CHAPTER III. Ken removes to Oxford-The ftate of the University under the Commonwealth-His College life—The Refloration. OULD that we were able to give an exact account of our young scholar's journey, as he trudged from Winchester to those longed-for fspires of Oxford. The happy pilgrimage was probably made on foot, with his walking staff; for it was not like a poor scholar of that day to ride his horse, and there were no stage coaches between Winchester and Oxford. In this he would follow the example of young Richard Hooker, when he took his journey on foot from Corpus Christi College to fee his mother at Exeter. Paffing by Salisbury, Hooker paid a vifit to his loving patron, old Bishop Jewel, who lent him his own "walking staff, with which he profeffed he had travelled through many parts of Germany; "—and gave him "ten groats to bear his charges to Exeter," and promised " if he brought it back to him, he would give him ten groats more to carry him on foot to the College: and fo God blefs you, good Richard."* In like manner, and with equal fimplicity, we may suppose Ken to have travelled on, till he fet himself * Walton's Life of Richard Hooker. down to reft within fight of Oxford,* and the found of Christ-church bells. Perhaps fome reader may have felt the fame thrilling emotions which stirred within him, when for the first time he caught a glimpse of those towers, rifing from the groves and meadows. Whilft he looked out on the fcene, he might indulge himself in anticipating the pleasures of a College life. But Oxford was no longer the happy abode of religion, learning, and peace. Her schools, colleges, and halls, beautiful in their order, hallowed by centuries of pious brotherhood and fcholaftic wisdom, had for nearly twelve years been the scene of republican disorders: many hundreds of the most eminent men had been thrust out by the Parliamentary Vifitors, to make room for fchifmatics. Fanaticism and selfishnefs had uprooted religion, and feized the munificent endowments, defigned to transmit learning and piety to the most distant ages. A holy charm seems to hang over St. Mary's in the distance,-how ftill and beautiful! But Ken little knew the diforder that reigned within. The rightfully appointed Preachers, - the Mafters and Fellows and Profeffors, had long been under perfecution as "fcandalous minifters, faucy Jacks, brazen-faced fellows."+ St. Mary's pulpit was still profaned by the Seven Puritan Ministers, fent down by Parliament to preach the loyal scholars into a new obedience. All ecclefiaftical difcipline and religious ceremonies had been denounced as "a heap of atheistical Roman rubbish." The altar and stained * On Hinckley Hill, near Bagley Wood. windows were commanded to be broken, the chancel levelled, organ and furplices abolished, and the Book of Common Prayer forbidden in Church or private families, on pain of imprisonment, and all for liberty of confcience! Cromwell, the Arch-rebel and Regicide, was Chancellor. Dr. John Owen, "Oliver's Ahithophel, the Prince, the Oracle, the metropolitan of Independency," filled the office of Vice-Chancellor. Having folemnly promised obedience to the Bishop, his Diocefan, and taken the oath of allegiance and fidelity to his King,' he turned with the tide of Rebellion, preached against all Episcopal authority, and applauded the murder of Charles as juft and righteous. On taking his feat as Vice-Chancellor he had fworn to obferve the statutes and maintain the privileges of the University: yet he endeavoured to put down all habits and formalities, and "fo undervalued his office as to go in quirpo, like a young scholar, with powdered hair, fnake-bone band ftrings, with very large taffels, a large fet of ribbons pointed at his knees, and Spanish leather boots, with large lawn tops, and his hat mostly cock'd.”† He was "fo great an enemy to the Lord's Prayer (yet ordained to Holy Orders!) that when some preachers concluded their own with it, (which was very feldom done by any, especially the Prefbyterians and Independents, because it was looked upon, forfooth, as formal and prelatical to do fo) he would with great fneering and scorn turn aside, or fit down, and put on * Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 737. his "One of the Proctors was "Hierome Zanchy, a boisterous fellow at cudgelling, foot-ball playing, and indeed more fit in all refpects to be a rude foldier than a scholar, or man of polite parts. In the beginning of the Rebellion he threw off his gown, and took up arms for the Parliament, and foon after became a Captain, a Presbyterian, an Independent, and I know not what." ↑ It was no wonder, therefore, if republican Profeffors, Mafters, Principals, and Fellows were thrust upon the reluctant University, now fuddenly bereft of her most perfect patterns of holiness, and surest guides in found learning, because they demurred to the Covenant, and negative Oath, and the Engagement to the Commonwealth without King or House of Lords. In their room fucceeded "an illiterate rabble of poor scholars, Pedagogues from Belfries, Curates, and fometimes Vicars, as alfo Parliament foldiers, efpecially fuch as had lately been difbanded. They were commonly called feekers, were great frequenters of the fermons at St. Mary's, preached by the Seven Ministers appointed by Parliament, and other Presbyterians that preached in other Churches in Oxford, and sometimes frequenters of the Conventicles of the Independents and Anabaptists. The generality of them had mortified countenances, puling voices, and eyes commonly, when in difcourfe, lifted up, with hands laying on their breasts; they moftly had fhort hair, which at this time was called the Committee cut, and went in * Ibid. P. 739. + Wood's Fasti Oxon. vol. ii. p. 69. quirpo, in a fhabb'd condition, and looked rather like apprentices, or antiquated school boys, than academicians, or ministers.”* Not only the heads of Houses, Profeffors, Lecturers, and other members of the Univerfity, down to the undergraduates, but even "the beadles, college fervants, bed-makers, and scrapers of trenchers were thrown out, and banished from their places." Such were the violence and tumult, which to the amazement of all good men, "fet the whole Church and nation in a combustion, and went far to render the Reformed religion, and all Proteftants, odious to all the world." New College, in the midst of this confufion, had especially maintained its loyal principles. The Warden was charitable Dr. Robert Pink. He needs no other praise than that he appointed Dr. Peter Gunning, Dr. Ifaac Barrow, and Dr. Richard Sherlock to be Chaplains of his College. The last of these, when ejected by the Vifitors, was compelled to accept the curacy of Caffington, near Woodstock, and out of a ftipend of £16 a year beftowed the greater part in charity amongst the poor; a man of such exemplary holiness, that good Bishop Wilson honoured his memory by writing an account of his life. Dr. Pink had fome time before affembled all who were capable of bearing arms, and willing to ferve for the defence of the King. The privileged men and scholars of New College answered freely to the fummons. They formed themselves into a militia, bring * Wood's Fasti Oxon. vol. ii. P. † Ibid. P. 68. |