To
the
Honourable
Visitours
appointed
by
both
Houses
of
Parliament
for
the
regulating
and
reforming
of
the
Vniversity
of
Oxford
.
The
Petition
of
your
Freinds
and
Servants
in
the
said
Vniversity
.
Humbly
Sheweth
,
That
divers
learned
and
civill
men
have
much
importuned
,
and
some
of
them
seduced
(
under
pretence
of
maintaining
the
old
Prelacy
and
Liturgy
)
to
enter
into
a
kinde
of
Confederacy
with
Doctor
Fell
,
and
his
Delegates
,
to
oppose
all
Reformers
,
both
the
Parliament
,
and
Visitours
,
and
hinder
a
just
and
necessary
Reformation
.
We
doe
not
deny
that
some
of
us
are
exercised
with
doubts
,
but
we
desire
to
communicate
our
speciall
scruples
to
you
in
an
humble
and
outrages
of
other
men
,
who
are
as
yet
(
to
the
great
dishonour
and
prejudice
of
our
Common-Mother
the
Vniversity
)
of
the
same
body
with
us
.
We
consider
that
to
oppose
you
our
much
honour'd
Visitours
,
is
to
rebell
against
the
Houses
:
to
maintaine
Prelacy
is
to
uphold
Tyranny
:
and
to
contend
for
the
Common-Prayer-Booke
is
to
contend
for
a
false
Translation
of
the
Canonicall
Scriptures
,
to
magnifie
those
bookes
that
are
not
Canonicall
,
and
justifie
the
Court
of
Rome
,
not
onely
in
admiting
dangerous
Ceremonies
to
corrupt
the
purity
,
but
in
submitting
to
the
Roman
Order
,
which
would
overthrow
the
piety
of
our
Common
and
publique
service
.
We
are
bold
therefore
to
remonstrate
that
whatever
is
propounded
and
delivered
by
the
pretended
Delegates
aforesaid
,
as
the
sence
of
the
whole
Vniversity
contrary
to
this
Petition
,
is
contrary
both
to
our
sence
and
consciences
;
And
our
humble
request
is
,
that
you
judge
not
of
this
Vniversity
by
the
rage
and
confederacy
of
some
Malignants
in
it
,
who
would
endanger
the
whole
body
to
save
themselves
,
and
have
therefore
conspired
to
set
up
this
Delegacy
to
seduce
and
corrupt
the
unsetled
,
to
oppose
the
Visitation
,
and
hinder
the
Reformation
of
this
place
.
Be
pleased
to
command
every
man
to
plead
his
owne
cause
,
and
speake
for
himselfe
,
onely
punish
the
Heads
and
Ringleaders
of
this
Rebellious
conspiracy
,
and
pardon
all
seduced
Schollers
,
who
upon
better
information
,
and
more
mature
deliberation
,
shew
that
they
have
erred
out
of
meere
simplicity
,
and
doe
not
hate
to
be
reformed
.
And
we
shall
pray
,
&c.
Iune
2.
1647.
At
the
Committee
for
the
Vniversitie
OXFORD
Iuly
2.
1646.
ORdered
that
no
Masters
or
Heads
of
any
Colledges
or
Halls
,
or
Schollers
,
or
other
persons
be
admitted
into
any
Mastership
,
Governourship
,
Fellowship
,
Schollership
,
or
Office
or
place
of
preferment
or
advantage
in
the
Vniversitie
of
Oxford
;
And
that
no
Leases
of
any
Lands
belonging
to
the
said
Vniversitie
,
or
any
the
Colledges
or
Halls
therein
be
made
or
renued
,
untill
the
pleasure
of
the
Parliament
be
made
knowne
therein
.
F.
Rous.
Concordat
cum
Registris
Vniversitatis
OXON
.
Ita
testor
Iohannes
French
Notarius
Publicus
&
Registarius
Vniversitatis
OXON
.
Die
Jovis
26
,
Augusti
1647.
An
additionall
Ordinance
of
the
Lords
and
Commons
assembled
in
Parliament
for
the
Visitation
and
Reformation
of
the
University
of
Oxford
,
and
the
severall
Colledges
and
Halls
therein
.
