76 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. maintain her power from her crown to her foot, took wit in their anger, and received him."o Notwithstanding the above opposition, the new master, by his clemency, his equity, and his goodness, presently overcame their exasperated minds, and turned their enmity and prejudice into love and admiration. He always governed the college with great prudence and moderation, and sacrificed his own interest for the advantage of the public, as appeared by his own frugality and the testimony of those who lived with him. In the choice of scholars and fellows, he was always impartial and unblameable, and would never suffer any corruption to creep into the elections. If he found any who by bribes had endeavoured to buy suffrages, they, however deserving in other respects, of all others, should not be chosen:1. This account of his great integrity, and his particular care in the government of his college, affords a complete refutation of the great neglect, with which he is charged by the insinuation of another historian.t Under the mastership of Dr. Whitaker, all worthy scholars and fellows received the encouragement due to their character and desert. He distributed the rewards of learning with an impartial hand ; but all, indiscreet and improper measures were justly discountenanced. There was only one way to preferment, and that was founded, upon merit and real worth. This made the college flourish in sound learning, and swarm in the number of its members. Therewere no less than thirty-eightfellow-commoners in the house at one time, which, upon a moderate computation, are said to have been more than at any other period since the foundation, or than probablyever will be again. This, for the purpose of their accommodation, led to several considerable enlargementsof the college. His learning was not confined to himself : it was diffusive. It spread itself through the whole society ; and, by his example, instruction, and encouragement,he raised so much emulation among the fellows, as to make others learned as well as himself. Indeed, the society in his time was looked upon as something more than a private college. He himself, who was no boaster, used to style it a little university.§ Bellarmine, the Romish disputant, growing famous Fuller's Hist. of Camb. p. 96, 97. + Clark's FM. Hist.p. 819, 44 Fuller's Hist. of Comb. p. 97. Baker's MS. Collec. vol. i. p. 217-219. 11411.(.411MINNIZIKJIIM
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