578 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. the fellows ; but Dr. Harwell the master, having a predi- lection for his competitor, Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Willet, pre- vented the confirmationof their election. This illegal pro- ceeding induced Mr. Hildersham to address the following letter to Lord Burleigh, chancellor ofthe university " Hight Honourable, Pleaseth your honour to understand, that about a twelvemonth since, an election being made in Christ's college in Cambridge, and your lordship's humble orator being by the greater part of the fellows lawfully chosen ; yet, through the injurious dealing of the master, kept from the admission. It pleased your honour at that time (understanding the equity of my cause, and moved with the very earnest request of my very good earl, the earl of Huntingdon) to direct your letters to the visitors of our college, that they should ratify the lawful proceedings of the greater part of 'our fellows, and confirm the place whereto I was before according to statute elected : which not being at that time by them performed; and I not pre- suming hitherto (in the absence of my right honourable patron) to solicit your lordship in that suit; and seeing that the master, with certain of the fellows of our college, is, by reason of his late dealing in another matter, presently to appear before your lordship, is that in regard of the injury by the master done to the statute, and of my lord and patron his earnest request then made unto your honour, and ad- judging it as your honouredwisdom shall see it in justice and equity expedient. " At the election ofyour lordship's orator three fellow- ships were void ; that is, Mr, Ireton's, Mr. Watson's, Mr. Barber's : so that the number of master and fellows was eleven, whereof six chose your lordship's orator ; and there- fore 'he ought to have been pronounced fellow. For the words of the statute are these, &c. " Your honour's most humble and daily orator, " ARTHUR HILDERSHAM." This letter, though without date, was written about the year 1586 ; but the writer obtainedno immediate redress; only about the time when he wrote the letter, he was chosen fellow of Trinity-hall, in the same university. He was pre- ferred to this place by the particular advice and direction of Lord Burleigh, most probably as a recompence for his Baker's MS. Collec. vol. iv. p. 76, 77.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=