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NOTES.

NOTE (42) referred to in Page 3.

On the privilege granted to the Universities to send Members to Parliament.

The motive for this Royal privilege (dated 12th March, 1603) is expressed as follows: "As in the Colleges of our University there are many local statutes, constitutions, &c., and as in past times, and especially of late, many Statutes and Acts of Parliament have been made concerning them, it therefore appears to us worth while and necessary that the said University should have Burgesses of its own in Parliament, who from time to time may make known to the Supreme Court of Parliament, the true state of that University, so that no Statute or Act may offer any prejudice or injury to them, or any one of them severally, without just and due notice and information being had in that respect. Know therefore all, &c." (Dyer i. 135.) Under the circumstances, it is not likely that there was any extensive or deep political intention at the bottom of this measure, for the strengthening of the Royal influence in Parliament; however plausible such an explanation may appear at first sight. But in point of fact, the foundation for future extensions of the Parliamentary sphere of agency was laid by this means. It is evident at the same time, that the political importance of the Universities was much increased by the measure; whether to their advantage needs no investigation here. The expediency of bestowing political rights such as these, upon scientific corporations, may be looked upon as very doubtful. But if once possessed of them, they should never be expected to use

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them in an unworthy or slavish manner. Wood gives an account of the opinions entertained at Oxford, with regard to this new privilege.

NOTE (43) REFERRED TO IN PAGE 15.

Conduct of the Universities concerning the Covenant, &c.

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The University appealed to the protest set forth by Parliament in 1641, and signed by both Universities, which was principally directed against the Papists, but which, next to the Royal prerogative, expressly and prominently set up the rights of Parliament, thus forming, as long as men's intentions with regard to constitutional Monarchy were good, a sufficient guarantee, as far indeed as any guarantee can exist in such things. Even the "Covenant," as is well known, was not drawn up in an anti-Monarchal form, and was, consequently, admirably calculated to ensnare imprudent, weak, or dishonest minds, into ultimate republicanism, and to test really firm and sincere Royalists. The "ordinationes were the principles and regulations established in 1644, in the English Church, and were entirely incompatible with her Episcopal Constitution. The "Juramentum negativum" enjoined a total abstinence from every kind of opposition to the troops, decrees and orders of the Parliament, and every kind of support of the King and his adherents. The unanimity of the Convocation (with the exception of one vote) which is expressly mentioned by Wood, is certainly very striking, and we must conclude from it, that many of the Puritans, who had been expelled or had withdrawn at an earlier period, had not yet returned to the University, whilst others allowed themselves to be carried away by the momentary impulse of the corporate spirit. To this we may add, that the more moderate of the Puritans began already to be alarmed for Royalty itself, and were under the influence of reaction, which could nowhere have better play than here, since the " Judgment of the University of Oxford touching the Solemn League," &c. contained, in the letter, nothing, that they could not subscribe with a good conscience and without proving faithless to their original principles.

This document may be found in Wood, and is printed, moreover, in English, French and Italian translations.

Note (44) referred to in Page 16.

The Submission of the Universities to Cromwell's rule.

After the Visitation of 1646, there were but few members of the University who came forward as martyrs on account of their political opinions: but this needs no detailed explanation, being merely a repetition of what took place in the kingdom at large, and I am not writing a history of those times. Here it will suffice to call to mind, that the spirit which was introduced at the Universities by the last Visitation, and of which the Covenant may be considered as the symbol, had not in itself any defined political character, neither republican nor purely despotic, nor yet decidedly constitutional; to say nothing of the theological views. It was the spirit and sentiment of the "juste milieu" then prevailing; which, without actual apostacy, easily submitted to any ruling principle whatever, provided on the one hand, it was able to protect and promote existing interests, possessions, habits, and business, (which may be termed the material foundation of all civic associations ;) and on the other hand, it required no active part to be taken, involving sacrifice or danger. A spirit of this kind excludes neither honorable elements nor honorable persons : and if to this, we add the very important considerations, which induced men to look upon Cromwell's rule, not only as a lesser evil, and as the sole guarantee against unlimited disorder, but also as a positive benefit for the nation, especially in foreign affairs, we shall have no reason to animadvert upon the passive submission of the Universities: although many of their members probably mourned at heart after the Constitutional Monarchy, and some even for the pure Republic. Cromwell, moreover, had several very zealous adherents at the Universities. Especially those who clung to Monarchy, and gave up the fallen dynasty as lost, were desirous of honoring Cromwell as the Founder of a new

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