ing thereof and shall thereupon have his Name Sirname and usuall place of abode certified and recorded at the Generall Quarter Sessions to be holden for the Shire Rideing Division or Liberty for which such two Justices shall be Justices of the Peace by the Clerke of the Peace or Towne Clerke as in the said Act is appointed Every such person soe recorded shall be from and after the time of such Record made adjudged taken and esteemed disabled to make such Presentation Collation Nomination Donation or Grant of any avoidance of any Benefice Prebend or Ecclesiasticall Liveing as fully and amply as if such person were a Popish Recusant Convict by the Laws or Statutes of this Realme any Law Statute or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding And that the Chancellor and Schollers of the University of Oxford and the Chancellor and Schollers of the University of Cambridge by what Name or Names soever they or either of them are incorporated shall respectively have the Presentation Nomination Collation and Donation of and to every such Benefice Prebend or Ecclesiasticall Liveing Schoole Hospitall and Donative sett lying and being in the respective Counties Cities and other the Places and Limitts in the said Act of the third of King James mentioned as in and by the said Act is directed and appointed soe often as any of them shall become void according to the Limitations Directions and Provisions in that behalfe limitted enacted and provided. AND BEE IT FURTHER ENACTED by the authoritie aforesaid That where any person or persons are or shall be seised or possessed of any Advowson Right of Presentation Collation or Nomination to any such Ecclesiasticall Liveing Free Schoole or Hospitall as aforesaid in Trust for any Papist or Popish Recusant who shall be convicted or disabled according to the true intent and meaning of the said Statute made in the third yeare of the Reigne of the said King James the First or by this present Act Every such person and persons soe seised and possessed in Trust for any Papist or Popish Recusant convict or disabled shall be and are hereby adjudged to be disabled to present nominate or collate to any such Ecclesiasticall Liveing Free Schoole or Hospitall or to grant any Avoidance thereof and their and every of their Presentations Nominations Collations and Grants shall be null and void to all intents and purposes whatsoever And the Chancellors and Schollers of the said respective Universities as aforesaid upon every Avoidance shall have the Presentations Nominations and Collations to such Ecclesiastical Liveings Free Schooles and Hospitalls in such manner as they should have the same in case such Recusant convict or disabled were seized or possessed thereof And in case any Trustee or Trustees or Mortgagee or Grantee of any Avoidance hereafter present nominate or collate or cause to be presented nominated or collated any person to any such Ecclesiasticall Liveing Free Schoole or Hospitall whereof the Trust shall be for any Recusant convict or disabled without giveing notice of the Avoidance in Writeing to the Vice-Chancellor for the time being of the University to whome the Presentation Nomination or Collation shall belong according to the true intent of this Act within three months after the Avoidance shall happen such Trustee or Trustees Mortgagees or Grantees shall forfeit and pay the summe of five hundred pounds to the said respective Chancellors and Schollers of either of the said Universities to whom such Presentation Nomination or Collation shall belong according to the true intent of this present Act to be recovered in any of their Majestyes Courts of Record by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information wherein noe Essoigne Protection or Wager of Law shall be allowed Provided ALWAYES That the said Chancellors and Schollors of either of the said Universities shall not present or nominate to any Benefice with Cure Prebend or other Ecclesiastical Live ing any person as shall then have any other Benefice with Cure of Soules And if any such Presentation shall be had or made of any such person soe beneficed the said Presentation shall be utterly void any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding PROVIDED That if any person soe presented or nominated to any Benefice with Cure shall be absent from the same above the space of sixty dayes in any one year that in such Case the said Benefice shall become void Provided NEVERTHELESS That if any such person shall present himselfe before the Justices of the Peace at the Generall Quarter Sessions to be holden for the County Rideing Division or Liberty where his name was recorded and shall there in open Court make repeate and subscribe the said Declaration and take the severall Oaths contained in one Act of this present Parlyament Entituled An Act for the Abrogating of the oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and appointing other Oaths (1) he shall from thenceforth be discharged of and from the said Disability and be enabled to make such Presentation Collation Nomination and Donation and Grant of any Avoidance to any Benefice Prebend or Ecclesiasticall Liveing Schoole or Hospitall as if this Act had not beene made.(2) John Billers the Public Orator was deprived of that office for refusing the oaths to the Government.