer time for the
preparation of an English one

Grace of the senate relating to appeals (1593)

The University to Lord Burghley, renewing their suit, that
stage-plays may be prohibited

The fellows of Corpus Christi College to Lord Burghley, stating
some disputes which had arisen in their college relative to
the illegal election of Mr. Thomas Jegon as proctor, and the
subsequent election of Mr. Anthony Hickman, whose ap-
pointment the master, Dr. Jegon, refused to confirm; also
requesting Lord Burghley to interpose his authority, and
to call on the vice-chancellor and masters to nominate
again both the parties, and to appoint the one who should
obtain the majority of the voices .
Dr. Jegon to Sir Michael Hickes, complaining of the extra-
ordinary practices of Mr. Hickman to annul the lawful elec-
tion of Mr. Thomas Jegon to the proctorship

Dr. Jegon to Sir Michael Hickes, informing him that the elec-

tion of his brother, Mr. Thomas Jegon, had been confirmed. 49

The master and fellows of Trinity College to Lord Burghley,

informing him that the plague had spread at Cambridge,

and requesting, that as it is hardly worth while to dis-

perse the students for the short time appointed by the

heads of the University, they may be allowed the use of

the bishop's house at Ely

The heads to Lord Burghley, informing him of a riot in the

Regent-house, and of the punishment of the leaders (1594). 51

A statement of the circumstances which led to the riot in the

Regent-house about the nomination and election of a taxor. 52

Lord Burghley to the University, expressing his regret at the

late riot, and calling for a proper infliction of punishment on

the offenders

Lord Burghley to the University, advising them to call before

them and to censure the exciters and authors of the late

riot

The master and seniors of Trinity College to Lord Burghley,
informing him that certain comedies and a tragedy were to
be acted for the benefit of the scholars in the college, and
requesting the use of some ancient state-robes from the
Tower, for sundry great personages who were to appear in
the tragedy (1595)

The heads to Lord Burghley, requesting him to defend their

privileges by interfering on behalf of Richard Foxcrofte,

who had been served at the complaint of Sir Francis Hinde

with a process of the Star-chamber, contrary to the charters

of the University

The same to the same, on University privileges

Dr. Whitaker to Lord Burghley, forwarding to him a copy of a

sermon which he had preached before the clergy against the

innovations which were spreading in the University; and at

the same time requesting Lord Burghley to provide for him

some preferment, as he wishes to retire from the laborious

duties of the University

A party of the fellows of St. John's to Lord Burghley, informing
him of the death of the master, Dr. Whitaker, and imploring
him to prevent any improper person, favourable to con-
venticles, being appointed as his successor
The fellows of the other party to Lord Burghley, begging that
a royal mandate may not be issued to deprive them of their
right of voting for a new master to succeed Dr. Whitaker
Drs. Tyndall and Nevile to Mr. Maners, begging him to recom-
mend Mr. Lawrence Stanton to Lord Burghley as a fit and
proper person to be the master, and by these means to frus-
trate the schemes of the other party

The heads to Lord Burghley, referring to him the nomination
and appointment of the new master
Lord Burghley to the college, ordering them to refrain from
proceeding in any way with the new election till the Queen's
pleasure was made known to them

The fellows to Lord Burghley, praying that their privileges of
election may not be taken from them, stating that the ru-
mours that they were all Puritans were without foundation,
and denouncing in the strongest terms all heresies, and espe-
cially Papistry and Puritanism

The heads to Lord Burghley, stating their compliance with his

orders, and recommending Dr. Webster and Mr. Stanton,

in order that the Queen may choose one of them for mas-

ter

PAGE

Complaints against Mr. Alvey, fellow of St. John's, and against
several other fellows of the same college: 1, for omitting to
mention in their prayers the Queen's supremacy, and the
names of the archbishops, bishops, &c.; 2, for preaching
without a license; 3, for saying that all those who are godly
and religious, even though unlearned, are to be preferred to
the greatest scholars; 4, for holding conventicles; and 5, for
partiality in elections .

