found that the sword must finally settle the theological disputes in which the nation was plunged. The members of the University, who had been seen so lamentably divided among themselves when public tranquillity allowed time for recondite speculation, now proved that the principle was correct, though the imagination had been deluded. They were unanimous in professions of loyalty, and proved the sincerity of their assertions by presenting the whole of their plate to be melted for the king's use, on the occurrence of his first pressing exigency *. When Charles found it expedient to retire from London he chose Oxford for his place of abode; and in this city the chief of the royal family resided until their fortunes grew entirely desperate, and they were obliged to separate, never all to meet again on earth. The king had apartments prepared for him at Christ Church, and the Queen at Merton, between which colleges a private way was now opened for their accommodation through one of the canon's gardens. In the hall of Christ Church the king collected the fragments of his Parliament, and opened the momentous business of the season with a manly and judicious speech. The lords afterwards held their meetings in the upper schools, and the commons assembled in the convocation house.

Terrified by the increasing danger, the queen was, at length, advised to quit her royal consort, and to seek security in the city of Exeter during that season of maternal difficulty and weakness which was close at hand. The whole melancholy winter of 1646 was passed by Charles within the walls of Christ Church; and from that college, now doubly honoured in affording a sanctuary to the misfortunes of a prince whom it had hospitably entertained in a prosperous scason, he wrote the memorable letter to Lord Digby, in which he said that, " if he could not live as a king, he would at least die as a gentleman!”

Although effectual measures had been taken to fortify the city of Oxford, Charles deemed it prudent to accede to the desire of

the

At a subsequent period the University, likewise, assisted the king with the lean of above 10,0001. in money.

the opposite faction, when he sank personally in their power, and issued orders for its peaceable surrender. The possession of Oxford was a gratifying circumstance to the sectarian party. Their hands were eager to rend the vestments of the church, and to deface the monuments of art collected by the united elegance of taste and well-meaning piety of many ages. A visitation was speedily ordered by the "Parliament," and the Earl of Pembroke, Chancellor of the University, degraded himself by consenting to act in unison with these ignorant and fanatical delegates. The commissioners soon commenced action, and set themselves to work in reforming the discipline, and correcting the erroneous doctrines, of the University, by the rule of the covenant! Some partisans they found, but those chiefly of an inferior class, while the great body of the University met in convocation, and passed a public act and declaration against the proffered opinions. "An act," says Lord Clarendon, "which must remain to the world's end as a monument of the learning, courage, and loyalty, of this excellent place."

Such scenes now ensued as might be expected from the religious intoxication of vulgar minds. An ordinance, as it was called, was passed for the sale of "dean and chapter lands;" the visitors placed violent sectarians in the offices of the divines who refused to accede to their proposals; and the more strenuous of the elect among the soldiery broke all the painted windows to which they could gain access, and mutilated the most striking pieces of emblematical sculpture *.

Cromwell was, himself, not insensible to the influence of the arts, and would, probably, have prevented the havoc which took place among pictures and carvings, if the vulgar bigotry of his faction had not rendered the sacrifice necessary. His conduct in regard to the cartoons proves that he did not look with coldness on the art of painting, and Warton mentions an anecdote respecting the pillage of the University, that evinces his love of music. The organ of Magdalen chapel was celebrated for the fineness of its tones; and when it was pulled down as a diabolical agent of superstition he caused it to be removed to Hampton Court, and there preserved for his particular amusement.

During the periods in which the Parliament, the army, and a bold individual, under the title of Protector, successively ruled the country, Oxford was, by no means, scantily supplied with nominal students; but classical learning experienced an entire staguation. The candidates for holy orders were not now exa mined concerning their progress in Greek and Roman erudition; their advance in grace was the only subject of enquiry. The people appointed to investigate their pretensions were termed tryers, and were chiefly laymen, though some were ecclesiastics of the Independent and Presbyterian persuasions. In the year 1650, Oliver Cromwell was elected chancellor.