(3) On the 24th of August died Dr. John Coplestone Provost of King's College. The King designed Mr. (afterwards Sir) Isaac Newton, of Trinity College, as his successor, but on the 29th of August it was debated before the King and Council, whether he or any other not of the foundation of King's College was eligible as Provost; "& after the reasons shewed & argued, Mr. Newton was laid aside." On the 2d of September, John Hartcliffe M.A., fellow of King's College and Master of Merchant Taylor's School, brought down the King's letters recommending him as Provost. On the following day, thirty-three fellows met in the Chapel, three only voted for Mr. Hartcliffe, the others elected as Provost Dr. Charles Roderick who went over to Buckden to be admitted by the Bishop of Lincoln, but he made some objection. During the King's visit on the 7th of October, he, on the petition of the fellows, ratified their choice, and on the 12th of that month Dr. Roderick was admitted Provost.(4) On the 30th of September, the Corporation made the following order: WHEREAS we hear his Majestie doth intend shortly to come to this Towne, IT IS AGREED & ORDERED that such present shal be made to his Majestie (1) Stat. 1 Gul. & Mar, c. 8. (2) Stat. I Gul. & Mar. c. 26. (3) Masters, Life of Baker, 35 n. (4) Ald. Newton's Diary; Birch, Life of Archbishop Tillotson, 239. For many years the Provostship of King's College was reputed to be in the gift of the Crown, in consequence of the fellows usually electing the parties recommended by the King. Mandates for masterships and fellowships were generally disused from this period, but it is said that Dr. Bramstone was appointed Master of Trinity Hall by Queen Anne. (Compleat History of Europe for the year 1703, p. 496.) by this Corporación as Mr. Maior & the more part of the Aldermen shall think. And that the charge thereof and all other charges in relacion to the recepcion of his Majestie by this Corporacion shal be borne by the Corporacion, and Mr. Maior is desired to take care thereof.(1) The following account of a visit of the Vicechancellor and Heads to the King at Newmarket, and of the King's visit to Cambridge, appeared in the Gazette:— On Sunday last, the Vice-Chancellor, the Heads of the Colledges, and Doctors in all Faculties, with several Regents and Non-Regents, in their proper habits, waited upon, His Majesty at Newmarket, being introduced into his Royal presence by his Grace the Duke of Somerset, Chancellor of the University. The Reverend Dr. Covell, Vice-Chancellor, addressed himself to His Majesty in a proper and elegant speech, congratulating the Glorious successes His Majesty had been bless'd with in his endeavours to rescue this Church and Nation from the imminent dangers that threatened both, and which were more particularly pointed against the Universities: And concluded with an humble recommendation of themselves to His Majesty's Protection, wherein the Protestant Religion had so much concern. To which his Majesty was pleas'd to return in answer, That as God had blessed Him in this undertaking, so He should faithfully discharge his trust in preserving the Church of England, and giving all Protection and favour to the Universities. They then waited upon His Majesty to Church, and at their return from thence were conducted to the King's House, where by Directions from His Majesty, they were received and splendidly entertained at Dinner by Sir James Forbes, Clerk of the Green Cloth. The next day His Majesty was pleas'd to make a Visit to the University, and arrived here in the morning, being met without the Town by the Mayor and Aldermen of the Corporation in their Formalities, who complimented His Majesty by Mr. Pepys, their present Mayor, and made a present of a large basin and ewre. They marched before him into Town, at the Entrance whereof His Majesty was received by Rows of Scholars, according to their several Degrees, on each side of the Streets leading to the Publick Schools, and amidst the loud Acclamations of all sorts of Persons. His Majesty allighting at the Schools, received there the Publick Thanks of the University, by the Vice-Chancellor and their Orator, for the great Honour that was then done them; and an extraordinary Commencement being held on this signal occasion, for conferring Degrees on persons of Worth in all Faculties, Mr. Kidder and Mr. Pelling were created Doctors in His Majesty's presence, being presented by the Regius Professor, Dr. Beaumont, with that unimitable Elegancy which is so peculiar to him.(2) From the Schools His Majesty walked to King's College, where Mr. Lay (1) Corporation Common Day Book. (2) The King had written from Newmarket to the Vicechancellor and Senate, notifying his intention of visiting the University, and empowering them before the 18th of October, to confer degrees in the respective faculties on such persons as should be nominated by their Chancellor the Duke of Somerset, as also the degree of Master of Arts on such persons of birth and estate as the Vicechancellor should nominate.-MS. Baker, xxx. 344. The degrees conferred on this occasion were Richard Kidder afterwards Bishop of Bath and Wells, Monsieur Allix afterwards Dean of Ely, Monsieur Spanheim and twelve others, Doctors in Divinity, Colonel Cutts, Sir Robert Dawes and five others, Doctors of the Civil Law, seven Doctors of Physic, eight Bachelors of Divinity, Monsieur Facher and four others, Masters of Arts, and two Bachelors of Physic.-MS. Baker, xxx. 355; xxxii. 