Mr. David and Mr. Heron, deputys of two absent seniors, to join with the master of the said college, notwithstanding our said former order to the contrary. ROBT. CASTELL. THO. BENDISH. EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION. Die Jovis, 11 April, 1645. WHEREAS humble representation hath beene made to the lords and commons assembled in parliament on the behalfe of the Universitie of Cambridge, that the said University and the severall colledges therein are brought to such necessity by reason of the failing of their rents (a great part whereof cannot be received in these times of troubles and distractions), as they shall be altogether unable to support any longer the students of the said societies, unlesse they may be freed and exempted (according to their charter and the indulgence of former parliaments) from all military taxes and other contributions to the publike service, which are imposed by ordinance of parliament. The said lords and commons, taking the premises into consideration, and to the end they may give as much ease and reliefe as the times will beare to these eminent schooles and seminaries of learning, for their better encouragement to continue their studies with diligence for the publike benefit both of church and commonwealth, think fit and ordaine, and be it ordained, that nothing contained in any ordinance or ordinances of parliament for and concerning the imposing, leavying, or paying of any assessements, taxes, and charges whatsoever, as well already made and charged as hereafter to be made and charged by vertue of any of the said ordinances, shall be extended to charge the said University of Cambridge, or any of the colledges or halls within the University, nor any the rents and revenues belonging to the said University or colledges, or any of them; nor to charge any master, fellow, or scholler of any the said colledges, nor any reader, officer, or minister of the said University or colledges, or any of them, for and in regard of any stipend, wages, or profit whatsoever, arising or growing due to them or any of them in respect of their said severall places and employments in the said University; any thing in the said ordinances, or any of them, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And all assessors, collectors, and others whom this may concerne, are hereby required to take notice of this ordi nance. Provided that the tenants who enjoy leases from the said University and colledges respectively doe claime no freedome, exception, or advantage by this ordinance. JOH. BROWNE, Cler. parliamentorum. EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. 11th April, 1645. ORDINANCE passed for exempting the colleges and societies of the University of Cambridge from public taxes and impositions laid by ordinance of parliament, and ordered to be sent to the lords for their concurrence. 4th August, 1645. The house of commons being informed, that divers ministers, heads of several colleges in the University of Cambridge, were at the door, they were called in, and Mr. Vines acquainted the house that the University was very sensible of, and very thankful to this house for the several marks of favour set upon the University of Cambridge in freeing them from taxes; and that this house, which could ease them of their burdens, they were assured, could also preserve them in their liberties; they referred the particulars of their desires to their petition, beseeching that that University might continue the favourite of this house; and that as the gentlemen of this house are the descendants of those ancestors that have conferred her dowry upon her, so you will uphold and maintain her in the possession of those liberties and privileges which that University hath formerly enjoyed. Resolved, that this house doth declare that the University of Cambridge shall continue in the possession of their liberties and privileges they formerly used and enjoyed by former grants and charters before these troubles began until the right be determined; and that the consideration of the right be referred to a committee; and that Mr. Lucas and Mr. Selden do prepare a letter to be written from Mr. speaker to the committee of the association sitting at Cambridge, requiring them to take care that the University may, in pursuance of this order, be kept in possession of their privileges until the right be determined. N.B. The right appears to have respected differences between the town and the University of Cambridge. GRACE OF THE SENATE. Dec. 9, 1645. Quod procan. sit idoneus ad gradum doctoratus. CUM 24o die mensis Nov. A.D. 1606 concessum erat ab academia (prout patet e registro vestro) ut quivis procan cellariatus munere ornatus ipso facto idoneus sit ad gradum doctoratus in quacunque facultate suscipiendum, et ad plenariam admissionem creationemque in frequenti senatu obtinendam, ita tamen ut eadem annorum intervalla, eadem exercitia, eædem solutiones præstentur, quæ ex veteri instituto præstari solebant, nisi speciali gratia aliter per academiam dispensatum fuerit; atque ut hæc concessio pro statuto in perpetuum habeatur, et in libris procuratorum inscribatur. Cumque hæc concessio in libris procuratorum jam non reperiatur inscripta, sed viribus cassa habeatur, placet vobis, ut dicta concessio in pristinum vigorem restituatur, et auctoritate vestra firma rataque fiat, ac perpetuis temporibus futuris vim statuti obtineat, inque libris procuratorum infra decem dies proxime sequentes inscribatur. ARCHBISHOP BANCROFT'S LEGACY. [From MS. Baker. vol. x. xi. p. 133.] To the lords and commons assembled in parliament, the humble petition of the University of Cambridge, SHEWETH, that whereas Dr. Bancroft, archbishop of Canterbury, did by his will, bearing date the 28th of October, in the year 1610, bequeath a large study of books to the archbishops of Canterbury successively, upon assurance to be given for the security and continuance of the said legacy to succession; otherwise to the college at Chelsey, if it should be erected within six years next ensuing; otherwise to the public library of the University of Cambridge. And whereas it doth not appear to us that any such assurance is given, and it doth appear that the said college at Chelsey is not yet after so many years erected : May it therefore please this high and honorable court, out of your tender care for the advancement of learning and piety, to take so far into your consideration the cause of this University in this behalf, that the said legacy may be accordingly disposed, to the honour and ornament of the University, the facilitating the means of study by the addition of so great a supply, and the settling of your petitioners in that right and possession which (as they humbly conceive) falls upon them by the observation of the testators intendment. And your petitioners, etc. GRACE OF THE SENATE. Jan. 23, 1645. : CUM ad observationem quorundam statutorum in baccalaureorum in artibus admissione legendorum singuli teneantur virtute juramenti sub pœnis variis in dictis statutis (prout in libris procuratorum integra habeantur) expressis, quarum quidem pœnarum in dictorum statutorum particulis in dicta admissione legendis nulla sit mentio placet vobis, ut singuli in artibus baccalaurei in posterum admittendi jurent expresse, se vel academiæ statuta (quatenus ipsa se concernunt) fideliter observaturos, vel monitiones, correctiones, et poenas dictorum statutorum transgressoribus incumbentes sine contradictione quacunque humiliter subituros. Et ut hæc vestra concessio pro statuto habeatur, et in libris procuratorum infra decem dies proxime sequentes inscribatur. Graces. Stat. Acad. p. 384; Vice-chancellor's Book, p. 89; Junior Proctor's Book, fol. 200 b. H |