Yet, amidst this melancholy scene of ignorance and enthu siasm, genuine talent still inhabited the more shady recesses of the University. A few men of sedate mind, whose judgment had escaped injury from the delusive influence of the vortex in which they dwelt, held periodical conferences for the communication of discoveries in physics and geometry. Among these the name of Wilkins, afterwards Bishop of Chester, who had married Cromwell's sister, shines with eminent lustre. In the meetings thus privily held we trace the origin of the Royal Society; and the pen would be indeed lavish which bestowed exaggerated commendation on the founders of that useful and honourable institution.

Waller the poet always asserted that Cromwell himself was not so illiterate as the major part of his faction; and Neale, the Historian of the Puritans, mentions the circumstance of his giving a hundred pounds a year to the divinity professor at Oxford as a proof of his wish to encourage learning. He, likewise, presented some Greek manuscripts to the Bodleian library..

On

This organ, on the Restoration, was regained by the college, and was not finally removed till within these last thirty years, when a new one was presented by a former member. Chalmers, likewise, observes that "on one occasion when at Oxford Cromwell restored a young gentleman of Christ Church to his student's place, who had been ejected by the parliamentary visitors, merely in consequence of hearing him sing."

On the Restoration, the University was replaced, with all convenient speed, on its former basis. The "dean and chapter" lands were returned to the legitimate proprietors; and most of those persons who had been unjustly expelled by the sectarian committee' were restored to their respective collegiate stations, When once the leaders of the fanatical party were removed the remainder easily acceded to the wholesome customs of ancient order. "After several tyrannical governments," says Clarendon (whose warmth, when speaking on a subject connected with learning, must be pardoned,)" mutually succeeded each other, and, with the same malice and perverseness, endeavoured to extinguish all good literature and allegiance, Oxford yielded a harvest of extraordinary good and sound knowledge, in all parts of learning; and many who were wickedly introduced applied themselves to the study of good learning and the practice of virtue, and had inclination to that duty and obedience they had never been taught.” The names of the able and honourable men who matured their stadies at Oxford in the reign of Charles II. would form the best comment on Lord Clarendon's text.

In the year 1681, Charles II. summed a Parliament at Oxford, the meeting of which was attended with many boisterous circumstances. Party-spirit now prevailed to a high degree. The popular faction affected to dread some secret machinations among the Papists; and their leaders entered Oxford attended by large trains of servants and partisans to act as guards. Numerous bands of soldiery were ranged round the royal quarters; and, on the whole, according to Hume, the assembly rather bore the appearance of a tumultuous Polish diet, than of a regular English Parliament.

This scene of turbulence was shortly followed by others of a more important nature. In the reign of James II. the spirit of religious faction again broke forth. The modification was altered, but the temper was the same. No attempt of this infatuated monarch to subvert the religious establishment of the country has

more forcibly attracted the notice of historians than his illegal in1 terference with the University of Oxford.

Not long after James ascended the throne, the president of Magdalen College (well known to be one of the richest foundations in Europe) died; and the king, relying on a profession of passive obedience lately made by the University, transmitted a command for the election of a person named Farmer, to the vacant office. This Farmer was a man guilty of the most degrading vices, and the fellows of Magdalen humbly requested his majesty either to leave them the freedom of choice ordained by their statutes, or to nominate a more suitable character. The king was either too busy, or too disdainful, to make a reply; and, when the day of election arrived, the fellows, without hesitation, chose for president, Dr. Hough, a man of virtue, firmness, and correct understanding. Enraged by this conduct, James sent down an inferior ecclesiastical commission, the persons entrusted with which consented to withdraw Farmer from all pretensions, but presented a mandate in favour of Parker, recently created Bishop of Oxford, a man likewise of offensive character, but who, like the former candidate, was ready to embrace the Catholic religion without scruple. The fortitude of the collegiates rose progressively with the increase of danger. They respectfully stated their resolution to abide by the tenor of their statutes; but mentioned their tried and well-known loyalty as a proof of their readiness to adhere to the Crown under all lawful circumstances.

The unquestionable justice of their cause, and the mild character of their representations, availed little with the ill-advised king. He viewed the affair in so serious a light, that he visited Oxford in person, and commanded the fellows of the refractory college to appear before him at Christ Church. After an angry meeting with them in that place *, and several subsequent endeavours

* In token of their submissive disposition on points with which law and conscience did not interfere, the fellows all reverently knelt before his ma

jesty;