192. ton, a Fellow of that Society, declaring in his Speech the Apprehensions they were under least they might have offended His Majesty by a late Petition, wherein they only mentioned one single Person as duly qualified to succeed in the Vacancy of their Provost, and humbly beseeching His Majesty's favourable Construction of that matter, His Majesty was pleased (that none might be left there doubtful of His Favour) graciously to assure them, That He willingly granted all they desired, or could wish, and that they might admit Dr. Roderick to be their Provost as soon as they pleas'd, which they received with the greatest joy and Gratitude imaginable.(1) After that His Majesty went to Trinity College, and in the first Court thereof was Congratulated by the Honourable Dr. Montagu, the Master, and in the second by Mr. Norris, a Fellow of that College, and with a Copy of English Verses in the new built Library, the Structure whereof His Majesty was very well pleased with. And here His Majesty was pleased to accept of a Dinner provided by the University in the Colledge Hall, where, at the upper end, was a Table raised five Steps above the floor, at which sate His Majesty, and at one end His Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark, who attended him hither; and at the other Tables on each side of the Hall were their Excellencies the Spanish and Dutch Ambassadors, with several other Foreign Ministers, together with the Nobility and principal Gentry in great numbers. All which His Majesty was Graciously pleased to accept, sending from Table a message to his Grace the Chancellor, That he drank to him, and wished Prosperity to the University of Cambridge. Immediately after Dinner His Majesty returned to Newmarket through infinite throngs of People, who crowded from all parts to have the happiness of seeing His Majesty.(2) Subjoined is Alderman Newton's account of the King's visit:— 7 Oct. 89. Munday morning about halfe an houre after ten came his Majestie King William to Cambridge, the Maior & Aldermen in Scarlet on Horseback ye 24 on foot on Christ's College Peice being alighted & kneeling on pesses or matts received him. Mr. John Pepys then Maior went & yeelded his Mace to him, which ye King retourn'd, and then made a short speech & presented from ye Corporacion to his Majestie a bason & Ewer of about ye value of 3311. brought down by John Disbrow goldsmith from London who was sent up thither to buy a cup of about 50li, value but it could not be had; after ye Mayor ended his speech, ye Maior and Aldermen on horseback & ye 24 ye juniors first & Maior next ye King's Coach, went before ye King to ye Regent walke, where wee left them, & then on horseback went with Mr. Maior to his house where ye Maior & Aldermen onely at ye Corporation charge dined. The King dyned at Trinity Coll. Hall, & about 3 of ye Clock went out of Cambridge to Newmarket from whence that morning he came, there was none of ye King's Macebearers nor Kettle drums here nor above 4 or 25 of ye King's guards. George Prince of Denmark was with ye King at ye head end of ye Coach and its said 2 dutch Embassadors at ye other end for 4 was in ye King's Coach with himselfe, the King goeing to King's College chappell, a peticion or speach was presented to him from that Coll. on ye behalfe of Dr. Roderick, ye King tould them thereupon that he accepted of their submission & granted their request, wch was that Dor. Roderick might be ye Provost of King's College.(3) (1) Vide ante, p. 8. (2) London Gazette 10 Oct. to 14 Oct. 1689. (3) Ald. Newton's Diary. Mr. Pepys the Mayor made the following charges in his account : 00 08 00 Expended at Mr. Pepys his house upon the Entertainment 12 00 On the 16th of October, William Russell Earl of Bedford (2) K.G., was elected Recorder of the Town.(3) An action of trespass was brought by J. Skinner against Cæsar Crouch one of the Proctors of the University, for goods seized by him going down the river to Sturbridge fair, the duty for them not being paid to the University. The defendant pleaded the privilege of the University, and after this the action abated by the death of the plaintiff. His executors brought another action for the same trespass. The defendant, who at the time this second action was brought had left the University, in Michaelmas Term this year, moved the Court of King's Bench that the privilege of the University might be allowed him and that he might not be put to the charge of pleading it specially. It was ruled by the Court that the defendant should plead the University charter. Mr. Justice Dolben intimated his opinion that "the Defendant ought to have this Privilege, being sued for a Matter done by him as Proctor of the University." Lord Chief Justice Holt however said " Privilege respects the Person, not the Cause."(4) The 4th of November, being the King's birth day, Dr. Johnson the new Vicechancellor "immediately after admission to his Office, "gave particular order that bonfires should be made in every Col"lege, for the more solemn keeping his Majesties Birth-day, which "was accordingly observed by all with great acclamations of joy."(5) On the 4th of December was read a first time in the House of Commons "A Bill for Confirmation of the Charters of the Two Universities, and their Liberties and Privileges." On the 13th, was read a petition from the city of Oxford praying to be heard by counsel against this bill. On the 20th of January, a motion being made that the bill should then be read a second time, the house divided, when (1) Corporation Common Day Book, 26 Sept. 1693. (2) In April, 1694, created Duke of Bedford and Marquess of Tavistock. (3) Tanfield Lemon Esq. was sworn as Deputy Recorder 28th March, 1690. (4) Comberbach's Reports, 171. (5) London Gazette, 7 Nov. 1689. |