FOr
the
more
effectuall
and
speedy
reformation
and
regulation
of
the
Vniversity
of
Oxford
,
and
the
severall
Colledges
and
Halls
therein
according
to
a
former
ordinance
of
the
first
of
May
last
,
and
for
the
explanation
of
the
same
,
the
Lords
and
Commons
assembled
in
Parliament
do
declare
,
that
the
Cathedrall
Church
and
Colledge
of
Christ-Church
in
Oxford
,
with
the
Deane
,
Prehendaries
,
Students
,
Schollers
,
and
Officers
,
thereunto
belonging
,
are
within
the
words
and
intention
of
the
said
Ordinance
to
all
intents
and
purposes
:
and
it
is
further
ordained
,
that
the
Visitours
thereto
appointed
,
or
any
five
or
more
of
them
shall
have
full
power
and
authority
to
tender
and
administer
the
solemne
League
and
Covenant
and
negative
Oath
,
to
all
and
every
the
Governours
,
Professours
,
Graduates
,
Masters
,
Fellowes
,
Schollers
,
Students
,
&
Officers
of
the
said
Vniversity
,
and
of
the
respective
Halls
and
Colledges
therein
,
and
to
send
for
,
examine
and
peruse
all
and
every
their
Bookes
and
Statutes
,
Registers
,
Journals
,
Bookes
of
Entries
,
Accounts
,
Orders
,
Writings
,
which
concerne
the
government
or
affaires
of
the
said
Vniversity
,
or
respective
Colledges
and
Halls
,
and
to
send
for
in
custody
and
commit
to
prison
all
such
persons
,
who
after
the
personall
summons
shall
contemptuously
refuse
to
produce
and
deliver
the
same
,
or
any
of
them
to
the
said
Visitours
,
or
not
shew
sufficient
cause
of
their
not
producing
them
,
or
any
of
them
respectively
,
untill
they
shall
be
accordingly
produced
,
and
delivered
,
and
likewise
all
such
Masters
,
Professors
,
Fellowes
,
Schollers
,
Students
,
and
Officers
of
the
said
Vniversity
.
Colledges
,
Halls
,
or
any
of
them
respectively
,
who
during
the
said
Visitation
shall
after
a
second
personall
summons
wilfully
neglect
or
refuse
to
appeare
before
them
,
and
also
to
impannell
such
and
so
many
Members
&
Officers
of
the
said
Vniversity
,
Colledges
,
Halls
,
and
other
persons
within
the
limits
and
precincts
of
the
said
Vniversity
being
of
the
age
of
21
yeares
or
upward
as
they
shall
thinke
fit
to
enquire
of
,
and
present
upon
their
corporall
Oathes
all
offenders
and
offences
comprized
within
the
said
Ordinance
upon
such
articles
of
enquiry
grounded
on
the
said
ordinance
,
as
shall
be
approved
of
by
the
standing
Committee
of
Lords
and
Commons
mentioned
in
the
said
Ordinance
,
and
likewise
to
examine
witnesses
upon
oath
for
proofe
of
an
offence
or
misdemeanour
inquirable
or
punishable
by
the
said
Ordinances
:
and
Oliver
St.
John
His
Majesties
Sollicitour
generall
is
hereby
required
and
authorized
to
draw
up
and
prepare
a
Commission
,
and
direct
the
same
unto
the
said
Visitours
for
visiting
the
said
Vniversity
,
Colledges
,
and
Halls
,
and
every
of
them
respectively
,
and
the
respective
Governours
,
Masters
,
Professours
,
Schollers
,
Students
,
Officers
and
Members
in
as
large
and
ample
manner
as
in
the
said
Ordinance
,
and
this
present
Ordinance
is
prescribed
without
any
further
warrant
,
and
that
the
Commissioners
of
the
great
Seale
of
England
,
shall
have
authority
hereby
to
passe
the
said
Commission
under
the
great
Seale
accordingly
,
and
the
said
Visitours
and
every
of
them
shall
be
protected
and
saved
harmelesse
by
authority
of
this
present
Parliament
against
all
persons
for
whatsoever
they
shall
act
or
execute
in
pursuance
of
the
said
Ordinances
,
and
the
said
Vistours
or
any
five
or
more
of
them
shall
have
power
to
oppiont
a
Register
,
and
such
other
Officers
as
are
necessary
to
be
imployed
in
the
said
Visitation
,
who
shall
receive
such
recompence
and
Salary
for
their
paines
therein
,
and
out
of
such
money
as
the
standing
Committee
of
Lords
and
Commons
shall
thinke
meet
,
and
all
Sheriffes
,
Mayors
,
and
other
Officers
,
are
hereby
required
to
be
aiding
and
assisting
to
the
said
Visitours
,
or
any
five
or
more
of
them
,
and
to
their
Officers
in
the
execution
of
this
and
the
former
Ordinance
.
Jo.
Browne
Cler.
Parliamentorum
.