Particular exceptions against Mr. Alvey and others: 1, for

calling a congregation to accept the appeal of Mr. John-

son the Brownist; 2, for maintaining that Mr. Barnbere,

who had been made minister by a presbytery abroad, should

continue to hold his fellowship; 3, for appointing public

suppers in the hall on Friday; 4, for keeping a feast of

flesh on Easter-even at night, the bell ringing to it; 5, for

endeavouring to obtain the mastership by illegal means;

6, for objecting to the master's government; 7, for influ-

encing the master; 8, against Mr. Monsey, for preaching

against the master; 9, against Mr. Johnson, for continuing

to serve in the church after being suspended; 10, against

Mr. Harrison, for refusing to subscribe, and for continuing

in his vicarage without observing the order of the Com-

munion-book; 11, against Mr. Newton, for not wearing a

surplice, or using the cross, ring, &c.; also for proclaiming

certain acts of the bishop's to be tyrannical; 12, against

Mr. Allenson, for preaching, although he was suspended;

13, against several others, for refusing to subscribe, and yet

continuing to preach; for neglecting the orders of the
Church; and for leaving out portions of the prayers in the
Communion-book at their pleasure

Mr. Alvey to Lord Burghley, in exculpation of himself, and
denouncing the charges made against him as calumnies and
slanders

Lord Burghley to the University, stating that it was her Ma-
jesty's pleasure that the president and fellows of St. John's
should elect as master either Mr. Stanton or Dr. Clayton,
the latter of whom, as being unmarried, the Queen pre-
ferred, and that if they refused to choose either of these, her
Majesty would nominate the master
The vice-chancellor to Lord Burghley, stating that Dr. Clayton
had been unanimously elected
The heads to Lord Burghley, recommending Mr. Neale to the
mastership of Magdalen College in the place of Dr. Clayton,
who had been promoted to be master of St. John's

The fellows of St. John's to Lord Burghley, thanking him for

his services to their college, and expressing their approbation

of Dr. Clayton

1596. The vice-chancellor to Lord Burghley, informing him
that Mr. Covell, a fellow of Queen's College, had been
preaching against the aristocracy, and in some degree against
the bishops, &c. .
The vice-chancellor to Lord Burghley, respecting a license he
had given the purveyor to take a certain amount of corn and
malt within the limits of the University

The vice-chancellor to Lord Burghley, charging Dr. Barowe, the

Lady Margaret's professor of divinity, with having preached

a sermon calculated to revive certain recent controversies

upon several important points of religion, and likely to prove

dangerous to the peace of the University and of the Church. 89

Opinions preached by Dr. Barowe in favour of the creation of
all mankind for eternal life.

Certain questions put to prove that Dr. Barowe had preached
the doctrine that the promises of God extend to all, and that
none are excluded from everlasting happiness, except for
transgressions of their own

The first appearance of Dr. Barowe before the heads of houses,
under the charge brought against him by certain bachelors
of divinity, for having disturbed the peace of the University,
by raising controversial questions; Dr. Barowe's answer to
the charges, and defence of his opinions

The act before the vice-chancellor for the examination of Dr.

Barowe

Dr. Barowe to Lord Burghley, stating that what he had

preached in his sermon was consistent with the articles of

the Church, and was only put forth to expose the doctrines

of election and predestination; and that his opponents en-

deavoured to inculcate that God had created a portion of

mankind that he might obtain glory for himself from their

perdition

Dr. Barowe to Lord Burghley, thanking him for his favour, and
begging him to assist him in his re-election to the professor-
ship, the period of his holding it having expired.

The mayor, Mr. Robert Wallis, to Lord Burghley, denying that

he had ever uttered any malicious speeches against him, and

stating that the charge was a mere invention of his enemies. 100

The vice-chancellor to Lord Burghley, complaining of the mayor 101

The complaints of the mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses: 1. A

taxor of the University has openly interfered with two jus-

tices and aldermen of the town in the discharge of their duty

while obeying a commission of the Privy-Council for the regu-

PAGE

lation of corn and provisions. 2. The justices of the Uni-

versity do not attend the quarter-sessions, but hold private

meetings of their own. 3. If any freeman offend them, they