The breife of the fact concerninge the lisensinge and orderinge of victualers within the towne and precinctes of Cambridge.

In shrove weeke last past, the vice-chauncellour of the Universitie of Cambridge (acordinge as in all former times it had bene accustomed) gave chardge to the bedill to warne all butchers, taverners, tiplers, inkepers, and all other victualers within that towne and precinctes thereof, to appear before him upon Frydaye and Satterdaye in that weeke, to enter bond for the due observinge of such orders, this Lent time, as shoulde be sett downe unto them concerninge the killinge, dressinge, and eatinge of fleshe. Divers did appeere and entred bond accordinglye; but a greate number of the townsemen refused to come, because, as they sayed, the maior of Cambridge had already taken bond of them for the same matter. The vicechauncellour knowinge that, by auncient charter and graunte from king Rychard the Second, the orderinge and governinge of fishe and fleshe, and all other victuall, within the precinctes of Cambridge, belonged of righte only and wholy to him as the ordinary officer of the Universitie, and that as well the maior of Cambridge, as also all other of that corporation, weare, by the same charter, utterly forbidden to entermedle therein, caused a second warninge to be given to the sayed refusers, apointinge them to appeare on Monday then next ensewinge, before which daye the lord Northe, havinge bene enformed thereof by some of the towne, wrote his lettres to the vicechauncellour, requearinge him to staye from further proceedinge therein till Tewsdaye followinge. Hereupon the vice-chauncellour stayed. On the sayed Tewsdaye, the vice-chauncellours deputie (him selfe then beinge farthe of towne) with some other of the heades of colledges and assistantes, attended on the lord Northe at his inne, the Falcon. His lordship there declared his discontentment, in that the vice-chauncellour had offred to take bonde of anie townesman, or to apointe which of the butchers should be licensed to kill fleshe, affirmeinge that it was a thinge perteyninge to his lordships autoritie, geaven him in her majesties name by lettres sent from the righte honorable the lordes of her highnes privie counsell; which lettres beinge reade, it was answered, on the Universities behalfe, that (in their opinions) the meaneinge of those lettres coulde not be drawen to entitle his lordship to have to deale with victualers within Cambridge precinctes: fyrste, for that the sayed lettres made reference to certayne orders established within the cittie of London, in the xth and xijth articles of the which orders it is plainely expressed

that within priviledged places the hed officers of those places shoulde see to thexecucion of the sayed orders, so that the Universitye and precinctes thereof beinge specially priviledged towchinge all matters perteyninge to victualls, as by the wordes of the charter cleerely appeareth (which wordes were then and there readd to that effect), it necessarily followeth that, by vertue of those orders, the officers of the Universitie have to deale therein. Secondly, for that the sayed lordes them selves did so expownde there owne lettres written in the like case aboute fower yeres since; for whereas at that tyme they had written to the sheriffe to like effect concerninge the same matter, as now they have done to the lord lieutenaunt and the maiour of Cambridge, by vertue of that warrant, began to deale with victualers as now he hath done by pretence of this: it seemed good to there honours consideracions to write other lettres to the sayed maiour and burgesses, expressely declareinge that there meaneinge was not, by there former lettres, to authorize anie to interrupt the jurisdiction of the Universitie, and therefore willed the sayed maior and other justices not to medle with the victualers within that precincte. Hereunto the lord Northe replied, that the councells lettres last mencioned served but for that time onelye; and as for the wordes of the charter, he sayed he did not compte them of sufficient force, nor to beare such construccion as the Universitie conceived. Whereto it was added for further answer, that the continuall practise and usage of the Universitie had so received it, and that her majestie, the best interpretour of her owne graunte, had so construed that charter, as mighte appeare by her special lettre to that effect, directed to the maior and burgesses of Cambridge in the sixte yere of her highness reigne. To the which lettre, remaineinge still in the custody of the towne, the Universitie most willingely referred themselves. All this notwithstandinge, the lord North protested that he woulde not cease to pursue his purpose until the auctoritie therein committed by the lordes of the cowncell should, by there commandement, be revoked againe. These speaches thus passed, they of the Universitie tooke there leave of the lord Northe, and so departed.

