Here we see what he writes, and what others print. If there was any such Oath,
it seems it had the happinesse of a short Part, and sensible of its own ill acting
therein, it sneaked down so quickly into the Tireing house, that it hopes not to be
remembred ever to have come upon the Stage. But if Mr. Ash was active herein,
I see stripes are not so soon forgotten by those that bear them, as by those that lay
them on. For my own part I am satisfied no such Oath was tendred by him,
charitably believing that he would not crosse his own doctrine, when preaching
to the Parliament 1640, on Psal. 9. 9. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed: he
complained of the strictnesse of University Oathes.
37. Not long after warning was given, that all Students should come in within
twelve daies and take, the Covenant. This seemed a strange summons, and the
two Chaplains (to whom the Earle of Manchester most milde in his selfe, chiefly
remitted the managing of these matters) were challenged for injustice herein:
For, though Divines, they were presumed to have so much of Civil Law, yea, of
the Law of Nature, as to know, Nemo tenetur ad impossibilia, No man is tied to
impossibilities; whereas many Schollers being absent more scores of miles than
they had daies allowed them, (besides the danger of Armies interposed) could
not if receiving warning repair at the time appointed; but because many of them
were suspected to be in the Kings Army, twelve daies were conceived for them as
much as twelve moneths, no time being too short for those who were willing, and
none long enough for such who were unwilling to take the Covenant.
38. This Covenant being offered, was generally refused; whereupon, the Re∣cusants
were ordered without any delay to pack out of the University three dayes
after their ejection.
39. Doctor Brownrigg Bishop of Exceter and Master of Katharine Hall, was
now Vice Chancellour of Cambridge, succeeding Dr. Holdesworth, as I take it:
for, know Reader, I begin now to be incurious in Chronologie, not so much because
weary with a long observing thereof, as because such the noise of the present di∣sturbance
I cannot hear what the Clock of Time doth strike. This sure I am, that the
Vice Chancellour, though eminent for his piety, gravity, and learning, could so
little prevail for others (endeavouring all the good offices he could) that the next
year he was banished the University for preaching the Inauguration Sermon of
the KING, wherein many passages were distasted by the Parliament-party. And
now they vigoronsly proceeded, having learned the Maxime in Hippocrates, that
Licet in extremis ad lipothymiam vacuare, In desperate cures, one may let blood even
till the patient swounds: on confidence, that though the soule dissembleth a de∣parture,
yet it will stay still in the body especially when finding it amended in the
temper thereof. And, it seems the blood appeared so corrupt to these Physicians,
that so great a quantity was taken away, some Colledges lay, as it were, languishing
for the losse thereof.
40 In Queens Coll: there was made a thorow Reformation, neither Master,
Fellow, nor Scholler being left of the Foundation; so that according to the Laws
of the Admiralty it might seem a true Wreck, and forfeited in this Land tempest,
for lack of a live thing therein to preserve the propriety thereof. However some
conceived this a great severity, contrary to the eternall Morall of the Jewish Law
provided against the depopulation of Birds nests that the Old and Young Ones
should be destroyed together. But to prevent a vacuity (the detestation of na∣ture)
a new Plantation was soon substituted in their room, who short of the
former in learning and abilities, went beyond them in good affections to the Par∣liament.
41. However, on the account of Humanity, some pity may seem due to such
Fellows, outed house and home, merely for refusing the Covenant, being other∣wise
well-deserving in the judgements of those who ejected them. And it is
strange to conceive how many of them got any subsistence, or livelyhood to
maintain themselves. This mindeth me of the occasion of the Greek Proverb,
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, He is either dead, or teacheth Schoole.