The HISTORY of the PuRITANS. VoL. n. K. Charles I. reformation of our miivnfity qf Oxford,. &c. which was a very firange ~ fl:il e confidering the king was never confulted about thevifitation, much lefs gave any confent; but the ,houfes affeCl:ed this f: rm, from a miflakeu fuppofiti on, that the king was always prefent with his parliament in his legil1ative capacity ; tho' ir fe rved no other pmpofe than giving the adver. fary an opportunity to expofe their pr.oceedings, and charge them with afrum ing and acting under ajcrged"authority. 'Tbe viji~nFurnifhed with thefe new p~wen, the vifitors returned to Oxfird the !at– ~~~ rcl~zved. ter end of September, the n1ayor, fheriffs, and other magifl:rates, bein()" ant~~:C~xon . commanded to aid and ailill: them as there fh ould be occafion. 0~ p. 3B8. Micbaelmas day a paper was fixed to the door of unive1jity cburcb, giving notice, that the vifitation would now proceed de die in diem. Next day .a citation was ifrued to all the heads of houfes, requiring them to bring in their fl: atutes, regill:ers, accompts, and all their public writings, to the wardens lodgings at Merton- col!ege. The vice chancellor was ordered to apptar at the fJme time, to anfwer to fuch quefl:ions, as (hould be de– manded of him, and to fend by the hands of the perfons who fervcd thofe orders, all the books and aCl:s bdonging to the univerfity. The proflors were likewife enjoined to bring in their books, keys, and other public t~1ings in their cufl:ody. But it is not enough to fay (fays the Oxfirdan– tiquary) that every one qf theft orders were di.fobqed; tbey 'l.R>ere a!fo df .pi{ed and contemned. However the vice-chancellor and heads of colleges condefcended to appear at the fecond fummons, OC!ober 6. when inll:ead ..of bringing their books and papers, they demanded to know, by whllt .authority tbey were Jitmmoned? upon which the vifitors produced their commiilion under the broad j eal, at the fame time fervin g them with a 'The univer· jity will not Jubmit. third citation, to appear four days after with their books and papers, or with their reafons in writing why they refufed fo to do. Next day they fent for the keys of the convocation hozfe and fchool, and for the beadles flaves, but they were denied. The day following the proflors ap· peared, and delivered a protell:ation, attefl:ed by a public notary, in the name of the vice-chancellor, delegates, and all the fcholars, to this _put·pofe, that " they could not own any vifitor but the king, and that lb. P· 389, . 39 o. " having [worn to maintain his right, they could not without perJury, " fubmi t themfelves to this vifitation, wherewith they deiire them to " acquain t the parliament." Hereupon Dr. Fell the vice-chancellor, the very hune day, was deprived of his vice-chancellorfhip, and public no– tice was given to the proCl:ors, and other officers of the univedity, not to obey him any loriger under that charaCl:ef; but the doCtor without regard to his deprivation, or to the prorogation of the term, which the vifitors had adjourned from the I oth to the I 5th infl:ant, proceeding on .the I 1 th to hold a congregation, and open the ts:rm as u{ual, was taken into
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