THE PRIVY COUNCIL TO THE VICE-CHANCELLOR.

[From MS. Harl. no. 7041, p. 203.]

To our lovinge friend Mr. D. Preston, vice-chancellor, etc. AFTER our hartye commendations: whereas, by her majesties speciall direction, ther were certain orders sett down and devysed by us, for the restraint of killing and eatinge of fleshe in the time of Lent and other days prohibited, the which have bene by us sent and recommended to the lord lieftenants of the severall counties, to th'ende they should cause the same to be generally observed in the cities, towns, and other places within ther lieftenances; because it doth apperteyn to you by charter to have the overseeing of victuallers for the town of Cambridge, we have thought good to send the said orders unto you, and to require you that you will cause the same to be observed in the towne of Cambridge; and that there be onely one butcher permitted to kill and utter fleshe, for such as are diseased and have licence to eate the same, according to thes orders sett downe and devysed by us for that respect. Wherin hopinge you will use that care which is mete in the observance of so necessary orders, we bid you hartelye farewell. From the courte at Grenewiche, the 18th of March, 1589.

PURITANISM IN ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE.

DR. WHITAKER TO LORD BURGHLEY.

[From MS. Lansd. no. 63, art. 86.]

To the right honorable the lord of Burghley, lord high treasurer of England, and chancellar of the Universitie of Cambrige, my verie good lord.

AFTER my humble dutie to your honorable lordship a frend of myne that lately came from the court hath given me to understand, that a rumor is spred in the court, and hath come to the eares of some of the most honorable counsell, how that I, on the queenes day last, did forbidd in our college an oration to bee made in praise of her majesties governement. I thinke I am not without some bothe enemies and backfrendes; but that such a thinge should to such and in such a place bee reported of mee, being soe utterly untrue, and I am assured voide of all colour of truthe, I cannot but marvell much. My humble suite to your honor is, not to give credence to any such report, if peradventure by some means your honor may heare of it; and alsoe to represse it, that it goe no further to my discredite, which some perhaps seeke by theis sinister sleights. The truth is, I never forbadd nor hindred any such oration, and wee had an oration in our college hall on that night, pronounced by one whom I appointed my selfe for that purpose, whose name is Heblethwaite, now a felow of the college; at which oration I was present, and our whole company, and divers of other colleges, whom I sawe, and can name if neede require. The action was solemne, with bone fiers in both the courtes of the college, as also it hath bene ever since I came to this college; and the report hath proceeded from some envious body, God knoweth whoe. My poore credit, which I labour to keepe, I humblie commend to your

lordships honorable protection, beseeching Godd long to continue this happy and blessed government, and your lordship in health and honor, to the greate good of this church and common wealth. From St. Johns College in Cambridge, this 14 of Maie, 1590.

Your honors in the Lord to commaund,

WILLIAM WHITAKER.

THE UNIVERSITY TO LORD BURGHLEY.

[From MS. Lansd. no. 63, art. 91.]

To the right honorable the lord of Burghley, lord high treasurer of England, and chancellor of the Universitie of Cambridge.

OUR dueties humbly remembred to your lordshippe: wher Mr. Dor. Whitaker repayring to Mr. vice-chancellar, and signifying his late recept of letters of a complaint of a presbiterie to be exercised within St. Johnes College (a matter which him selfe and wee all take to bee of verie great importance, and so of no lesse discredit to our whole Universitie, if it should be found true); hereupon Mr. vice-chancellar called unto him us as assistantes, whose names are heere under written, for some good course to bee undertaken, at which tyme Mr. Dor. Whitaker first denyinge the complaint, or his anie privitie therof, and movinge and desiringe to have all the societie of the fellowes of that college examined upon their othes concerninge their knowlege therin, upon certaine interrogatories drawen to that purpose wee entring into consultation therof, thought good rather to forbeare that course untill your lordshippes pleasure were first made knowne unto us, with direction whether this office should judiciallie be possessed thereof, seing your lordshippe hath alreadie taken knowlege of it. Yet, in the meane tyme, wee thought it our partes to